DRIVING A PIECE OF HISTORY

[joel gopan]

If only our trucks could talk. Look at the DOD of your truck and research the WWII events that took place from that day on. Your truck may have played a small part in preparing for those events, or left the production line next to a truck that actually took part in combat. My CCKW was built in May 1941, if only it could talk. I am happy just to own it.

[Nick Bombini]

I don't know what my truck did during the war, but I can track its path through Europe from the data plates on it. It's pretty interesting, it got a new engine in Munich in '52, had a complete overhaul in Berlin in '55, had '78 dated Lucas spark plug wires, had a '50 German made bed. Being a '43 truck that is a Euro return, I'm sure it was involved with d-day and possibly the rad ball express. When I removed a data plate from the dash (the one that is supposed to be on the cowl) and under it written in pencil was the name Ulbrich perfectly preserved. Unfortunately I had to make some repairs to the dash near it and it was destroyed but I have photos.

Like you say, if only the trucks could talk.

--Nick

[joel gopan]

And these European returns could have come from stock left over there as the US a Army went M-Series, or sent over as rebuilds in 50s-60s.
Mine had a Red River Army Depot rebuild plate on the Open Cab Dash dated 1957. It started as a Closed Cab.These trucks were gathered up nation wide and sent to Depots everywhere.
Nick is having a ball with his. I am just content to drive mine out of the stable now and then.

I wouldn't be surprised that some closed cabs were intentionally converted to open cabs to comply with requests of the NATO countries they were reisssued to.

[armydriver]

It is nice knowing that old Betty Boop was used locally at an Air Force Base. That makes her part of San Antonio aviation history.

[joel gopan]

According to Kelly Field Museum your 45 Tipper also has the same history and USA Registration as your 43 Cargo. Which one is which?

[armydriver]

Yes, the trucks did not get far from the "house" when sold to civilian owners.

[joel gopan]

Too many digits in your 43 USA Registration Number.

[42cckw]

It would be nice to know the history of ones truck, but I guess the army was more concerned with winning a war than keeping records on the history of its equipment, after all the life expectancy of jeeps and trucks was less than 90 days in combat All I know about my truck is that it was mfg the 1st of Jan 1942 served with I assume the US Army in the ETO, after that was rebuilt by Rootes of London in 1955 and transfered to the Norwegian military untill sold in 1989. It had less than 3000 miles on a rebuilt or replaced odometer when I bought it from Manny Rogers

[joel gopan]

Face it, the only trucks with available background are those carried on the books of the Center of Military History that went directly to US Army museums from their last Army Unit or the PDO. The record jackets would be retained while the DOD still retains them. All record Jackets are destroyed the instant they are sold, the buyers are not privy to see them.
It must be a liability thing and has been enforced since WWII. The records would show each unit that had custody from the date of issue. There was no reason to waste time on extra paperwork after the truck was sold.

Many of the European return CCKWs have different USA Numbers on the hood and tailgate after much sanding, and I have seen SWB Trucks having USA numbers matching much earlier or later chassis numbers from LWBs, and vice versa.
Many times the USA Registration is a figment of one's imagination and will have too little or too many digits or wrong first digit.
The desire ofhaving a truck with a pedigree thens to generate BS Artists, every show seems to have one.