1951 Ford Military truck Air Force?
#35
02-20-2011, 01:11 PM
#36
02-20-2011, 09:37 PM
#37
02-21-2011, 11:14 AM
OK, How about I start a thread about my old truck....I always meant to do a build thread but I never got around to doing it. I bought the truck back in 06 and sold it in April of 2010.....And yes I regret selling it and wish I had it back. Take it from me....If you have any amount of doubt as to selling or keeping.....always keep it.
I'll call it "My old USAF 51"
I'll start from the beginning...
I'll call it "My old USAF 51"
I'll start from the beginning...
#38
02-22-2011, 01:38 PM
LOWFOMOCO,
As you know, this truck is the real deal, and really amazing at that. I don't know anything about trucks, but I am a USAF history and military plane "nut" and know a bit about the history surrounding this truck, which is remarkable and in my mind makes this truck very valuable. Being that it came from McConnell AFB (I was there in '89), it was definitely a USAF Strategic Air Command (SAC) truck used possibly as a "follow me" truck or more likely used for all-purpose shuttling of pilots to their planes. In the case of McConnell and other SAC bases, this would have been primarily nuclear bomb-armed bombers, which at the time would have been the humungous B-36s, the first all-jet bomber the B-47, possibly some B-29s early on, tanker planes, and a few fighter planes assigned to defend/escort the bombers. The B-52s were probably not used at McConnell yet when this '51 was in use, as they came on later after the B-45s were phased out in about 1964 or 65. SAC was disbanded completely in the early 1990s after the Soviet Union and communist bloc fell. So speaking of "trucks with a soul", this one truly has witnessed history and some stories to tell - "alerts" and "scrambles" where the locked & loaded pilots and crews didn't know whether or not they were flying to the USSR to do the unthinkable with their nuclear bombs, tragic fiery accidents and white-knuckle close calls, the elation of the aircrews coming back home after an exhausting 20-hour mission in a cramped bomber.
To get a really vivid picture and a really good idea of what an active SAC base was like during the early to mid 1950's -- and to see a lot of these trucks in action -- watch the movie "Strategic Air Command": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strateg..._Command_(film) . It's from 1955, starring Jimmy Stewart and June Allyson. It's on VHS probably not DVD, but you can usually get it from your public library on interlibrary loan (I have it in my house right now rented from the library). I think Amazon carries it too, and you can probably download it off of BitTorrent. The movie spends a good amount of time on the flight line and runways and shows "follow me" trucks and trucks pretty much exactly like your '51 Ford taking pilots from their quarters right on up to their bombers. Worthwhile renting/borrowing, and I will bet you will find an identical '51 Ford on it, although I did not specifically look for your truck on the movie when I watched it last night. It's actually a pretty good movie if you're mechanically inclined, like airplanes and warplanes, love history, etc., but of course loaded with plenty of the "Beaver Cleaver" 1950's schmaltzy wholesomeness and Cold War propaganda. A very cool flick anyhow, especially if you want to check out these types of trucks, and a movie you could definitely watch with your kids with no worries, who will love the flying scenes.
As you know, this truck is the real deal, and really amazing at that. I don't know anything about trucks, but I am a USAF history and military plane "nut" and know a bit about the history surrounding this truck, which is remarkable and in my mind makes this truck very valuable. Being that it came from McConnell AFB (I was there in '89), it was definitely a USAF Strategic Air Command (SAC) truck used possibly as a "follow me" truck or more likely used for all-purpose shuttling of pilots to their planes. In the case of McConnell and other SAC bases, this would have been primarily nuclear bomb-armed bombers, which at the time would have been the humungous B-36s, the first all-jet bomber the B-47, possibly some B-29s early on, tanker planes, and a few fighter planes assigned to defend/escort the bombers. The B-52s were probably not used at McConnell yet when this '51 was in use, as they came on later after the B-45s were phased out in about 1964 or 65. SAC was disbanded completely in the early 1990s after the Soviet Union and communist bloc fell. So speaking of "trucks with a soul", this one truly has witnessed history and some stories to tell - "alerts" and "scrambles" where the locked & loaded pilots and crews didn't know whether or not they were flying to the USSR to do the unthinkable with their nuclear bombs, tragic fiery accidents and white-knuckle close calls, the elation of the aircrews coming back home after an exhausting 20-hour mission in a cramped bomber.
