The concept of organized protection of civilians from military action spread widely after World War I, and since then the triangle has been an internationally recognized symbol of civilian defense.
The Cold War threat of nuclear attack hung over much of the FCDA planning of the 1950's and 60's, including the building and equipping of fallout shelters. But the organization and its equipment were also available to help in other types of disasters, and Willys no doubt saw Jeep 4-Wheel Drive as a strong selling point for vehicles which might be called upon to respond to situations such as floods or earthquakes. However, the competition from other automakers for this limited market meant that the Rescue Truck was not a big seller. Willys-Overland Production Figures show only fourteen 6-226 4x4 "RT" vehicles with serial number prefix 54068-07 were built between 1956 and 1959.
This 1959 truck belongs to Paul and Jane Barry of Willys America. It logged 3300 miles in Civil Defense service in Keewatin, Minnesota, where it was retired in 2006, the same year the federal government officially dropped the triangle Civil Defense logo seen on the truck.
Paul took this photo displaying the kind of equipment the Rescue Truck would have carried, including protective gear, breathing apparatus, block and tackle, battery lantern, and fire fighting tools.
The back cover of the 8-page Willys brochure (front cover seen above) shows the equipment stowed in the truck. The LDR was available from Willys as a vehicle only, or equipped with either the standard FCDA tools or both the standard and supplemental FCDA tools.
Apparently Willys was also in competition with itself for the Civil Defense market. This 1967 photo shows what looks like a stripped-chassis Willys truck with an aftermarket oversize cargo box.
The photo from Union County, Ohio EMA is captioned "Rescue squad truck and trailer-mounted generator of Union County Civil Defense at scene of TWA jet airliner crash near Urbana (Champaign County, Ohio), March 9, 1967." (Courtesy of the Civil Defense Museum.)
Pages 2-3 of the brochure trumpet the fact that Willys managed to meet the FCDA specifications.
Pages 4-5 are basically more of the same, plus a mention of 4-wheel drive.
Pages 6-7 list the Jeep's mechanical specs, and the standard and supplemental equipment available with the truck.
Thanks to Ryan Ruck for the brochure, Paul and Jane Barry for the photos of their truck, and Eric Green of the Civil Defense Museum. -- Derek Redmond
See information on Civil Defense geiger counters carried by a Valley Fire Truck on The CJ3B Page.
See also the Q Van Jeep FC rescue truck in Australia.
Return to Fire Service Jeeps on The CJ3B Page.
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