58 (61) CCKW YEARS AGO

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58 (61) CCKW YEARS AGO

Post by Joe Gopan » Fri Jun 25, 2010 5:53 am

It has been 58 years since the the 314th AAA battalion of the Maine Army National Guard turned in their GMC CCKW trucks and received Dodge 1-1/2 Ton 6x6 Trucks as an interim vehicle while they awaited for arrival of the new M-135 and M-211 M-Series GMC trucks. The drone of dozens of Dodge WC 6X6 trucks passing by our business in convoy on the way to Camp Wellfleet while F-51 Mustangs, F-80 Shooting stars and an occasional B-25 of the USAF circled in the DOW FIELD landing pattern overhead is unforgettable, especially when seated in a new CJ-3A Jeep watching all the activity going by our business.
There are photos of the CCKW's being loaded into Gondola Cars at the Maine Central RR Freight Yard in Bangor, Maine for shipment to Germany. My friend and mentor M/SGT Josph DeRoche was the OMS #6 Maintenance Supervisor for the National Guard 314th AAA Battalion Headquartered in Bangor, and in charge of loading. M/SGT De Roche received a Bronze star for volunteering to take a Jeep with a Towed Howitzer attached out in a Landing Craft in an attempt to shell a Japanese Troop barge tied up off a nearby island. Joe commented that the Landing Craft nearly swamped each time the gun was fired.
Last edited by Joe Gopan on Sat Aug 23, 2014 3:49 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: 58 CCKW YEARS AGO

Post by Joe Gopan » Sat Jun 26, 2010 5:05 am

I have 8X10 photo of the CCKW's and MBT Trailers being loaded onto rail cars in March 1952, but do not have the capability to scan. The Guard sure had some clean CCKWs. The 136th Engineers Commanded by a close relative, had a Closed Cab CCKW with LeRoi Air Compressor until 1959.
The GMC's being turned in ranged from Closed Cab CCKW First series thru late Open Cab Composite Cargo Body.
Last edited by Joe Gopan on Sat Aug 23, 2014 4:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
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Re: 58 CCKW YEARS AGO

Post by fightingiron » Mon Jun 28, 2010 10:26 am

My Uncle was stationed at Camp Wellfleet. We used to pick him up at the end of the day. This would be the very early sixties. It is all now part of the National Seashore. The only thing still there is the Marconi Station. It's all gone.
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1942 GMC CCKW 353
1952 XM107E2 Water Buffalo
1943 M5A1 Stuart Tank (gone but not forgotten)

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Re: 58 CCKW YEARS AGO

Post by Joe Gopan » Mon Jun 28, 2010 2:03 pm

I had my first Pizza ever at Rookies in Wellfleet. The sound of the M125 LeRoi powered 10 Ton 6X6 Cargo trucks that the 90MM units had was unforgettable, they had a distinct exhaust sound like automatic cannon fire. I drove a Gas powered M-123 with theLeRoi V-8, the unusual noise it made would put a smile on your face, they were scary alongside a Volkswagon in traffic as the dual exhaust was angled to the side and at window height.
Last edited by Joe Gopan on Sat Aug 23, 2014 3:58 am, edited 1 time in total.
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HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
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Re: 58 CCKW YEARS AGO

Post by Joe Gopan » Thu Jul 29, 2010 5:32 am

The Guard worked hard and played hard, most guard units of the Camp Wellfleet training days of the 40's-60's were filled with WWII/Korean Vets and had real time combat on the AA weapons. The US Army provided support and maintained the facilities. There was a Fleet of Half Tracks, WWII M-19 Twin 40MM gun carriages to draw on for units that did not bring their own, the USAF had Tow Target A-26 Aircraft for the Sleeve Targets, R-Cat Drones were also provided by the Army along with DUKW's to go out into the ocean to retrieve the expired R-Cats.
Last edited by Joe Gopan on Sun Oct 27, 2013 5:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
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Re: 58 CCKW YEARS AGO

