1944 C-15A-Wire-5 Restoration

[Robert Bergeron]

Friends,

Thanks to Richard's excellent work , the truck is running and functional.

I am taking over the restoration of the box. I have removed the interior wood paneling thus exposing the bare aircraft aluminium.

I have cleaned everything up ready for a layer of aviation zinc chromate primer.

That will be in my next report.

Stay tuned and thanks again to Richard for the excellent work.

Robert

[RichCam]

Looking good Robert! Can't wait to see the interior pictures once you have finished the interior wood paneling! Cheers and good luck.

[CWO (ret) Gilles Aubé]

Originally Posted by Robert Bergeron

Friends,

Thanks to Richard's excellent work , the truck is running and functional.

I am taking over the restoration of the box. I have removed the interior wood paneling thus exposing the bare aircraft aluminium.

I have cleaned everything up ready for a layer of aviation zinc chromate primer.

That will be in my next report.

Stay tuned and thanks again to Richard for the excellent work.

Robert

Bonne chance mon colonel.
Gilles

[Robert Bergeron]

Merci Gilles.

As advertised , here is the result of the zinc chromate treatment on the inside of the box .

Before spraying i carefully removed the oxydation on the aluminium parts with a non-metalic scouring pad. The steel i cleaned up wire a steel wire brush.

Next step will be the woodwork when my friend and helper Daniel comes back from.. Florida ( lucky SOB ) in about a week or so .

In the meantime we are going to have a public showing on Armistice Day ( Nov 11 th) in the streets of the local community.

We ( at the local Legion ) are organising a small parade. First in order of march will be a 1944 Jeep , then a 1944 UC No2 Mk 2 and closing the march the 1944 Wire 5 truck. A police escort will open the cheering crowds and push away the screeming women and prevent them from tearing off our clothes ..we wil be buried in flowers just like in Holland 70 years ago ( we wish ) ..

Cheers and don't forget to attend the ceremony at 11 O' Clock or observe 1 minute of silence in memory of our fallen.

Keep tuned , same time , same channel.

[Robert Bergeron]

Q. What does this marking on the aluminium mean ?

I read AC 57 1/2 or AC 575 1/2

It was roll painted on all the bare aluminium sheets inside the box .

Waiting for a final word before applying the last coat of primer .

Cheers.

Robert

[chris vickery]

Likely just maker mark or type. Were these original panels or new skins?

[Robert Bergeron]

Hi Chris,

All original aluminium from 1944.

I have seen similar maker markings on aircraft aluminium on military and civilian airplanes .

My theory for AC is : Aircraft .

Raw materials and aluminium were becoming more abundant in 1944 . Aluminium that was destined only to military aircraft production in the early years now was used for other purposes.

Robert

[David Dunlop]

Might also just be the ID for the Aluminum Company of Canada.

David