|
Ward
LaFrance Truck Corporation in World War Two
Elmira Heights, NY
1916-1979
Rest in Peace!
This page updated 8-13-2019.
Ward LaFrance is named
after Addison Ward LaFrance, who initially worked for his father as an
engineer at American LaFrance. He designed a spring raising aerial
ladder for fire trucks. As a reward for successfully completing
this project, his father awarded Addison with a car dealership. In
1916 Addison then expanded the dealership into the manufacture of trucks
which he named the LaFrance Truck Manufacturing Company. Due to
the similarity of the name to his father's company, American LaFrance,
he renamed it the Ward LaFrance Truck Company.
Today Ward LaFrance is most well-known by fire apparatus enthusiasts for
its P-80 Ambassador Pumper which was produced during the 1970s.
The most famous of the P-80s started in the 1970's TV show "Emergency"
as Engine 51. Ward LaFrance also built over-the-road trucks, vans
for UPS, dump trucks, cement trucks and chassis for busses and trolleys.
During WWII it produced 5,526 trucks. In
1953-65 Ward LaFrance produced another 1,072 M1A1 Wreckers. Other
post-WWII vehicles produced for the US military included a 6- ton 6x6
Bridge Erection Vehicle, (662) CW750 fire trucks, and (139) MB-5 Crash
Trucks for the US Navy.
Ward LaFrance
World War Two Production Statistics: (5,526) trucks of various
types for the US Army as shown below.
Ward-LaFrance
World War Two Trucks Accepted by Detroit Ordnance, US Army
The information below comes from "Summary Report of
Acceptances, Tank-Automotive Material, 1940-1945"
Published by Army Services Forces, Office, Chief of
Ordnance-Detroit, Production Division, Requirements and
Progress Branch
January 21, 1946. |
|
Type |
Ward-LaFrance Model |
1940 |
1941 |
1942 |
1943 |
1944 |
1945 |
Total |
| 4-ton 6x6 Cargo
SWB w/w |
106 |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
4 |
| 4-ton 6x6 Cargo
SWB wo/w |
106 |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
4 |
| 6-ton 6x6 Chassis
w/w for bridge erecting |
? |
|
|
|
|
157 |
432 |
589 |
| 10-ton 6x6 Heavy
Wrecker M1, M1A1 |
1000 |
|
82 |
1,033 |
1,454 |
1,488 |
868 |
4,925 |
| 10-ton 6x4
Tractor |
204 |
3 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
4 |
|
Total |
|
11 |
83 |
1,033 |
1,454 |
1,645 |
1,300 |
5,526 |
Author's Note
and Disclaimer: The Detroit Office
of Ordnance of the U.S. Army was the primary purchasing entity for vehicles for the U.S. Army during WWII. It also purchased
vehicles for the USMC, US Navy, and for Lend-Lease. However,
there were other organizations that also purchased vehicles
including the Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army Air Force, U.S.
Army Signal Corps, Navy Bureau of Ordnance, Navy
Bureau of Aeronautics, and foreign countries making direct
purchases.
2019 MVPA National Convention, York,
PA: The three Ward LaFrance M1 and M1A1 Wreckers shown next
were at the convention. This was the first time I have seen an M1
version with the hardtop. Two other M1A1a were also there in
another location, but have been photographed by me previously at World
War Two weekend in Reading, PA.
Author's photo added 8-13-2019.
This is a Series 4 Ward-LaFrance M1A1, which
were the only M1A1's with a curved boom. Author's photo added 8-13-2019.
Author's photo added 8-13-2019.
Author's photo added 8-13-2019.
Author's photo added 8-13-2019.
Author's photo added 8-13-2019.
Author's photo added 8-13-2019.
Author's photo added 8-13-2019.
This Ward LaFrance M1 6x6 Heavy Wrecker was
photographed at the 2018 WWII Weekend at Reading, PA. Author's
photo added 6-5-2018.
Author's photo added 6-5-2018.
Author's photo added 6-5-2018.
Author's photo added 6-5-2018.
Author's photo added 6-5-2018.
This is a Ward LaFrance M1A1wrecker
owned by the Virginia Museum of Military Vehicles at Nokesville, VA.
This was photographed by the author at the Museum's annual open house in
September 2016.
This Ward LaFrance Series Five M1A1 was
delivered to Army Ordnance on February 8, 1945. The ID tag looks original, as opposed to
many reproduction ID tags seen on WWII vehicles. This was Ward
LaFrance serial number 55771.
Another interesting aspect of this vehicle
is the War LaFrance nametag on the hood. The Army Ordnance
Department did not allow company names on vehicles purchased after 1942.
This would therefore appear to be a post war addition.
This Ward LaFrance 6x6 six ton wrecker was
photographed at the 2016 WWII Weekend in Reading,
PA.
The Ward LaFrance wrecker returned for the
2017 World War Two Weekend, and towed a GMC 2-1/2 ton truck during the
show. Author's photo added 6-12-2017.
It was also on display with its boom
extended. Author's photo added 6-12-2017.
Ward LaFrance Fire Apparatus: Both
pieces of Ward-LaFrance fire apparatus shown below are at the Nassau
County Fire Museum on Long Island, NY. I have visited quite a few
fire museums over the past several years, and these are the only two
Ward LaFrance pieces of equipment I have found. Ward LaFrance is a
rare commodity among fire museums. The Nassau County Fire Museum
has several excellent pieces of historic fire apparatus on display.
This rare
1952 Ward LaFrance light truck is on display at the Nassau County Fire
Museum on Long Island, NY. This unit served with the
Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department through the 1970's. It was
restored by the Museum in 2007. Author's photo added 6-5-2018.
Author's photo added 6-5-2018.
Author's photo added 6-5-2018.
Author's photo added 6-5-2018.
Also on display at the Nassau Country Fire Museum is this 1952 Ward
LaFrance pumper. Author's photo added 6-5-2018.
Author's photo added 6-5-2018.
Author's photo added 6-5-2018.
Author's photo added 6-5-2018.
|