plant and C vehicles

[Barry Churcher]

Derek, this is a Case Airborne.
Barry

[Barry Churcher]

Derek, this is off someones website and I can't remember where.
Barry

[sapper740]

Originally Posted by Barry Churcher

Derek, this is off someones website and I can't remember where.
Barry

That picture is one of hundreds from AntiqueTractors.com, a very informative website if you're interested in researching tractors. When you look at the VAIW as compared to the VAIWA, there appears to be very little difference other than the lifting frame and it's associated attachment points and hydraulics. The VAIW in your picture may very well have been military at one time hence the green colour. I've learned a little more since my last post regarding the Case nomenclature: I now know that the W in VAIWA stands for Warehouse. The VAI was the industrial version of the agricultural tractor, which was further modified for warehouse use (VAIW). There were two models of the VAIW built, the VAIW-3 with single rear wheels which was the one used by the military, and the VAIW-4 with dual rear wheels. They were both used as towmotors. I'm still looking for the final definition of the "A" in VAIWA. I'm thinking "Army" or "Arm", but it's still a guess. SO, the VAIWA was the bomb loader version of the VAIW which was the towmotor version of the VAI which was the Industrial version of the VA which was the agricultural version. I think I'm starting to get it now.


CHIMO! Derek

P.S. thanks for the great pics.

[Les Freathy]

Right on both accounts Richard the tractor along with a host of other US equipment came from Burtonwood and was in the process of refurbishment by Wolfendens of Liverpool prior to being returned to the states. Its amazing how many times we have all read over the last decades of the US agreement not to send items back yet here was this company and i suspect a few more refurbing and shipping items back
cheers
Les

[Dennis Cardy]

Hello Les,
Would like to contribute a couple of shots from my Uncle's photo album.

He was part of a RCAF crew that built an airfield during WW2 at Massett (Haida Gwaii) British Columbia
Seen here in early days before the paving crew arrived..apparently during July 1943 ??.

A pilot friend…familiar with the area…said "that's probably Sandspit"

I have two questions…was this part of the American Aerial delivery highway to Alaska…or was it Canadian Coastal Defence.?

And ….can anyone decipher the door markings.

RCAF 5075
VC

With a letter "C" next to the upper hinge.

Sems to be early production Ford cab13…with no roof hatch..Tipper body on a C60…??

As it was with-in shooting distance of Japanese submarines…one head-light is blanked-out.
Fascinating photo..
Dennis

[Dennis Cardy]

Oops that's an "S" not a C..on the upper part of the door.

[David Dunlop]

Dennis. I believe the 'S' meant the truck had a 'suppressed' electrical system. Meaning it was all shielded to minimize electrical interference with radio communications, and to some extent, reduce the possibility the same electrical emissions could be used by the enemy to direction find on the location of the truck.

Have no clue how the RCAF Vehicle Numbering System worked.

The 'VC' is very likely the RCAF abbreviated ID for the Station where the truck was based. Here in Winnipeg, RCAF Station Winnipeg's ID Code was originally 'WG'. At some point, this had the letter 'Y' added to the from to become 'YWG'. I have seen both the two letter and three letter ID's for Winnipeg on surviving wartime vehicles but do not know when the change took place.

Hope this helps.


David