1943 CASE VAI Airfield Mower
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1943 CASE VAI Airfield Mower
I just though I would share a recent acquisition. A 1943 CASE VAI Army Air Corps mower. Still pretty original, but been sitting a long time. Missing the mower arm. I did some looking and found hood numbers under the yellow paint, along with the numbers "431" down both sides of the grill and "TP28" at the bottom of the grill. I cleaned the wheels and painted them so I could move it around easier. I'm hoping to get it into my shop in the next month or so and do a complete rebuild! You can still see the OD green paint under the yellow. The VAI was used as an airfield mower and aircraft tug. This one was purchased by a WWII vet after the war and used on his farm in Northeast Tennessee.
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Tony DiMaiolo
1967 M715 Kaiser
1967 M101 Trailer
1951 Willys M38
1952 M100 Trailer
1967 M715 Kaiser
1967 M101 Trailer
1951 Willys M38
1952 M100 Trailer
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Re: 1943 CASE VAI Airfield Mower
Awesome find, Tony!
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Re: 1943 CASE VAI Airfield Mower
Great!
I am slowly working on mine. Do you think it was case yellow then painted OD? Mine seems to have a yellow paint under a lot of hard to reach places?
I am slowly working on mine. Do you think it was case yellow then painted OD? Mine seems to have a yellow paint under a lot of hard to reach places?
42 Ford GPW
42 Oshkosh AAF Snowblower
41 White M2 halftrack
42 Autocar M2A1 was M2 halftrack
42 Autocar M3-75 halftrack
42 White M4A1 was M4 halftrack
43 Diamond T M3A1 halftrack
43 White M16 was M13 halftrack
44 LVT-3 Landing Vehicle Tracked
42 Oshkosh AAF Snowblower
41 White M2 halftrack
42 Autocar M2A1 was M2 halftrack
42 Autocar M3-75 halftrack
42 White M4A1 was M4 halftrack
43 Diamond T M3A1 halftrack
43 White M16 was M13 halftrack
44 LVT-3 Landing Vehicle Tracked
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Re: 1943 CASE VAI Airfield Mower
It seems to have been painted yellow from the factory, then 2 different shades of OD green. Then about 4 more layers of yellow over that!
Tony DiMaiolo
1967 M715 Kaiser
1967 M101 Trailer
1951 Willys M38
1952 M100 Trailer
1967 M715 Kaiser
1967 M101 Trailer
1951 Willys M38
1952 M100 Trailer
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Re: 1943 CASE VAI Airfield Mower
TNbluebelly
Thanks your findings confirm what I was seeing. Seemed as though they painted them yellow in production. I have tried to find airfield / flightline photos but no luck.
Thanks your findings confirm what I was seeing. Seemed as though they painted them yellow in production. I have tried to find airfield / flightline photos but no luck.
Last edited by Kevin Lockwood on Mon Dec 18, 2017 11:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
42 Ford GPW
42 Oshkosh AAF Snowblower
41 White M2 halftrack
42 Autocar M2A1 was M2 halftrack
42 Autocar M3-75 halftrack
42 White M4A1 was M4 halftrack
43 Diamond T M3A1 halftrack
43 White M16 was M13 halftrack
44 LVT-3 Landing Vehicle Tracked
42 Oshkosh AAF Snowblower
41 White M2 halftrack
42 Autocar M2A1 was M2 halftrack
42 Autocar M3-75 halftrack
42 White M4A1 was M4 halftrack
43 Diamond T M3A1 halftrack
43 White M16 was M13 halftrack
44 LVT-3 Landing Vehicle Tracked
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Re: 1943 CASE VAI Airfield Mower
Looks great, That should be a fun resto. I am working on a m2 high speed tractor,I am looking for parts, We got a side cutter mower for a tractor, but it might not fit or be correct.
I have got four running halftracks,plus 5 ton ww2 semi-truck,1943 willys jeep and other ww2 vehicles,plus a lot of parts to trade on. Wendell in Tn.
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Re: 1943 CASE VAI Airfield Mower
Neat stuff! I suspect it was Case yellow from the factory. Then Olive Drab. Then late war or post war the USAAF painted it airfield equipment yellow to make it easier/harder to hit with an airplane. Just my guess.
Matt
Matt
1970 Kaiser Jeep DJ-5A Left Hand Drive
1945 Corps of Engineers Welder & Trailer
1943 G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Steel Body
194* G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Composite Body
http://g518parts.com/
1945 Corps of Engineers Welder & Trailer
1943 G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Steel Body
194* G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Composite Body
http://g518parts.com/
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