Built FORD Tough! ...

[Mark Allen M]

All built by Ford. Ford built tanks, trucks and a variety of other military vehicles during the war. Photo taken at the Willow Run Bomber Plant, Michigan

[quemerford]

Nice photos as ever Mark: thanks for posting.

Tracked vehicle at left is an M10 tank destroyer, with late-style counterweights on the turret bustle. Love those things!

[Stoney]

wonder if any of the anphib jeep thing are still around and what is the thing on the left with 2 holes on top?

[Dan Jones]

wonder if any of the anphib jeep thing are still around and what is the thing on the left with 2 holes on top?

I think the "thing on the left with 2 holes on top" might be some kind of Herman Nelson-type gasoline powered heater, but I've never seen one that looked quite like that (and I've known several). But what kind of radial is that in front of the Waco, an -1820?

Last edited by Dan Jones on Wed Apr 19, 2023 8:20 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[bdk]

wonder if any of the anphib jeep thing are still around and what is the thing on the left with 2 holes on top?

Ford GPA is the amphibious Jeep. Still a few around but somewhat rare.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_GPA

An interesting GPA adventure:

https://gearjunkie.com/motors/half-safe ... -the-world

[AG pilot]

wonder if any of the anphib jeep thing are still around and what is the thing on the left with 2 holes on top?

I think the "thing on the left with 2 holes on top" might be some kind of Herman Nelson-type gasoline powered heater, but I've never seen one that looked quite like that (and I've known several!) But what kind of radial is that in front of the Waco, an -1820?

I am guessing a R2800.

[Mark Sampson]

They must have included Canadian production in that photo as well? I see a Bren gun carrier on the right, and the cab-over truck also looks somehow English. Unless American forces used those types? A fascinating promo shot, either way,

[Clifford Bossie]

They must have included Canadian production in that photo as well? I see a Bren gun carrier on the right, and the cab-over truck also looks somehow English. Unless American forces used those types? A fascinating promo shot, either way,

The Universal Carrier (what people call "Bren Carrier") was also built in the US by Ford, with a total production of about 20,000.

The cab over truck is a Ford GTB known as a "Burma Jeep", built in NJ.

[old iron]

I believe the only surviving Ford-built B-17 is at Barksdale AFB in Louisiana.

This is static only with a long outdoor history.

[mike furline]

I believe the only surviving Ford-built B-17 is at Barksdale AFB in Louisiana.

This is static only with a long outdoor history.

Huh? You mean B-24? http://www.warbirdregistry.org/b24regis ... 48781.html

44-48754/49001 Ford B-24J-20-FO Liberator
48781 (MSN 3636) delivered to USAAF Aug 10, 1944. To RFC Altus, Oklahoma Dec 7, 1945. Sold by RFC Dec 7, 1945 to Spartan School of Aeronautics at Tulsa, OK presumably for use as ground instructional airframe. Sold by them for scrap 1960 and languished derelict after engines removed until acquired by Eighth Air Force Museum 1978. As *Laiden Maiden* with Barksdale Global Power Museum, formerly known as Eighth Air Force Museum, at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. On display as "Louisiana Belle II" in Aug 2002.

[tankbarrell]

The B-24 at RAF Cosford is also Ford built.
The universal carrier is a T-16 which was built by Ford in the USA. Ford also built carriers in the UK and Canada.
The tank destroyer is an M10A1 which used the Ford GAA V8 tank engine as did the M4A3 on the right hand side. I think the engine on the right is a GAA.

[JohnB]

It would be nice to have a good book about all the automakers aviation work in the war...engines and airframes.
In addition to the well known Eastern division building Grummans, GM (Fisher Body, IIRC) was supposed to build B-29s in Cleveland, but production plans changed so they built sub assemblies.

Also, a bit about subcontractors....A lot of smaller aviation companies did a lot of subassembly work for larger firms....IIRC, Beech built A-26 wings.

One reads a bit about these programs in the histories of various types but it would be nice to have the information in one place.

Last edited by JohnB on Thu Apr 20, 2023 11:42 am, edited 1 time in total.

[JohnB]

The last B-24 in USAF service, the EZB-24M-21-FO 44-51228 was built by Ford.
After many years at Lackland, it was restored and is ion display at at the American Air Museum, Duxford.