Let's not forget the military and the federal firefighters out there. I would like to see an engine or truck. I believe Pierce has the contract for the US Government. How about an engine from the department that covers the white house???
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Military/Federal Firefighters
I agree with extinguisher911 about seeing more engines/trucks. Having served as a firefighter in the USAF for 5 years and 20 years as a Federal firefighter I think it would be appropriate to see more engines/trucks from the USAF. Of particular interest would be the KME Aerialcat from Andrews AFB, as well as the KME Pumpers which are really unique in their design. I'm sure many of the other military bases have other equipment that would also be of interest to us firefighters. An engine from the department that covers the White House would be a great collector's item.
The problem with a military release is that most military fire equipment is very bland with generic markings. The two Navy ARFF's coming out will probably be the last military release for a long time. I don't think even those will sell out.
Yes, I agree that most military equipment is rather ordinary, but there are many bases that design the their own logo's and markings to go on their apparatus which is unique like the equipment from Andrews AFB. It has been awhile since any crash trucks have been produced, but I think the 2 Navy arff vehicles will sell pretty good.
The P-15 would be an excellent addition to anyone's collection, but especially to us who were firefighters in the military. The P-4 also is a vintage crash truck that I would like to see produced. The newer crash trucks P-23's are the one's that really look nice because most of the bases have them with a variety of logo's on them from their respective bases. Also, the KME aerialcat and pumpers are nicely marked. The P-2's made by Quality of Alabama are a vintage crash truck which used to be gas, but they were modified and went to diesel. They were a workhorse and reliable.
As long as we're talking vintage ARFF, how about some O-6s, O-11s, and R-2s?
I would be interested in these also. I used to drive a 530B which was our 2nd run pumper when I was stationed at a base in Michigan. I loved driving that truck!!
guest poster
P-2 was made by Quality.......However P-15 and P-4 are great choices also. I still have my P-15 but will soon be removed from service.
I was at a couple of bases that had P-15's (Andrews AFB, Torrejon AB, Spain, Wurtsmith AFB). What will they be doing with the P-15 once it is out of service?? I know some bases use them as static displays (March AFB). They have a P-15 on display down at Goodfellow AFB and it is painted red with white striping. If you had any pictures of the P-15 from your base could you send me them through the email??
Most of the P-15s will be sent to DRMO surplus auction or sent to Crash Rescue Equipmwent Services in Texas for rehab and sale to other ARFF units whereever worldwide. The funniest think is the USAF is keeping a bunch so when a base sends P-23s goes down to CRES for rehab they ship out a P-15 to cover. Everytime an AFB drops a P-15 they replace it with TWO p-23s (one eight wheel drive with 6100 gallons vs two eight wheel drives with 6000 gallons....hmmmmm?)
For great photos see Dodfire.com under fire trucks, left hand column
If not there is a cool model in the Oshkosh Factory Inspection bay of a P-15, homebuilt, big too, about 3-4 feet long
I, by the postings here may have been wrong about the P-2 being "oshkosh" They Crash 13, and Crash 14, two P-2's at Torrejon AB, Spain, had "oshkosh" horn buttons on the steering wheel, replacements maybe. But in the late 80's I saw a bunch of them at the KME plant in PA. So what are they now...LOL. Patrick when were you at TJ? Quack
In the mid 1980's. We had a P-12 and P-8 pumper. P-10 rescue truck. 2 P-19's, F-6 runway foamer. P-2's. P-15. I have the pictures of all the equipment from Torrejon somewhere in one of my photo albums. We had for aircraft F-16's, C-141's, C9's would also come in there. We would also get C5's. We also got lot of transient aircraft from other Countries.
Oshkosh built them, Quality rebuilt them and threw out the two gassers for diesels, either way one tough as nails pig of a crash truck. Just don't be assigned to it with big feet (doorway step was REALLY narrow).
TORREJON AIR BASE
I spent some time on the P-8 at the Royal Oaks FS while stationed there from Jan85 thru Dec87 with TSgt Harbin. Who remembers "Chispa", the department dog?
Hey Chris, I remember Chispa, geez she was a FAT dalmation. I was engineer for roaks engine 16 spent much of 84 at Royal Oaks. I was stationed at TJ 83-85.
We have a 1990 P-15 in our vehicle maintenance that was retired last year and replaced with 2 Oshkosh Strikers a 1500 and 3000.
The P-2 was originally built by FWD in Wisconsin, got my license on a gas one just before it was shipped to Quality for the rebuild, left with Continental 6 cylinder gas and came back with new Detroit 8 cylinder diesels, was quick but they should have upgraded the brakes.
AF also has some good looking rescues that would make nice diecasts.
TWH is making a diecast of the AF Striker 3000 for around $300.00.
guest poster
How about something like this
Hi. I also was a USF firefighter, back in the 70's. I was stationed at Loring AFB, Maine, and went TDY to Andersen, Guam in '73. I also served at Westover in the Reserves for one year, '76 -'77. I was then hired by the City Of Nashua, NH FD, from which my father retired in '75. My brother worked there briefly, 2 yrs, around '69 - '71.
Oh, yes, I would love to see the O-11s, and the P-2 as die-cast models. I actually have very tiny, resin model kits of the O-6 and O-11A, a firefighter friend had given me some years ago. I still haven't made them. What I am working on is a detailed model of the HH-43B/F Huskie, in 1/32 scale, the old Hawk kit, and later out by Testors, with Cobra resin and metal super detail set. I actually built my first one while at Fire School at Chanute AFB, IL in 1972. I do need more detail pictures of the two Fire Suppression Kits, (FSKs) that were used with the Huskie. I have plans to build other USAAF and USAF airfield crash trucks from WW2, the Korean War, and of course from my own era in the Air Force. zif anyone has any pics of the HH-43 or especially of the FSKs, pleeease let me know. Also, if anyone still has any fire school books on the O-11A and O-11B, the O-6, the P-2 ( I went to P-2 school at Chanute in Oct., '74), the P-4, or any T.O.s dealing with any of these, please let me know how I may get you to copy them off for me, or put them onto a CD/DVD for the computer.
The P-2s were not originally built by Oshkosh. They were originally built by FWD. With the diesels put in by Quality, also came roof turrets with half the gpm output and electronically-operated bumper turrets instead of the old hand-operated ones. The P-2 was fun to drive, and powerful. They could go through some big snow drifts at Loring!
I am disabled after a 1993 house fire, while station 2 lieutenant for the Town of Saranac, NY VFD. I ende up having to have 9 operations, including 2 on my broken neck. Firefighting is still extremely important to me, especially my Air Force days. If you can help with any of the things I've mentioned, please let me know. And let's get Code 3 to design and produce some of our types of fire apparatus, stuff that protected billions of dollars of military aircraft on every base, and the terrific folks who flew them, maintained them, and supported them.
We have a son, a second LT, now stationed at Luke AFB, AZ. His name is also Roland R. LaFrance,, but is Jr.
Thanks, and GOD bless!!!
Roland R. LaFrance, Sr.
disabldfirefiter (aka: Radar [at Loring], and Doc)
