Dodge Weapons Carrier

[Mike K]

result of air attack, Darwin area .

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

result of air attack, Darwin area .

Same picture, but in better quality:
1412534_10201077410079819_169930857_o_zps7254ad3a.JPG

[motto]

It's only word of mouth but Angus MacDonald, a WW2 Australian Army veteran who went on to become a post war ex government vehicle and parts dealer told me that Dodge WCs were supplied by the Australian Army for use by mortar crews. Angus had spent his time in the army as an infantryman and saw service in the islands (Borneo, Balikpapan?) and knew what he was talking about.
Simon Allen purchased a WC52 off a farm in the Bandianna area only a couple of years ago and it had the star on the bonnet and what seems to be a fairly standard RHD conversion which appears to be the case with most, if not all WCs found in Victoria. This only lends weight to the commercial post war import story but doesn't negate the wartime use of WCs by Australian forces.

David

[Mike Cecil]

Both 1/2 and 3/4 ton Dodge Weapon Carriers were used by the Army and RAAF. Most went to the RAAF, which also received almost all of the Command Cars.

I have no records of the RAN receiving any, at least not by legal inter-service transfer!

There were also examples in use with RNEI Forces in Australia: I remember seeing one, a winch model 3/4 ton Weapon Carrier, in a shed in Qld around 2005, battered but very restorable, with RNEIAF markings.

Mike

[Mike K]

The Canadian cycle Co. of Melbourne were selling surplus Weapons Carriers just after the war . At Corowa , a chap came up to us with paperwork , his dad bought a WC from CCC , he showed us the receipt and also the sales blurb. He was restoring the Dodge and he was asking about joining the VMVC ..I don't know if he did but I've never seen him since that day .

[jack neville]

Did this WC get restored?

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by jack neville

Did this WC get restored?

The chap was showing us pics of his restoration, he also bought some Dodge WC stuff from dinger Belfield . I recall Ian Jarrott was talking to him at length. It must have been 2005 as I was there that year.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

Both 1/2 and 3/4 ton Dodge Weapon Carriers were used by the Army and RAAF. Most went to the RAAF, which also received almost all of the Command Cars.

I have no records of the RAN receiving any, at least not by legal inter-service transfer!

There were also examples in use with RNEI Forces in Australia: I remember seeing one, a winch model 3/4 ton Weapon Carrier, in a shed in Qld around 2005, battered but very restorable, with RNEIAF markings.

Would the latter be this one? http://mapleleafup.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8642

Can you explain the blue colour? It must have been a colour available for painting aircraft, used by the ground crews to tart up their truck..

[Mike Cecil]

Not the same vehicle I saw, Hanno. The one I saw/was shown was in faded Olive Drab with RNEIAF markings.

Cannot explain the blue. The RAAF were committed to camouflage painting throughout the war, but by late 1944/ early 1945 in Australia things began to ease off, and more latitude seems to have been tolerated. Don't have a clue about RNEIAF policy, though.

Mike

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

Not the same vehicle I saw, Hanno. The one I saw/was shown was in faded Olive Drab with RNEIAF markings.

Cannot explain the blue. The RAAF were committed to camouflage painting throughout the war, but by late 1944/ early 1945 in Australia things began to ease off, and more latitude seems to have been tolerated. Don't have a clue about RNEIAF policy, though.

That would make at least two of them. Would you happen to have any pictures, or a contact?

RNLEIAF policy's must have been the same as Australian ones, as for example 18 (NEI) Squadron first was an RAAF Squadron, and only later became part of the Netherlands East Indies Air Force, but still under RAAF command. As far as equipment and painting thereof, they must have been largely - if not completely - the same as RAAF units.

I think the blue was not official, it was most likely a local initiative based on the time and paint available. Who knows, it was the Squadron Commander's personal ride or some-such?