It's rare to see crash tender carrying ladder.The cab of this crash tender looks quite large and unsuitable with this truck, compare with other Oshkosh crash tender model.The windshield and window of this truck look too small for this truck.
Added by Bomba Boy on 27 November 2006.
I was a driver op. at NAS Cecil Field Fa. from 1969 throught 1971. The ladder was on board for one reason to get to the cockpit during a fire to get the pilot out there were 4 crewmember on each truck. Driver, Handlinemen, Rescuemen, and the Turretmen.All four crewmen fit inside the cab .Three in front with the Turretman sitting behind the Handlineman. The windows gave a very good field of vision.The Driver could see the not olny his crew but also the aircraft, other crash fire equipment around his truck.
I was the driver of MB-5 71-01008 from 65 thru 66 at NAS Cubi Point RP I was an airman at the time. I was only 18 years old at the time. We were pretty busy back then with airwings from the Seventh Fleet Louie Cantymagli USN Ret.
I was a CFR man in the USMC from 1971-80, operating the MB5 and MB1. Loved the OSHKOSH MB5 it was quick and nimble. Hated the handline as it was manual rewind. The American LaFrance, Ward La France MB5 were dogs compared to it.
Added by Tom Curcio on 25 April 2008.
The Outside Crew must have worn the heavy bunker gear, with the big "Man From Mars" aluminized asbestos (!) hood with viewing port.
Only ever trained with this gear - but, Man, the radiant heat from the Jet Fuel/Av Gas burning was something else.
I was a D/O of the MB-5 at NOB Bermuda from 1963 to 1965. It was really a joy to drive since it had an auto-tranny. Even with the base 20 MPH speed limit, there wasn't a single D/O that didn't try to hit 70 on the causeway!
Our lighting & generator truck was an MB-2. But you couldn't hot rod it since the gas pedal would often stick to the floor.. :) The new guys always had the most amazing facial expressions the first time they experienced Ramming Speed in the MB-2! (I know I did)!
We saw our first M-5 Oshkosh in 1968 Chulai Veitnam. The had a cat 6 cylinder which was a real hot rod. I remeber that when turning hard left or right the bump from the inside wheel disenguaging or I was told this. The windshield were plenty big and if you notice the turret the Navy/Marines used a low pressure (The pumps were rotary vane with 5 fiber vanes we had to remove and inspect every week.)system which meant we fought fire close and personal. The cabs were very comfterble for the era. inside those side doors we had 3 PKP extingquishers.
It's been 45 years, but did they call those PKP extinguishers, Purple-K?? I never had to use a dry-chem, since we had a lot of CO2 for those kinds of fires.
The extinguisher I remember 'almost' clearly, was the one used for magnesium fires. It actually sprayed out some flammable juice with one trigger and a goop coating with the other trigger. After finding out that it might explode and seeing a demo of it failing to put out a small magnesium fire, I decided it would be best not to ever try to use one!
That Spear nozzle (just under the headlamps) connected to the handline under the nose (see hatch), was for stabbing into the skin of an aircraft. It had angled point sprayhead. Training was fun, since you needed your swim suit to use it.
I think they forgot the mufflers on my MB-5, it had some loud pipes. You could make it backfire so loud, it would make the Jarheads duck. ;)
I rode and fought fires with this truck at Lemore Navel Air Station in 1964 and 1965 our trucks were powered by Chrysler V8's drive line and pumps. We also had mb1's that was a much bigger truck i can't find any pictures of it.
The Purple k was carried in the left side compartment 3 bottles. The agent you referred to for magnesium was called TMB. had a orange band around the stainless steal canister as TMB would eat any thing else.
In regaurds to the Back fire mentioned was the old MB-5 which hade a Chysler Hemi engine and hell yes the did back fire. I am getting pictures made from slides of those wonderful trucks also pictures of the old MB-1 The MB-1 had a Hercules in line 6 to drive it and had 2 Hemi engines to run the 2 pumping system.
Served on the Crash Division at NAS Cecil Field in 1961 and was a member on a MB-5 Crash truck where we where a busy group in that year and had our share of emergencies and the memories I will cherish the rest of my life,had fun at NAS Cecil Field and we had a great crew.
I served as a Crash Crew member at Lakehurst NAS from 1966-1968. MB1 / MB-5 also had a CO2 truck.The MB-1 we had carried two turrets on top. I loved that business, of saving lives.
It is obvious that Bomba Boy never was in the military if so not in crash rescue. But Like it was said it brought out the info. Someone mentioned the gear we wore. Yep it was heavy compaired to today but it sure as heck worked. I've posted some pictures that were taken in ChuLai in 1968 but haven't seen them post. They were of the first MB-5's i hope they get posted as I believe people would like to compair them to the Oshkosh.
as a young sailor in 57/58 at nas el centro, ca. i was a crash crew member on this truck and later driver.had mopar hemi and stick that often stuck in gear and we would have to take it to pw to fix. spent many hours with my crew 'standing by' in the middle of the strip to be first on the scene during ops.it was a great truck and we fought at least 2 big crashes as i remember , rolling up with our turret and under truck sprayer on full tilt.i remember our rescue man sticking the lance thru the side of an A4 with an engine fire . was also crew on MB 1 , two mopar 318s in rear for the pumps and hemi for power. we had two MB5, one MB1, and a big CO2 truck. sailors in the crew and a civilian fire chief. was a great job i loved it.....2 72's a mo, 24 on 24off, port and starboard duty.
It was a good job! Our MB-5 had an automatic transmission. The little MB2 was a standard. We had a civilian fire chief, two fire captains and one civilian DO. We had two platoons and 24/24. But, it was easy to get someone to 'stand-by' for you on a weekend. Might cost you a buck or two.
