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.
Dodge WC-54
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.
This table shows the acceptances of the WC-54 ambulance
chassis by Army Ordnance. Dodge built the chassis for
the WC-54 in its Mound Street plant in Detroit, MI and then
shipped the chassis to Richmond, IN where Wayne Works
mounted the ambulance bodies to the rear frame of truck.
Wayne Works was the final assembly point for the WC-54. |
Type |
Registration Numbers |
1942 |
1943 |
1944 |
Total |
Comments |
Truck, 3/4, 4x4
Ambulance |
75068 - 75083 |
14 |
2 |
|
16 |
|
Truck, 3/4, 4x4 Ambulance |
77841 - 78690 |
850 |
|
|
850 |
|
Truck, 3/4, 4x4
Ambulance |
78691 - 79999,
710000 - 718635 |
9,035 |
910 |
|
9,945 |
718343 - 718645
(293 units) went to the U.S. Navy |
Truck, 3/4, 4x4
Ambulance |
718636 - 719045 |
|
410 |
|
410 |
|
Truck, 3/4, 4x4
Ambulance |
721000 - 732635 |
|
11,617 |
19 |
11,636 |
|
Truck, 3/4, 4x4
Ambulance |
732636 - 735779 |
|
217 |
2,928 |
3,145 |
|
Total |
|
9,899 |
13,156 |
2,947 |
26,002 |
|

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.
|