Please be advised: this website contains the names, images and voices of people who are now deceased.

Collections WA has a responsibility to preserve and make accessible the history and culture of Western Australia in all its various forms. The intention of Collections WA is to support research, and to reveal actions of the past that have impacted upon communities, families, and individuals.

In doing so, Collections WA acknowledges the need to respond sensitively and appropriately in cases when accessing this material may be confronting to Aboriginal visitors and clients.

Please also note: Some historical materials within this portal may include language or opinions that today are considered inappropriate or even offensive. Collections WA does not endorse this language and apologises for any distress caused.

Continue

Continue showing cultural advice

Stop showing cultural advice

Collections WA brings together collections from libraries, galleries, museums, archives, historical societies, cultural organisations, community groups and other collecting organisations across Western Australia.

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

World War 2, Australia, Royal Australian Engineers, 1943

« Prev Item Next Item »

1943

Overview

View of two soldiers with GMC 6X6 truck under makeshift shelter

Historical information

Probably the most commonplace truck of allied armies in WW2: The GMC 353 (and its shorter wheelbase variant the 352) has been nicknamed on the field "Jimmy", "Deuce and a Half" among others. It formed the mobile bulk of the famous Red Ball Express, the lifeline keeping the Allied armies roll during their big push after the Normandy breakout, straight to the Rhein and beyond. It was called G-508 for the US Army Ordnance and was the most prolific off-road medium/heavy truck of the allies, declined into at least 50 variants and more sub-variants. The LWB CCKW 353 6x6 truck is by far the best known, pretty much standardized truck manufactured in the US from 1941 to 1945. Many of these trucks arrived in Australia for US and Australian Army use.

Details

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-P2014.21.1k

Item type

Themes

War and Conflict
War and Conflict > World War 2

Year

Geotag

41.674786965668, -86.262121171759

Open in Google Maps

Nearest geotagged records:

World War 2, Australia, Royal Australian Engineers, 1943 (0km away)

View all geotagged records...

Links to additional resources

GMC 2 1/2 T Truck

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

Organisation Details
View Collection
Item Feedback

Other items from Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

Media Reuse | View Full Size | Item Feedback

Scan this QR code to open this page on your phone ->

Full size unavailable (you're already seeing this image in its highest resolution available on Collections WA)

Loading...