Post by fightingiron » Thu Jul 29, 2010 1:17 pm

You mention DUKW's, all the fire departments on the Cape had them. Military surplus. Two were parked on 6A in Barnstable Village. We use to watch them train doing water rescues. It was something to watch when you were a little kid. Speaking of Camp Wellfleet when the Guard units would rotate the convoys used to come right down 6A. They would leave Otis (Camp Edwards) Halftracks, Dueces, Jeeps, everything. Again as a little kid it was great to watch. Some fellow HMV enthusiasts are thinking about a ride recreation from Camp Edwards to Wellfleet. Figure it would be about a 2 hour ride going down 6A. Anyway just some thoughts.
1943 M3 Halftrack
1942 Ford GPW
1942 WC56 Command Car
1942 GMC CCKW 353
1952 XM107E2 Water Buffalo
1943 M5A1 Stuart Tank (gone but not forgotten)

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Re: 58 CCKW YEARS AGO

Post by Joe Gopan » Thu Jul 29, 2010 1:38 pm

I'll bet the local traffic will be impressed and fire off them good 'ol Cape Cod salutes". :wink: Many of the early 50's units traveled by train, except for the few vehicles they drove down in advance.
The 1954 convoy included many new M-38A1 Jeeps that were open air taxis which had not received their enclosure kits. Also in 1954, the 314th AAA was escorted by ME ANG F-51H Mustangs which provided constant aircover for the 2 day trip from Maine to Cape Cod. The ANG was on their annual training at Otis AFB. ANG Unit Commander was Col Phillip E Tukey of WWII fame. He was a Squadron Commander in the 56FG and CO of the 356 FG. There was a lot of WWII heritage in the 40's-60's Guard units. One of the first post war USAF advisors to the ME ANG was Col Harrison Thyng, a Korean War Ace.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
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Re: 58 CCKW YEARS AGO

Post by Joe Gopan » Sun Oct 27, 2013 5:49 am

The Maine National Guard had two artillery battalions, 314th AAA and the 152nd Field Artillery from the northern part of Maine. At one time the 152nd had the longest one way trip in the US to annual training, over 700 miles to Camp Drum, NY, imagine that in CCKW's and MB's with no side curtains.
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HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
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Re: 58 (61) CCKW YEARS AGO

Post by Joe Gopan » Fri Apr 18, 2014 10:25 pm

The 314th AA BN had an M-74 Tank Retriever from 58-61, it was based on the M-4 Sherman with GAA engine and was issued to tow the M-42 Dusters that the 314th had. The 314th had quite a few WWII Artillery types and they were murder on the R-Cat Drones and Sleeves that they towed.
Back then the physical for a recruit was cursory and performed by 80 year old Doc Ford. Basic training was OJT and the 6 month active requirement was still a few years in the future. B-Battery from Belfast had an enlisted man with a glass eye and it was not discovered until it fell out while firing a quad 50.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
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Re: 58 (61) CCKW YEARS AGO

Post by Joe Gopan » Sat Aug 23, 2014 3:42 am

Convoys to the Cape could be dangerous due to fog, one impatient Massachusetts driver in an MG type vehicle of the period attempted to pass the convoy in the fog and pulled in between an M-135 and the 1-1/2 Ton Trailer it was towing. The trailer went up over the back of the MG and spit back out. Fortunately the driver was unhurt.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
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Re: 58 (61) CCKW YEARS AGO

Post by johnseidts » Sat Aug 23, 2014 6:48 am

A small addition to all the New England love here- I found a screw-back 103rd Infantry Regiment unit crest on a recent flea market trip if either of you need or want one!

EDITED- Thanks for the correction!
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Re: 58 (61) CCKW YEARS AGO

Post by Joe Gopan » Sat Aug 23, 2014 8:23 am

103rd maybe?
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Re: 58 (61) CCKW YEARS AGO

Post by Tin Medic » Sat Aug 23, 2014 9:03 am

"To The Last Man" 103rd Infantry Regiment. My grandfathers regiment from 39-45.
1952 M-37
US ARMY 20955830

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Re: 58 (61) CCKW YEARS AGO

Post by Joe Gopan » Sun Jun 25, 2017 10:16 am

The R-Cat Drones were not always supposed to be the target for the AAA units, the target sleeve towed behind them on a long cable was. The R-Cats had kill switches installed that popped a parachute and cut off fuel when hit. This was not always meant to be and there were times when a still sputtering R-Cat with deployed chute would take revenge on those in the firing range area.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Joe Gopan
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Re: 58 (61) CCKW YEARS AGO

Post by Joe Gopan » Sun Aug 05, 2018 5:15 am

Oh, for the good old days when WWII and early M-Series roamed the highways. :wink:
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO


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