It saddens to look down on the old base at Bermuda using GoogleEarth, the place has been mostly destroyed.
I remeber in 1984, in the Marines, I was certified as a MB 5 operator at MCAF Quantico. When I left there in 1986, they were still there, even had one at Kaneohe Bay Hi. up until I left in 1989.
I was a D/O at NOB with Rich Tyndall,also a D/O.When you hit the gas to engage the turret, it sounded like a jet taking off.The MB-5 was one hell of a truck. The day President Kennedy was killed,Willard Spencer and I were on the flight line for a defueling operation.Couldn't believe it, when we got back to the firehouse.I was there from 63 to 65. Lots of memories.
Does anybody remember the MB1 Marmon- Harrington crash trucks with the two hemi motors in the back to run the pumps? plus we had one that had ford 302 motors. Who made the one with ford motors?
I was a member of the old MB5 1960 to 1964 and after reading all these Iam shock that no one has talked about dumping a load when you first trained with it, it was easy to do when you think about it(remember push pull and tap the turret operator) if the transfer case was not in the load went out the bottem as soon as turret man it the pedal.NOW YOU REMEMBER!!!L/cpl Earl Northcutt Semper Fi
I remember dropping a load of water in an mb5, I was in the crash crew at nas gitmo bay 60 61 does any one remember the chain arresting gear and la torna dozers?
Added by Bert on 07 November 2010.
Bert I remember the aresting gear very well, especially when it was hit and dragged out we had a MRS to put it back but we had long hooks to make the job complete, that was and is to this day the largest chain I ever was involved with.I dont know about the torna dozers.By the way I remember the aluminum shear pins on either side of the gear. Also putting the half rubber tires back under the cable at Beaufort air station or adjusting them, black widow spiders under almost everyone of them.I was 6461 from 60 to 64. I noticed on the Marines that are no longer with us my first crew chief at the point was Buck J culpepper was one of them and two others I served with, how the time does go by. Semper Fi, Bert Earl
hey bert.... yes I remember those chains and the half tires......what a pain to deploy and retract.bosses screaming ...SHAKE A LEG....damn ! recalling also the times we got called at chow and damn near tore down our crappy little chow hall an NAS El Centro , Cal.....to get to our trucks.....how could any demented SOB send us to duty like NAS El Centro cal , in 58...lol...knowing what I do id like to go back to that time....lololol..... tom farrish, USN Ret
Tom I remember the chow hall but the good thing was when on duty, showing the badge to get to the head of the line so we could get back to the flight line quicker, I can still hear the complaining of the Marines we jump ahead of.
I remember Culpepper now if I can remember what duty station might have been Beaufort. I do know he is part of the Crash Crews history. If you go to AFFR there are a grip of pictures of Crash Crew and the people just might be some of you old buddys there.
Added by Steve Liest on 18 November 2010.
Thanks Steve will do on the pictures. I remember Buck as being a real good Black Jack player we use to play on the hot spot all the time.
I was in cubi pt PI crash crew 64, 65 and part of 66 served on the mb5 and mb1 under crash capt myers those were wild times.kept us busy I like the mb5 one heck of a truck for the time
I was there at the same time I drove cubi 5 mb5 7161008. Were you there when we went to olongapo and were hit by the gernade?
Added by Louie Cantymagli Usn Retired on 26 April 2011.
Was in Crash Crew in the Marines 72 -80. MB-5 memories? Leaky turrent hatch, heaters never worked. But boy was it ever a fire fightin son of a gun. With a good crew and driver, all you need.
Loud Cat engine, rescueman sat on top of steps in back and put on bunker gear next to the engine.
I was in the Sherman Field Crash Crew, NAS Pensacola, Fl, from 1971-1974. We drove both the MB-1 and MB-5. I remember receiving a brand new MB-1 in November of 1972...and was lucky enough to be the driver/operator. Four diesel engines - one drive, one for each side turret and handline, and a small engine for the generator. Heck of a chore to get all four running...especially at night...since I had only about 500 feet to our spot for emergencies. Fun to drive either one. I have a half decent photo of the MB-1.
D/O of MB-5s and MB-1 at MCAF Camp Pendleton 1977 thru 1984, spent many along hours in both vehicle. Also was station at mcas futema OKI whatched the navy dump overboard 10 MB-5s off a ship 25 miles west of Okinawa in in the early 80s
Drove the MB-5, MB-1, 10 ton oshkosh crane, and 50 ton salvage crane.
If I remember correctly didn't the MB-5 have a purple K unit mounted on it, or was it the MB-1? Maybe I am thinking of the old International command truck at Quantico. I know one of the trucks had a compartment with extinguishers, and another compartment for the rescue roll and other equipment. And one of the trucks had a pkp unit mounted on the back.
Ah, I had forgot about dumping a load. Holy cow, only did that once. Got to a training fire, didn't do it right, govner engaged, motors screaming, and all my stuff coming out the bottom.
Yes and the weekly pump vane inspection.
I loved my time a Quantico. Health problems prevented me from attending the reunion this year. Love to see and visit crash crew. Did they build a new building, anyone know?
Quantico 73 - 75, New River 78 -80, USS Nassau ?, and Gitmo TAD in 79 I think.
hey sarg b.....yes, MB 5 had a ppk on the rear ...at naaf el centro we never used it....as I recall, it was for magnesium . like wheels and such....anyone ever do 'WHEELS WATCH ?' what a nightmare in the desert summer heat...good thing I was 19....
Added by Tom Farrish,usn,ret. on 28 October 2011.
Went to the reunion at Quantico this last year and had a great time, I was stationed there 85-86, at the old building, the new one is very neat, alot of rooms compared to the old one. On the opposite side of the field, has its own tower, nice heated barn, couldn't believe it
Added by Bomba Boy on 27 November 2006.