Army Bomb Lift....M1?

[Bill_Wolf]

I believe this is an Army Bomb lift for Sale. In Minnesota.... somewhat reasonable. I would buy it but shipping/transportation is an issue. Anybody from the East Coast going to the National MVPA let me know.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... %3AIT&rd=1



Bill

[joel gopan]

Wheels and drawbar( T-Handle) are non-original. Spares for these are non existant. The aircraft tires can cost over $100.00 ea, and the original wheels are extinct. I will get off pic of mine to you later Bill. I have two NOS Bomb lifts, and I have a couple museums and a hand full of WWII Aircraft owners owners after them. I will donate one to an Aviation Museum in the next year.
Joel

[Bill_Wolf]

Joel,

Was the little lift part of the equipment package for the Chevy Bomb truck or was it part of the M-5 Bomb trailer or did it just become part of the USAAF inventory for armorers, or was it something else this youngin' doesn't know about.

The one on ebay went for a pretty good price.

Bill

[Bill_Wolf]

Joel,

Sent me these pictures to post up of his restored M-1 lift

What a beauty!

[joel gopan]

It was an item of equipment issued with the M-6 Chevrolet, there is no evidence of these being part of the equipment list of the CCKW M-27 Bomb Service Truck, but they were issued as ground equipment to all Fighter and Bomber units during WWII(USAAF),and KOREA(USAF). It will also be found with the GTB as used by the USAAF and USAF. I witnessed the GTB in post WWII use at Dow Field. Those were the days, as the base was abuzz with WWII equipment, the Cletracs were everywhere. The WWII photos I have seen show this in OD, but I have evidence of these depicted in Korea in both OD and Chrome Yellow. The M-1 Bomb Lift just seemed to disappear after Korea. The USAF started getting the M-108 Wrecker in 52 and these made bomb handling very simple. Joe DeShay, a line Chief in the 357 Fighter Group, Chuck Yeagers wartime unit, told me that they were also handy for lifting the P-51 Radiator into place. Mine was NOS and left over from the 14th Fighter Group when Dow Field in Bangor Me, was closed in 1949 due to the Hobson Plan. There was another component used with these, it was a "M" shaped cradle that a bomb rested on that allowed the M-1 to be pushed under it in order to transport the bomb from place to place. The 14th was the first USAF Unit to receive the P-84B Thunderjet in 1947. The Unit had many WWII Aces, Arvid Olson, Lewis B Chick, George Laven, Ray Wetmore,Raymond Littge,Joel Paris, John Petrovich, Vermont Garrison, Lonnie Moore(Korea), Clure Smith, Loring Stetson,and the list goes on forever. I have misplaced the Yellow Serviceable Tags. Weaver Mfg of Illinois made these, but all records are now gone as the factory burned in the past 30 years. They are listed in the parts book I have, SNL G-85, Vol. 4, for the M-6. I would not sell one for any price, they have been in my family's possession since 1949. We were at the Main Gate to Dow, and witnessed all the daily activity including many WWII types of trucks and aircraft.
Gotta add that although these have roller beaings, they weigh approx. 250# unloaded, and require considerable effort to pull/push on my lawn, I can only imagine what it was like to move one of these with the various bombs on board during WWII, there must have been a lot of strained muscles as one navigated the M-1 on snow, mud and soft terrain.
FYI, the US Air Force Museum at Wright Patt. has a yellow M-1 bomb Lift on display, the tires are kind of soft, it is listed under ground equipment.
I can remember seeing only one or two listed in the MVPA D-5 Directory of the early nineties.
Joel

[Matt]

Hi Joel,

I met Joe DeShay and his wife a few years ago when they came to the UK.a true gentleman if ever there was one.

Small world isn't it?!

[joel gopan]

He is a rare breed, and in his nineties now. He was in the 357th throughout WWII.
Joel

[joel gopan]

Anybody else got an M-1 Bomb Lift?
Joel

[joel gopan]

I need three more tires like those pictured on mine.
Joel

[joel gopan]

Anyone else have an M-1 Bomblift Truck?
Joel

[Matt]

I saw one in a museum in France last year but that's it.I wish I could find one as I'd like to add one to my AAF ground equipment display.I wonder what happened to all the M1's brought to the UK by the Eighth?

Matt.

[joel gopan]

60 years is a long time, they were either scrapped, or returned with their units. They will fetch more than some will pay for CCKWs. I have only located a couple restored ones in the US over the past 20 years.
Joel

[mmamajor]

Hi Joel, would you be so kind as to send me some good resoultion pictures of your M-1 bomb lift? I really like to see the detail of the whole thing, especially the hydraulic mechanism. Thank you very much! Andy

[joel gopan]

Will buy any and all accessories and spares for this item, especially the "M" shaped bomb cradle. Willing to trade one of my NOS extra bomb lifting bars as pictured previously.(July 03, 2005)
Joel

[joel gopan]

Picked up the second one, it is also "as new", 1943 issue, after fresh paint and new tires, next Summer, it will be going to lucky P-51 owner, or a WWII Aviation Museum down South.

[mmamajor]

Where'd you come across it?? Andy

[joel gopan]

We had them stored since Dow Field closed in Oct 49. I have only found 3 in 40+ years of searching, I have two NOS, the other was seen at a machinery auction 200 miles North of here in the late 60s. Apparantly they were more or less ignored by surplus dealers back in the 40s-50s when they were being used and showing up as surplus. Some thought there was some value as a Transmission Jack, but they did not have lifiing range. most were scrapped. Weaver, the manufacturer, in Illinois has been out of business over 30 years,and the historical records are all gone. There are a lot of Warbird owners and Museums that would like one. There are those that remember hundreds of these offered at Warner-Robbins over 50 years ago. There was no real scrap value either. I kind of enjoy it as it is a piece of USAAF and USAF history. I take it with me in the CCKW when there is a nearby reunion of AAF Vets. Mine have General Tires dated 1943, the inner tubes are also dated 1943. I found a stash of BFG 1944 dated tubes in Boxes at an old dealer out West that saves artifacts for me. The Tires all had flat spots, and I have installed 3 NOS BFGs on the one I display. I gave it a fresh coat of AJP WWII Green last October.

[joel gopan]

I am also lucky enough to have a copy of SNLG-85, Vol 4, which is the Bible for all Parts for the TRUCK,BOMB SERVICE, M6 March 29, 1943. It pictures and lists all parts for the M-6, including the M1 Bomb Lift. It was stored with my Bomb Carts.

Wish I could own a P-51 to display this with.
The Warbird owners want these to display Drop Tanks on.

[mmamajor]

Hi Joel, concerning the M-1 lift...just was wondering what was the procedure to A) lift a bomb and B) release to lower the cradle back down? Did the handle pump like a pallette jack or was there a seperate lever and the handle was just a handle? If you could explain the operation of this lift I'm interested in what you'd like to share. Thank you, Andy

[joel gopan]

used 100% like a pallet jack. Pump Lever on the Left raises the platform, Release Lever on the Right lowers it. Jigs were fabricated at squadron level using discarded crates, or sometimes as in P-47 units a 55 Gallon drum was used to cradle the bomb while it was raised a few inches to shackle the bomb into place. There was a Hand Crank bomb winch available in some instances. Note the"stop" on the lower part of the handle, that enabled the Armorer to push the M-1 backwards. Will add more to this article in the spring or summer when I give my #2 M-1 Bomblift its first Service. I will install 3 NOS tires and Tubes as the original 1943 dated Generals are cracked and have flat spots from 60 years of sitting.
Joel