Original survivor vehicle from VMTB-131 found

[PinecastleAAF]

A friend just purchased this Chevy K51 Radio Truck. It has all it's original markings from WW2 intact. It belonged to VMTB-131 which saw action on Okinawa. I've been working on WW2 vehicles for over 40 years and this is the first vehicle I've seen with intact markings from a combat air unit. It's amazing.

We'll be restoring it in my shop, leaving all the markings intact.

[JohnB]

Was the truck in Okinawa, or was it used stateside or Hawaii by the squadron during organization and training?

I can't imagine many vehicles were shipped back from Okinawa, or for that matter why a squadron would need a radio van (unless it was a mobile repair shop or used as just a panel truck).

Last edited by JohnB on Tue Mar 04, 2025 5:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[marine air]

Actually, they routinely loaded broken aircraft, engines and trucks on the carriers when returning to the States. This was common practice as they would be refurbished.

[lucky52]

Pinecastle, will you restore it to running condition or just display condition?

[PinecastleAAF]

Pinecastle, will you restore it to running condition or just display condition?

Back to running, under the hood is in very nice shape we should have it running soon off a temporary tank and just do rust repair and not repaint the entire truck. We should be able to do it justice. It's a real piece of history. These trucks are incredibly rare in the military vehicle world and the markings are the icing on the cake.

[lucky52]

Terrific. It will look great just like it is and running on its own.

[JohnB]

Pinecastle, will you restore it to running condition or just display condition?

Back to running, under the hood is in very nice shape we should have it running soon off a temporary tank and just do rust repair and not repaint the entire truck. We should be able to do it justice. It's a real piece of history. These trucks are incredibly rare in the military vehicle world and the markings are the icing on the cake.

Those are very rare compared to their contemporary "competition" Dodge WC series, so I suspect body parts are difficult to find? Mechanically are they off the shelf GM bits?

I like your restoration plan. I'm a member of the MVPA (with a USAF-marked M38A1) and appreciate how rare it is to have an original paint vehicle with history. Good luck.

[Noha307]

A friend just purchased this Chevy K51 Radio Truck.

What's the provenance - who were the previous owner(s)?

I've been working on WW2 vehicles for over 40 years and this is the first vehicle I've seen with intact markings from a combat air unit.

It reminds me of something that I saw online once, but have never been able to locate again. There's an GPW/MB in a museum somewhere that came straight off the beach of some Pacific island and was shipped back to the United States during the war because the soldiers/marines had such an attachment to it. It still has a bullet hole through the windshield. I thought it was either in the Smithsonian or National Museum of the Marine Corps, but I'm not sure.

[JohnB]

A suggestion for warbird fans....
Okay, you didn't win the lottery and a Mustang, Corsair or B-25 isn't in you immediate future.
Your not a pilot so an L-4, T-6 or T-34 isn't in the cards either.

Try looking into a historic military vehicle.
You can get a genuine military Jeep in driving condition for less than $10,000.
Okay, it won't be a pristine WWII Jeep (MB/GPW) but you could get a M38A1 for that kind if money. Also a M38 or Vietnamese M151. You can get a nice Humvee for less than you might think. I've seen guys restore pickups from the 40-80s, as well as the "off the shelf" Chevy Blazers bought in the '80s for non-frontline use.

Even if you don't want or can't store one, you might enjoy reading up on the MV hobby or join the HVPA club and get its bimonthly magazine.

If you don't want to spend any money, try hanging around with your local MV club. You'll be surprised what you'll find. A guy in my area has a 1970s ex-British Army Abbott self propelled gun. It runs and drives. The gun, of course, is inoperative.
It's so big, he has to transport it by a semi tractor and lowboy trailer he owns. Both exp military and painted to match the Abbott.
You might have fun.

[PinecastleAAF]

What's the provenance - who were the previous owner(s)?

It came from one of my half-track collector friends, he buys entire estates and he bought all the trucks off another estate. After posting pictures on the Chevy forum someone messaged me and said he was the one that found in in Northern Nevada near the Idaho border about 15 years ago. Many of these old trucks change hands quite a few times until they find the right person to restore them. He said these markings were on it when he found it and was glad it was going to get restored. There appears to be the remains of the unit patch on the left rear door, a devil riding a torpedo.