MY CCKW

joel gopan · Post by **joel gopan** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 11:46 am

When I sit in my CCKW, the years travel back and I see young WWII GIs, hear the B-17s and P-51s, and smells the grease on the coveralls of the WWII mechanic. I also relive the korean era when the field was alive with WWII trucks, F-51, F-80, F-84, F-86, B-25, A-26, SB-17, KB-29, KC-97s Much more so when parked in the shadow of Hanger 1 at Dow Field, Bangor. Many WWII aircraft passed thru Dow on the way to and from ETO/MTO. I can still remember the noise of dozens of WWII aircraft being preflighted at daybreak. Our family business was right at the main Gate.
It is only 5 miles straight down the road frome me now. 3 Traffic Lights and a left turn to the hanger, 150' off the main drag. Just me, my CCKW, my dawg, and a cup of Dunkin Donuts Coffee on am lazy Sunday afternoon. Dow has a lot of NATO traffic now.

joel gopan · Post by **joel gopan** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 1:51 am

During the Korean War Dow had many CCKWs in the MVS (Motor Vehicle Squadron), some had snow plows mounted. I remember the CCKWs well as most were OD color except for Air Field refuelers. It was neat to see them going into town loaded with GIs headed to Fifth Street Jr High School athletic field to play Soft Ball, or stop at our hamberger joint for coffee to go.
I could go on with memories of Cletracs, Clarcktors, Beidermans, and 5 Ton 4X4s, but have no pics, just memories. I do remember some of the 5 Ton 4X4s with Fuel Trailers behind. Many had torn, flapping canvas on the Cab Covers.
I have a few NOS Crated HQ Field Desks from the unit that were sold surplus in 51-52 while the Iowa-Nebraska Air Guard was stationed at Dow.

joel gopan · Post by **joel gopan** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 1:51 am

Dow Field had a Maine Central trunk line thru it for supplies. The Base opened in 1941, and the Air Force moved out in 1968. The tracks stayed the same thru the years , but as the base developed commercially, bits of the track were removed and little remains today. I can remember the steam locomotives hauling into Dow in the 40s-rarly 50s.
If only the truck could talk, as it was eyewitness to history, as it was alongside Hanger 1 where all those B-17s parked on their way to war. It is where I stop and have my Coffee every day and visit on clear summer Saturdays and Sundays in my MB or CCKW to relax and watch airport activity. Every so often more track is removed, and the ties piled up, and I get to salvage those '41 dated nails that are driven into each tie in order to date them.
I had many old friends who helped build Dow Field, and ironically, I got to tear a little bit of it up 66 years later.