Tracked Jeep-powered aviation fuel tractor?

[Randy Wilson]

Found this photo on page 130 of Flight to Everywhere by Ivan Dmitri, 1944, 240p. It looks like a Jeep-powered tracked tractor for a fuel tanker, used in the desert. I know some WIXers are into military vehicles but I'm not really, but my first "car" was a 1942 Ford jeep. Anyone know what this is? Just curious. The book is very interesting and you can find out more about the author, including his real name here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Dmitri.

Randy

Attachments

[tankbarrell]

It's a Cletrac MG1. Designed by The Cleveland Tractor Company though I think also made by John Deere

[DoraNineFan]

Some surviving examples out there:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHC3SyfuhJQ

[Randy Wilson]

You are probably correct and I have been around Cletracs before and if it is towing not only the trailer but the trailer's wheeled tractor, that would make sense. With the dust and the angle of the photo, it didn't seem the tracked vehicle was towing another tractor. Thanks.

Randy

[tankbarrell]

I think it's more likely the trailer is on a dolly.

[JohnB]

The first official designation was :
"7 Ton High Speed Tractor M2" but later standardized as "Medium Tractor M2", but as previously mentioned, usually called Cletrac.

The reason the one in the photo looks different is the windshield and canvas top.

One book I have said they were known as the "Bomber nurse", used for towing aircraft, fuel trailers and bomb carts.
They were also fitted on the left fender with an air tank and compressor for powering pneumatic tools.
The right fender had a 3kw, 100 volt DC generator with four power outlets.

Seems like a handy thing to have if you have a lot of large aircraft.

Does any warbird collection operate one?

Last edited by JohnB on Mon Feb 05, 2024 11:37 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[Randy Wilson]

Well, I found my copy of Standard Catalog of U.S. Military Vechicles 1940-1965 by Thomas Berndt, 1993, 272p, and on page 253 there are two good photos of the M2 Cletrac, as you all have suggested. I now realize that the man sitting on the hood of the vehicle threw me to thinking he was driving but I see now that's not the case. Now the cab of the M2 makes sense and I agree it is towing the fuel trailer. Photo below from that book. Thanks for your input and help. All the best.

Randy

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[JohnB]

Randy...
I just bought a copy of U.S. Military Tracked Vehicles and its companion, U.S.Military Wheeled Vehicles both by Fred W. Crismon.
Great books, they are the standard go-to books for the military vehicle crowd.
They are both useful to have when studying military history.
I bought mine since I acquired my USAF-marked 1955 M38A1 Jeep.

Last edited by JohnB on Mon Feb 05, 2024 9:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Randy Wilson]

JohnB - thanks for those titles. Have ordered both from AbeBooks. Can't have too many books, eh?

Randy

[PinecastleAAF]

New tracks for the Cletrac are finally being made. They are basically the same as the half-track just longer. If anyone is interested I can find the link.

[tankbarrell]

I now realize that the man sitting on the hood of the vehicle threw me to thinking he was driving but I see now that's not the case.

Randy

That is the absolute worst place to ride on a tracked vehicle.

[Randy Wilson]

I'm sure it is. According to the table of contents of that book, the place is Bengasi, Libya. For a little climate contrast, and another (same?) tracked vehicle, this color photo is from Goose Bay, Labrador on page 221.

Thanks to all for helping answer my original question. More later.

Randy

[ZRX61]

There's 2 or 3 at a local salvage place. Been trying to pin the guy down to sell them for a few years.

[wendovertom]

There was a fairly complete one on state highway 491 by Dove Creek years ago - When we (Wendover airfield) reached out I could never find a responsive owner - then it disappeared. . . . alas!
Tom P.

[bdk]

Can't have too many books, eh?

Randy

My dad did and now I have a problem after he passed...