FIRE TRUCKS AT WAR
U.S. Army Fire Fighting Platoons - WWII
2052 Engineer Aviation Fire Fighting Platoon
| Platoon members with their 1943 Chev-Mack Class 135 crash truck. 14 Aug 44 |
| On the flightline with the 2052nd at Upottery Airbase, County Devon, England. In addition to the Class 135 is a Royal Air Force Fordson Crash Tender. |
| Nissan Hut fire station for the 2052nd. Rigs include Dodge weapons carriers, Class 135, and Class 100 & 1010 fire fighting trailers |
| 2052nd Engineer Aviation Fire Fighting Platoon 14 Aug 44 |
| Many of the Engineer Fire Fighting Platoons stationed in England recieved 5 days training with the British National Fire Service. The fire school was located at Bulford Camp, Whitshire and these photos show one of the platoons with NFS firefighters. |
| The 1667th Engineer Utilities Detachment operated a Fire Section at Bushy Park, Kingston, England, Jan 45 photo. During WWII, General Eisenhower planned the D-Day landings from Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditonary Force at Bushy Park. |
| The 1989th Engineer Aviation Fire Fighting Platoon pictured at Air Force General Depot No 2, Maison Blanche, Algeria, 26 Oct 43. Fire equip includes, l to r, International Class 135, QMC Class 110, Mack Class 125, CCKW water tanker and Dodge 3/4 ton. |
| Fire Station and equipment from the 1224th Engineer Fire Fighting Platoon, Oct 44, Guadalcanal |
| Fire reporting card placed near telephones in Guadalcanal Note telephone number is the same pictured on the front of the 1224th fire station. Thanks to Jason for the image. |
| Our friend Zach Mateja is a WWII reenactor and member of the Airmen's Preservation Society. Zack recreates the 1996th Engineer Aviation Fire Fighting Platoon at airshows and other events. Here is Zach manning the Headquarters Section of the 1996th at the Genesco Air Show in July of this year. It is hoped that sometime in the future the Corps of Engineers will issue the platoon a Class 135 crash truck. Thanks Zack for the pixs and a job well done. |
| Engineer Utility Detachments |
And Other Army Fire Fighting Units
| 1096th Engineer Utility Detachment, Guadalcanal, 15 Oct 44 |
| Army Air Force Air Service Groups |
| Japanise raid on USAAF base at Saipan, Firefighters from the 303rd Air Service Group rush to the scene of the blaze. 27 Nov 44 |
| Firefighters from the 303rd Air Service Group standing by during aircraft operations with Class 135 crash trucks. Oct 45 |
| Each Bomb Group of the Army Air Force was supported by an Air Service Group (ASG) which was capable of operating an airbase complete with aircraft maintence services, finance, communications, medical, security, motor pool and a fire fighting section. Each ASG included a Headquarters and Bases Services Unit, an Air Engineering Squadron and an Air Material Squadron. From our research we have located pictures of several ASGs and found their fire apparatus to include, Class 135 crash trucks, Class 500 fire trucks and M3A1 Decontaminating vehicles. |
| 1666th Engineer Utility Detachment Fire Section, Paris, 1944 |
| As the North American P-51 "Little Angel" was taking off from Central Airfield #2 for a fighter escort mission over Tokyo, Japan, the engine "conked out"; when the plane hit the ground, the pilot pulled up the landing gear to prevent over-shotting the runway. Firefighters from the 363rd Air Service Group, 12 April 1945, Iwo Jima, Bonin Islands. |
| When a North American P-51 of the 15th Fighter Group came in at its base on Iow Jima, Bonin Islands, it slid into the P-51 "Foxy", setting it on fire. Here firefighters from the 386th Air Service Group use foam to extinguish the fire on the burning plane. 10 Mar 45 |
| 303rd Air Service Group |
| 363rd Air Service Group |
426th Air Service Group
| Firefighters from the 426th Air Service Group, Amendola, Italy begin attacking a fire on a B-17G from the 341st BS, 97th Bomb Group. All crew members escaped unhurt. 10 July 44 Class 135 crash truck |
| Class 135 and M3A1 crash trucks from the 358th Air Service Group have rushed to the scene of the burning wreckage of a Boeing B-29 which crashed on Tinian in the Marianas Islands. 10 Feb 45 |
| Army firefighters training at Camp Pontchartrain |
| Members of the 1949th Engineer Aviation Utilities Detachment training at Geiger Army Airfield, 24 Apr 45 |
| Unknown Army Air Force Fire Section pictured at Mullinix Field, Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, 6 Apr 44 1942 Ford-American LaFrance Crash Truck pictured |
NARA Photos
NARA Photos
386th Air Service Group
As another North American P-51 Mustang takes off for Japan, four foam drenched fire fighters from
the 386th ASG combat the flames of a burning P-51 which crashed on take off from AF#1 at Iwo Jima
the 386th ASG combat the flames of a burning P-51 which crashed on take off from AF#1 at Iwo Jima
| Fire fighters from the 386 ASG battle flames in a P-51 Mustang at South Field, 1945 |
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