Restoring a rare WW2 Airborne Dozer.. Hasn't run for 45 Years

The Clark air Crawler model CA-1 was a small airborne bulldozer designed for improvement of runways in World War II by the United States Armed Forces.

In 1942, the United States military created a new engineering unit that would be extremely mobile; this could only be done with light equipment. The military began looking for a new bulldozer small and light enough to be flown in the Douglas C-47 and the Waco CG-4A. When the parameters were set, the military looked for a company to create such a machine.
They were to draw inspiration from the US Forestry Service's "trail tractor" (a small tractor for use in small clearings and fields within the forest).

In 1942, the Clark Machine Company took the contract. Clark initially built 14 operational dozers and conducted extensive tests at their facilities. Once proven, the military ordered 800 more and eventually extended that figure. The War Department worked with Clark Machine over the course of the years 1942 and 1943 ordering many CA-1s by the end of World War 2. It is estimated that there were more than 2,500 produced.

The Tractor was flown in by either a C-46 or C-47 or transported by a glider, which landed on an unimproved runway or a possible runway. Once dropped off, the engineers used the tractors to construct a paved or improved landing strip. The CA-1 would be used predominantly to tow graders and pan scrapers. This style of construction was fast and relatively efficient which gave the United States a reasonable strategic advantage in the Pacific campaign of World War 2 due to the island hopping tactic that required many new airfields. After the war a new community of people eager to restore these small and light tractor emerged. More than 1,500 CA-1s were used by the US Army.

[brianferguson]

Triggered a memory of 30 years ago in the Auckland war museum up on the hill. A display of a captured Japanize Zero fighter. The museum staff removed the ropes around the plane to allow an elderly Japanize man to board the plane and sit in behind the controls. He had flown Zero's in war in 1945, and was shaken from his reentering the plane These old machines remind us of the joys of peace and the costs of war for both sides.

[SuperMurf]

My Dad was a Army mechanic from 42 to 46..went to Australia then New Guinea and finally to the Philippines... my guess is he worked on a few of these but they were a lot newer then ..RIP Dad. seeing these old guys reminded me of him.

[davidbeattie]

I am forever stunned at the industrial creativity and capacity of the US in the 40's. Where else on earth could someone say "we need dinky toy sized road grading equipment we can stick in a DC-3 sized airplane. To build airports in the middle of nowhere. And then someone goes off and does it overnite and it works like a charm. Kudos to the restoration team for a really worthwhile project. Its a reminder of just how much effort it took to win the war in the Pacific. Brilliant job.

[Wil_Liam]

I'm sure that y'all already know this, but when I asked my great uncle, my grandfather's brother who was a seebee in ww2 he informed me that everything, including the radiator, and hoses and lines was painted od green and the seats were usually covered with od green canvas material, not vinyl or rubber.. No black radiator flues and fins, no black seats, hoses, or anything... Even the knobs and handles were painted od green.. and only the gauges and lenses weren't . He'll argue with ya and break out the photos, which are black n white as his proof..😂 He's a great guy with a super sharp mind and sight even though his time's getting short at almost 100 years of wonderfulness... Enlisted at 17 in 1942 and wouldn't go back and change a thing he says..

[jaredallen]

It's hard to believe that a whole pile of (basically kids) young men and these tiny machines tackled the jungles, islands and all the miserable conditions that come with them and won a world war.
Tell me there's a God without telling me there's a God.
Young people now don't even know whether they have balls or not, what color of the rainbow their hair should be or what a pair of work boots look like.
Thank you for sharing this awesome piece of history.
You guys rock!

[systemsrenegade]

So unreal to see it running when you look at the state of it in the beginning, the old engine for it certainly was well used up . Nice restoration guys, its a credit to you all.

[minorcross]

My father was in WWII in China. Burma & India as a Airborne Combat Engineer (879th) and worked with this type of equipment building airfields and roads. Thanks for sharing I enjoyed see the equipment that my father used

[brianpesci]

A piece of ANZUS history that helped build airfields and roads during the war, thanks to the crew for doing such a great job!

[jefferyholland]

Amazing workmanship and patience. Thanks for preserving this marvelous piece of history.

[christopherwelford]

I could listen to Browny all day. Needs his own channel. 😅

[JimmyWatches]

The black and white segment was a nice touch in your filming and editing. These gentlemen are certainly to be admired and congratulated for their knowledge, ability and perseverance.

[slowlearner]

Love they way he drives straight out the shed with the scraper and rips up the good surface in the yard. Reminds me of little boys with their tonka toys. LOL

[markbroomhall]

To Marty and every one involved Just a VERY BIG thank you

[localcrew]

Splendid work. You can tell he’s an operator. Goes straight at the nearest pile with that blade. Made me smile.

[ericball]

I have pictures of my grandfather in France on that same little dozer. I never knew the story behind that until now. Thanks Marty that was awesome

[Wil_Liam]

My great uncle watched this video when I showed it to him and wants y'all to know he thinks that it's beautiful even though it brought back some tough memories for him and said thank you; Marty, Mike, Browny, and the boys at REM sirs..

[HighMaintenancePS]

Very hard to state how clever and skilled these old boys are.

[tonyval]

Not to take anything away from todays plug and bolt repairman, I would think you would need to go far and wide to find any with the talent of these old boys well done!

[alanconnors]

A prime example of people with mind blowing skills and talent. Not to mention patience. Simply amazing.

[donaldparlett]

As a WW2 living historian I gotta commend you guys for beautiful job. So many forget that the basic tools were needed for everything.