To get a really vivid picture and a really good idea of what an active SAC base was like during the early to mid 1950's -- and to see a lot of these trucks in action -- watch the movie "Strategic Air Command": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strateg..._Command_(film) . It's from 1955, starring Jimmy Stewart and June Allyson. It's on VHS probably not DVD, but you can usually get it from your public library on interlibrary loan (I have it in my house right now rented from the library). I think Amazon carries it too, and you can probably download it off of BitTorrent. The movie spends a good amount of time on the flight line and runways and shows "follow me" trucks and trucks pretty much exactly like your '51 Ford taking pilots from their quarters right on up to their bombers. Worthwhile renting/borrowing, and I will bet you will find an identical '51 Ford on it, although I did not specifically look for your truck on the movie when I watched it last night. It's actually a pretty good movie if you're mechanically inclined, like airplanes and warplanes, love history, etc., but of course loaded with plenty of the "Beaver Cleaver" 1950's schmaltzy wholesomeness and Cold War propaganda. A very cool flick anyhow, especially if you want to check out these types of trucks, and a movie you could definitely watch with your kids with no worries, who will love the flying scenes.
Great Info....I'll have to check out the movie....that would be really cool. As for my truck...yes...it came from Wichita Kansas....I actually talked to the base historian and he told me that it was there probably between 51-til around 62 as a general surplus truck. In 51 the base was known as WAFB....Wichita Air Force Base....and in 56 (I think that is the right year) the base name was changed to McConnell Air Force Base after the 3 McConnell brothers who were pilots stationed there. In 56 the base was changed to a SAC base and you can clearly see in the paint where the truck was repainted to indicate the SAC and MAFB over the original WAFB....it is really cool. As you said...in the early 60's the base was changed from a SAC base to something else and the truck was not painted again. From there I was told it was donated to a school....then ended up in a junk yard in Colorado...then a dealer in Ohio bought it. He advertised it on Hemmings and that is when I bought it. My dad and I drove from Lexington SC to Newark Ohio to get it....26 hours round trip with a little sleep in between....It was a great trip. Great story as well...The truck is a real piece of history...that is another reason why I chose not to touch the paint.
Thanks again for all of the cool information.
#40
02-22-2011, 08:53 PM
#41
02-25-2011, 10:43 AM
I just forund the emial from the base historian on my truck....Shortly after I got it I sent pics to the base and here is what they told me...Just wanted to share...
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- The vehicle in question is indeed a 1951 Ford pickup truck.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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></o>- The vehicle registration number on the cab doors, 51B-5148, indicates that the Air Force acquired the vehicle in 1951. The 5148 number is a serial number of sorts and the transportation personnel exactly what it references.<o></o>
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> </o>- This appears to be a general purpose sort of truck. As a result, it could have belonged to any unit on base. At the time in question the host wing at Wichita AFB was the 3520th Combat Crew Training Wing. This wing was divided into four groups: The Flying Training Group, the Maintenance and Supply Group, Medical Group and the Air Base Group. All held the numeric designation of the wing: 3520. Each group carried subordinate squadrons with one of three numeric designations, 3520th, 3521st and 3522d. Each had Maintenance Squadrons except the Medical Group, which did not have any subordinate squadrons. As to which group or squadron this vehicle belonged I can not determine.<o></o>
></o>- The most telling photo for me was 0328 showing the designation, “SAC-MAFB” on the front bumper. This is a key point of reference as to the length of the vehicle’s career. This indicates that the vehicle was at least in service past 1 July 1958. That is when the 4347th Combat Crew Training Wing of the Strategic Air Command took over the B-47 mission from the 3520th of the Air Training Command. The MAFB indicates McConnell AFB. That name change occurred in April of 1954. It also tells me that its service here most likely did not extend past 1 July 1963. The Tactical Air Command’s 388th Tactical Fighter Wing became host unit. Had it still been in service, then that tag line on the truck would have changed to “TAC-MAFB.”<o></o>
></o>- The 5148 portion of the number is the best clue for determining the unit to which the vehicle belonged. It is also the most vexing. One would most likely need a vehicle inventory or maintenance record of the period. Either would indicate the truck’s unit of assignment. It is unlikely the current motor pool folks have anything like that since the 3520th and 4347th are long gone. The web links below are likely good starting points for further info. Groups such as these show an uncanny ability to turn up information. You could also look to the Air Force Historical Research Agency at the link I provided here.<o></o>
#42
02-25-2011, 11:19 AM
#43
02-25-2011, 03:04 PM
Very cool, love the history and all the original stencils. Just something about the old warning/info stuff put on these old trucks really makes it feel like such history. I have a "YOU are responsible for this truck" sticker on mine on the dashboard that was put on by the gold mine that original bought it, just something cool about that.
#45
09-15-2012, 11:47 PM
