Equipped with 900 pounds of dry chemical this truck was built for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Corp. of East Hartford, CT for use at their East Hartford airport.  Built by the Sealand Corp. of Bridgeport, CT on a 1942 GMC chassis, Sealand was a very early manufacturer of airport crash and rescue apparatus.

 

It served at the P&W facility until 1985 when it was donated to the State of Connecticut for use at the state run airport in Hartford, Brainard Field.  At that time Hartford closed Engine Co. 6, which was the fire station closest to Brainard Field.  The truck carried various tools for aircraft firefighting and rescue.  Company 6 had a 1948 American LaFrance 700 Series crash truck that provided fire protection for the airport. When the station closed the airport no longer had fire protection until United Aircraft (parent company of P&WA) donated the 1942 GMC to the state.

 

It was retired by the state in 1988 and put on permanent loan to the museum after 45 years of service.

 

Mechanical Specifications

Engine - GMC Model 228

Transmission - 4 speed

Pump - n/a

Tank - 900 lbs dry chemical

Ladder - n/a

Hose - 300 ft dry chemical