Wayne Works in World War Two
Richmond, IN
1888-1956

This page updated 11-23-2020.

Wayne Works was a company in Richmond, IN that produced 26,002 ambulance bodies for the U.S. Army Medical Corps in World War Two.  The company had multiple name changes, before and after the time it was Wayne Works with various owners and corporate marriages and divorces.  The company's roots actually go back to 1837 in nearby Dublin, IN when the Witt family built a foundry.  In 1956 new ownership merged Wayne Works with Divco.  During its later years, the various companies specialized in school bus bodies.  Finally, in 1992, the Richmond Transportation Corporation filed for bankruptcy and the many iterations of Wayne Works came to an end.

This 1939 aerial photo of the Richmond, IN Wayne Works shows the plant as it was during World War Two.  This is looking to the northeast.

Some of the World War Two era plant still exists and currently is the home of Mosey Manufacturing.  Wayne Works in Richmond, IN ran south to north from North F Street to North H Street.  The eastern boundary was North 17th Street.  The western boundary was North 15th Street.  In 1967 Wayne Works moved its manufacturing from this location to a new 550,000 square foot plant west of Richmond, on the south side of I-70.  Today it is a business park.  Image courtesy of Google Maps.

Wayne Works World War Two Production:  Wayne Works was the exclusive supplier of the bodies for 26,002 Dodge WD-54 3/4-ton 4x4 Army Medical Corps field ambulances.  This was the ambulance that was most used by the U.S. Army in World War Two.  It was the ambulance that moved wounded soldiers from the battlefield to the field hospitals.  It was the go-to ambulance of the Army during World War Two. 

The company also built mobile machine shop bodies, buses, and bus trailers.

WC-54 Army tactical ambulances awaiting shipment in Richmond, IN.

The Dodge WC-54 Truck Chassis with a Wayne Works Ambulance Body:  The WC-54 is one of the most overlooked but most important vehicles the U.S. Army had during World War Two.  If a soldier was wounded in combat, the WC-54 was his life-line off the battle field to a field hospital.  It was the one of the very important links that quickly got wounded out of harm's way to needed medical attention.  Wayne Works of Richmond, IN produced one of the most important American vehicles of World War Two.

Note in the photos below that the Red Crosses are different on the vehicles.  There were several different regulations for markings on the WC-54 during World War Two.  The presence or absence of stars or stars in circles was largely determined by the theater of operations the WC-54 was in.

This WC-54 was on display at the former Victory Museum in Auburn, IN.  The chassis arrived at Wayne Works with front grill, hood, fenders, doors, and windshield all attached.  Wayne Works installed everything behind that.  Author's photo.

There is a sheet metal seam just below the word "Ambulance."  This was the separation point between the Dodge and Wayne Work portions of the vehicle.  Author's photo.

Author's photo.

Author's photo.

The body had three inches of insulation covered with Masonite.  There were fold-down benches to seat six soldiers.  It could also be configured for four litter patients.  There was a vent fan in the roof for ventilation and a heater to keep wounded soldier warm in cold weather.  Author's photo.

These two WC-54s were on display at the 2014 MVPA National Convention in Louisville, KY.  Author's photo.

This WC-54 was on display at the 2015 Rockford, IL World War Two encampment.  Author's photo.

Author's photo.

This WC-54 was on display at the Indiana Military Museum's World War Two History Days in 2014.  Author's photo.

This has the brackets on the right side of vehicle for the pioneer tools.  Author's photo.

The former Wayne Works Factory in 2020: 

This is the Wayne Works plant in 1939 looking northeast.  The multi-story buildings have been razed and only the single story addition remains today.  North 15th Street is the north-south street on the west side of the multi-story buildings.

This shows the streets referenced below.  Image courtesy of Google Maps.

The following series of photos were taken in early November 2020.  This photo was taken on North 15th Street facing east.  The grass area is where the multi-story building used to stand.  The single story building is in the background.  Author's photo added 11-23-2020.

This photo is facing west looking at the east side of the building.  Author's photo added 11-23-2020.

This photo shows the south-east corner of the building at the intersection of North F Street and North 17th Street.  Author's photo added 11-23-2020.

This shows the long east side of the building that runs parallel to North 17th Street.  Actually, the street has become a private drive-way to the fenced-in area that is now part of the facility.  Author's photo added 11-23-2020.

This photo was taken from the north side of the plant looking south along the east side of the building. What used to be North 17th Street can be seen behind the gate.  Author's photo added 11-23-2020.

This is the north side of the building along North H Street.  Author's photo added 11-23-2020.

The blue siding is relatively new.  An older sheet metal siding, which may have been the original, can be seen protruding beneath the new siding.  Author's photo added 11-23-2020.

The concrete has been here a long time, as it is highly aged.  Author's photo added 11-23-2020.