This Month's Featured Truck
1942 Mack Type 45
Our Mack is a Type 45, serial # 45S1108. It has a Hale 500 GPM pump, 150 gallon tank. It was built for and delivered to the U.S. Army: December 4, 1942. We have been unable to trace its Army service, other that it was shipped from the old Mack plant in Long Island City, N.Y. to Fort Worth, Texas.
It currently has fully functional fire extinguishers: 2 Dry Chemical, 1 2&1/2 gallon water "pump can", and 1 15# Co2. It also carries: a pike pole, extension and roof ladders, numerous nozzles, adapters, strainers, red line, and 1&1/2" and 2&1/2" fire hose. The hose was added to the rig as it left for the Church. When we bought the truck the hose was still rolled up with its original twine binding! Hose test dated 1971!
After World War II was over, it was sold to the City Of New Orleans (with several other surplus fire apparatus) and it was titled in Louisiana in 1945 as a 1945 model. But we have a copy of the construction records (obtained from the Mack Trucks Historical Museum, Macungie, Pa.) so we know the true birthday! We also have black and white factory delivery photographs, showing its original olive drab paint job!
During its life in the NOFD, it was painted red, twice. Numerous modifications, an overhead ladder rack, Ahrens Fox bell, pipe mount Beacon Ray, and tools were added during its service as a front line engine in New Orleans. As she aged, she was assigned to spare status as Reserve Engine 54. Its final days of service were as a training pumper at the NOFD fire academy. There it received its third and final paint job, a brush job by the fire school trainees!
In 1971 NOFD released the truck to the Catholic Church, retirement facility and fish farm at Lacombe, Louisiana. The idea was for the Mack to protect the facility and also, to aerate the fish ponds! The fish hatchery did not work out and so the old fire trucks only duty was to protect the facility, and to give rides to kids and attend parades, etc. Concerns about liability ended its parade appearances.
It responded to 3 fires, a pump fire, tractor fire and smoke report during its years in Lacombe. It was maintained by Monsignor Kieran J. O'Hara, O. Carm. who started it faithfully once a week, for 23 years till we bought it from the Diocese, on July 5, 1994.
It is now the centerpiece of our Friendship Veterans Fire Company 8 Museum!
