RCAF Tugs and Tractors 1939-45

[Dave Hadfield]

Hi,

Can anyone point me to a source of photos re tow-vehicles used on RCAF bases 1939-45?

I'm most particularly wondering if anyone has a photo of an International I-4 in use. I know they were used in the USA, as per the one recently found still on the deck of the USS Hornet at the bottom of the Pacific. But Canada?

We're going to use one to tow the Lysander around, so it would be nice to restore it accurately.

Thanks!

[K225]

There is this photo of a Farmall A used by the RCAF on Harold A. Skaarup's web pages.
Steve
http://silverhawkauthor.com/mobile-supp ... f_481.html

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[K225]

This Ford tractor is on display at the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum in Brandon showing the colour scheme.

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ford tractor brandon .jpg (10.14 KiB) Viewed 2146 times

[K225]

Dave
Here's a shot of a 1940 Ford 6n taken at Picton during the war, I had originally thought it was a I-4 until I got looking closer.
Steve

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1940 FORD 6N PICTON.jpg (197.67 KiB) Viewed 2100 times

[K225]

Another type being used but this may be a British make.

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[Cubs2jets]

Hi,

Can anyone point me to a source of photos re tow-vehicles used on RCAF bases 1939-45?

I'm most particularly wondering if anyone has a photo of an International I-4 in use. I know they were used in the USA, as per the one recently found still on the deck of the USS Hornet at the bottom of the Pacific. But Canada?

We're going to use one to tow the Lysander around, so it would be nice to restore it accurately.

Thanks!

OK. I've given this my 30 minute allotment of google search time.

I'm not saying this ISN'T an International I-4. My knowledge of tractors and USN tugs is about zero, but I thought I remembered a post somewhere that identified this tug on the Hornet as "something else". The white lettering says "International Harvester Power" and the post suggested that it was another manufacturer that used the IH engine.

I leave it to you to dig deeper if you want.

C2j

[Mark Allen M]

Not sure the type of tractor this one is.

[DH82EH]

That Lysander carries the same number on the fuselage as the one Dave flies! 416.
The tow bar looks almost as complicated as the Lizzie. how appropriate

Andy

[michaelj2k]

There is this photo of a Farmall A used by the RCAF on Harold A. Skaarup's web pages.
Steve
http://silverhawkauthor.com/mobile-supp ... f_481.html

My grandfather had one of those on his farm. It's how I learned to drive and cut the hay field at the same time.

[martin_sam_2000]

That Lysander carries the same number on the fuselage as the one Dave flies! 416.
The tow bar looks almost as complicated as the Lizzie. how appropriate

Andy

The now ex-vwc lysander that Dave flies is painted up as 416, the first Canadian built Lysander. This is the real 416 later in her life while with 111Sqn in Patricia Bay BC in early 1941.

Sean

[DH82EH]

Thanks for that interesting bit of info Sean

[Mark Allen M]

The now ex-vwc lysander that Dave flies is painted up as 416, the first Canadian built Lysander. This is the real 416 later in her life while with 111Sqn in Patricia Bay BC in early 1941.

Westland Lysanders of No. 2 Squadron at RCAF Station Rockcliffe. (Serial Nos. 416, 419, 418) 1940

[Dave Hadfield]

Great stuff, guys! Thanks!

Yes, Fords were in evidence everywhere -- they were a cheap tractor at the time, not very powerful on a plow, but plenty good for moving aircraft around.

I've had a lot of feelers out. It seems that the RCAF scrounged for tractors, and used whatever they could find, Masseys, Farmalls, Fords, etc.

That British one is a 1939 International I-14. The RCAF ordered a whack of them in 1939 when International was having trouble selling them -- probably got a very good deal. The production line then changed to the much improved I-4 (mostly W-4) in 1939-40. Is this photo taken in England? If so, then some of the I-14s must have been shipped overseas.

Just to be clear, our Lysander is not the original 416. We picked that as a paint scheme to commemorate the production of the Canadian Lysanders, because 416 was the first to come from the factory at Malton.

QUESTION -- each base had a 2-letter ID code for it's ground vehicles. Centrailia was CA. Does anybody know what Borden was?

Dave

[K225]

Dave
The shot of the International I-14 was taken in the Azores.
Steve