Okay, now for some possible abuse!

M274 Mechanical Mule Wanted, For Sale (NO AUCTION or EBAY), and Knowledge Base
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Dave A.
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Okay, now for some possible abuse!

Post by Dave A. » Sun Oct 23, 2022 4:59 am

Have mules, love mules, and talk mules.

Recently, a friend and I were talking about whether the Air Force ever had mules. Okay, don't laugh; served twenty-four years in the Blue so keep the taunting to a minimum. Now, the friend (call sign: "Mulezilla") says he has talked to two people who remember the Air Force did, indeed, have mules.

So, question: Did the Air Force have mules? Does anyone have a photo of such? Were they painted strata blue or just olive drab?

Anyone, anyone?

Dave A


Chuck W.
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Re: Okay, now for some possible abuse!

Post by Chuck W. » Sun Oct 23, 2022 12:07 pm

I can say that I have only seen mules painted in 34079 Lusterless Forrest Green, 24087 Semi-Gloss OD, three-color CARC Cammo and a few in red (the 3-4 red ones all seem to have come from USMC at Twentynine Palms and were very late model A5's). I have never seen one in strata blue, but would not be surprised to learn that there were some, although not factory!

Kaiser Krazy
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Re: Okay, now for some possible abuse!

Post by Kaiser Krazy » Mon Oct 24, 2022 3:18 pm

And, not to hijack the thread, but to supliment it, the same question for Navy grey? You would think these mules would be just as useful on a Navy base or port as well as an Air Force base or flight line.

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major519
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Re: Okay, now for some possible abuse!

Post by major519 » Mon Oct 24, 2022 4:44 pm

Remember guys, these were procured on Army and Marine contracts.
I could see use possibly in naval area but likely by Marines attached.It would be interesting to see any period pics
to prove
otherwise but I would guess any in either USAF or USN service were “liberated” rather than procured through normal channels.
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1958 M274 US ARMY 2B3379
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nickd
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Re: Okay, now for some possible abuse!

Post by nickd » Sun Oct 30, 2022 10:11 pm

Years ago I had my mule at the Kennet Square Memorial Day parade in Pennsylvania. At the starting line up an Air Force Vietnam vet mentioned they had mules on the flight line. They used the mules to ferry mechanics and pilots to and from the aircraft. Nothing was mentioned about paint color.
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Chuck W.
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Re: Okay, now for some possible abuse!

Post by Chuck W. » Mon Oct 31, 2022 1:48 pm

And to confuse the issue even more, the MD-3 deck tractor used on aircraft carriers was also know as a "mule".

abbylind
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Re: Okay, now for some possible abuse!

Post by abbylind » Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:41 am

When I got my M5 the color under the deck on the frame was strata blue (up front by the steering box)....now whether it was put there by a previous owner or some military unit is unknown....
Charles Witt told me years ago that the railroad bought up a lot of surplus mules for the maintenance shops....could have been painted by them..?
Remember the word "expert".....An "EX" is a has been.... and a "SPERT" is a little drip...

Dave A.
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Re: Okay, now for some possible abuse!

Post by Dave A. » Mon Jan 23, 2023 5:07 am

Interesting. If it was truly Strata Blue, then it would probably have been painted by the Air Force. If it was a different blue, then it might have been painted by the railroads or any individual.

Thank all of you for providing input.

Dave A.

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ltsimp
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Re: Okay, now for some possible abuse!

Post by ltsimp » Wed Jan 25, 2023 4:21 am

I was attending a School onboard China Lake Naval Weapons Station 20+ years ago. The USN EOD Det had a Mule they used for traveling around ranges. It was Marine Green. The OIC of the Det told me his biggest problem was getting parts and keeping air in the tires. Lots of frag everywhere. I hooked him up with the civilian parts people I knew. Hope it helped.

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Re: Okay, now for some possible abuse!

Post by Dave A. » Thu Mar 09, 2023 10:14 am

Well, this isn't quite over.

A good friend of mine, drove 106mm mules in the Marines, invited me to chat with him. Near the end of our discussion, he gave me a July, 1958 copy of the Leatherneck, the magazine of Marines. This eight-page "pamphlet" is filled with photos and great information on mules. However, the biggest surprise is that...on the cover is a mule that is painted...blue!

Take a look:
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Chuck W.
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Re: Okay, now for some possible abuse!

Post by Chuck W. » Fri Mar 10, 2023 12:07 pm

Bad colorizing job? :o

colinsmule
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Re: Okay, now for some possible abuse!

Post by colinsmule » Mon Mar 13, 2023 6:04 am

That was my guess - Tires also look blue


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