The GMC CCKW

These were common surplus items back in the 50s as the M-Series trucks replaced them. Both the Yellow painted CCKWs and the Strata Blue painted CCKWs would have original OD colored wheels on the inside surfaces. Most Fuel Trucks were yellow by then, but a fair number of Blue painted Cargo trucks showed up.

The yellow painted CCKWs appeared to have the most durable finish. Lead based paint was good.

The Iowa/Nebraska Air Guard Unit stationed at Dow in 51-52 with F-51D Mustangs would allow their Softball Team to use an OD CCKW LWB to go into town to use the Fifth St. Jr High School diamond.
I used to cook hot dogs and burgers for them at our restaurant.(I was only 10 )
They would take me to visit their hanger, and buy the lastest Monogram Speedi-Bilt models at the PX for me. I still have a few unbuilt kits, and a B-24 and B-25 Model I built over 50 years ago.

My CCKW cargo was painted flight line yellow with the black U.S.A.F. and hood number on the hood. It was a great paint job as everwhere you looked it was yellow, even under the truck . Even after some 25 years of being abandoned in a sand pit the yellow finish was still visible. The only place I found that had not been painted yellow was the inside of the glove box and the engine compartment, which were still OD.
The passenger side of the front bumper still had the winged propeller in a circle, the emblem of Air Training Command.
The steering wheel was the black rubber type and still black, as was the gear shift knob. The windshield was made of plexiglass, a common item found on airfields.
It is fun to realize that your truck was used by the Air Force. It was sold into surplus at Kelly AFB in 1961 to Keller Materials Company of San Antonio. I am only the second civilian owner of the truck as Mr. Keller gave it to me with the understanding I would resore it. He got to see the truck restored before he died at the age of 84.

Masking of instruments was usually very poorly done. A lot of these USAF trucks had Gas Caps, Windshields, Cab doors, and in the instance of air field Refuelers, compartment doors and hatcheswith the Original red version of what we now call Duct Tape. It was the same tape used to seal Machine Gun Ports on Fighters.

There would be lots of initials carved into dash boards and dash panels. There was a different mentality to the enlisted of the post war USAF.
Many USAF CCKWs in the 50s would have Civilian tires, it was easier to use local purchase.

Many of the Airfield Refueling CCKWs, had the Electric Brake Rheostat on the LH side of the dash.

The electric rheostat on my truck is located on the left side of the dash.

On Cargo Chassis it could have been a mod to tow equipment with Electric Brakes. USAF had a lot of M-5 Trailers etc.