Post War Commercial Civil Defense Trucks

[Ian Johns]

Here's some photos of a truck from my landlord collection

[Dave D.]

Originally Posted by Ian Johns

Here's some photos of a truck from my landlord collection

I really like that GMC and finally found some time to get on board to share some pictures of my own.

Jes was very kind to get a thread started so I'm going to follow-up to see what other info you folks have that I can learn.

I currently belong to the new and growing Canadian Civil Defence Museum Association. We're digging up stories about Civil Defence and realize that the topic base is as big as the country. From the early nuke research, FIFO kids watching the skies, aircraft development, the transition from CD to EMO (Emergency Measures Organization), the take-over to military evacuation/ rescue planning, hidden hospitals, the NDFRS (nuclear detonation and fall-out recording system) civilian commercial vehicles/ military vehicles used for CD purposes and on and on and on.

Keeping true to the title of this thread, I'll take any pictures, stories, info, experiences, history about CD vehicles. We don't need to stick to just commercial units so include any Cold War related info you want to include.

The Mercury in the picture is one item we'd like to find and restore to its former glory. The 51' suburban is already in the barn but we don't really know if her duties were CD related or what job she had in service.

Any info that you can add is greatly appreciated.

[Dave D.]

Here are a few more samples of CD trucks that would have been used in the early days of CD preparedness. One of the most interesting is the Commer firetruck that would be worthy to find and restore.

The early days of CD preparedness included the standardization of fire hose couplings across Canada so hoses could be transported and used anywhere.

If anyone finds more photos of CD specific vehicles, we'd love to see them.
Check out our facebook page and website for more info. So far, all the costs of running the sites have been privately funded by its members and all we ask is if you like what you see, let us know with the like button.

http://civildefencemuseum.ca/ Volume warning notice
https://www.facebook.com/CanadianCiv...umAssociation/

[Dave D.]

In the early 1960's a decision was made to add the military into the Civil Defence planning. This was in part due to the recognition that target cities may need to deal with a "No Warning" nuclear threat. Rescue crews and equipment were decentralized and trained in rescue operations.
Reception towns were prepared and a bunker system was continued across the Country.
Some of the military vehicles that are documented to be ready for a nuclear strike were the M37, M135 and the 20-ton crane.

[charlie fitton]

When I joined, we used to have training manuals around that focused on 'National Survival"

Rescue stuff, ropework, tunnelling to find victims..

Any of these manuals in your collection?

[Ed Storey]

Here is a manual from 1999.

A-JS-040-000 TS-002 Emergency Preparedness Starts with You - 1999.jpg

[chris vickery]

I have some CD decals at home. I will get some pics on the weekend.
If memory serves, they indicate that the vehicle they are affixed to is registered with CD for use in a time of emergency.
I suppose back in the cold war days that there must have been some type of National program which encouraged citizens to volunteer there services and vehicles when and if required.

[Dave D.]

Originally Posted by charlie fitton

More like this...

Originally Posted by Ed Storey

Here is a classic from the era.

Attachment 87020

Originally Posted by charlie fitton

When I joined, we used to have training manuals around that focused on 'National Survival"

Rescue stuff, ropework, tunnelling to find victims..

Any of these manuals in your collection?

We have not seen any of those manuals. The closest one we have is the Demonstration of Survival Operations dated March of 1960. The older version Ed posted is even earlier than the Sept. 1959 date when the army initiated the National Survival Attack Warning System.

Very cool stuff Gentlemen! The general population doesn't even know any of the planning existed so we're pushing to get more of the info rendered and available for education.

Tried to post some bunker engine photos last night but got some sort of error code so we'll give it another shot. Thanks much for the input guys.

[derk derin]

I had a collection of Civil Defense Canada items that all went to the Civil Defense Museum Fred Armbruster has been working on. I believe he had a vehicle in the collection. Here is the MLU forum link to the stuff I had as well as Fred's link to his museum.
http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...=civil+defence
Regards,Derk