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armyjunk2 · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Sep 22, 2006 Posts: 1416

here you go Don, three of em........

Crawfordville, Indiana

Camp Atterbury, Edinburgh, Indiana

I didn't see this one but Ropkey said you would like it...I can't remember where it is......two tubes missing

68Barracuda · Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 8:14 am Post subject: Re: ONTOS, LOTS OF THEM.......

That one in Crawfordville looks like a prototype. I don't think I've seen that one....Don, have you?

What's the story on it? Who owns it? is it for sale? Laughing

bsmart · Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 9:20 am Post subject: Re: ONTOS, LOTS OF THEM.......

The one in Crwfordsville doesn't look like the turret/cupola is set up for the 106mm mount. Don, Mr Ontos, you have to have the answer for us!

Dontos · Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 12:38 pm Post subject: Re: ONTOS, LOTS OF THEM.......

The Gauntlet has been thrown down,.....
Here you go.

The first, The tiger striped Ontos, is a production M50/M50A1 Ontos. It has been slightly modified by the current owner.

This vehicle is quite interesting. I believe this is the one that was sold to a collector in California. If so, it is a T165E1, pre-production Ontos. (note: THAT vehicle has the GM 6 cyl engine which, I believe, is a sole surviving engine.)

I'm doing some inquiries, and hope to answer these questions soon.

Thanks for the photos. Guess I really need to take a little field trip now....

Don

Neil_Baumgardner · Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 3:51 pm Post subject: Re: ONTOS, LOTS OF THEM.......

Don, do you think that Ontos is still up in Antarctica? Oddly enough, I know someone there right now - I suppose I could ask her to take a picture of it...

Neil

Dontos · Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 6:13 pm Post subject: Re: ONTOS, LOTS OF THEM.......

- Neil_Baumgardner

Don, do you think that Ontos is still up in Antarctica? Oddly enough, I know someone there right now - I suppose I could ask her to take a picture of it...

Neil

Neil

The vehicle is no longer in Antarcticia, as I had once believed. It was returned with the Operation Deep Freeze I 'crew' in 1956.

From there, It was scrapped and sold, bought by a Military surplus dealer in the 60s.

In the 80's, the vehicle was bought by an individual, knowing what it was. He had it for a number of years and then sold or traded it to construction / military vehicle firm in Georgia.

I have tracked the trail to this firm. But this is currently where the trail ends.

The Old Antartic Explorer Association (OAEA) has expressed interest in this vehicle and is trying to locate it also. They have found that a number of surviving members had operated it during its year in the Antarctic.

Pre-deployment photo: courtesy of Jedsite.

Photo of the Ontos at Mcmurdo Station in 1955 or 1956.

Copy of photo of Ontos while in private ownership. Courtesy of Wheel & Tracks Magazine.

Don

Dontos · Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 9:30 pm Post subject: Re: ONTOS, LOTS OF THEM.......

- Dontos

The Gauntlet has been thrown down,.....

I have learned that this vehicle, is in fact, the T165E1, that was bought by a certain collector in California. It is currently in a state of disassembly and undergoing a complete restoration. Delays have been encountered due to the lack of available information on the prototype mounts and fire control system.

Thanks for the Photo. It is the only one I have of the assembled vehicle.

Don

Dontos · Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 12:10 am Post subject: Re: ONTOS, LOTS OF THEM.......

- armyjunk2

By the way...

9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Danang, South Vietnam: An Ontos rolls off the ramp of a landing craft at Red Beach 2, Danang as BLT 3/9 lands to become a part of the 9th MEB with BLT 1/3 being the other part.

8 March 1965
DOD Photo (Marine Corps) A183793

Additional Note: C 33, nicknamed "Road Runner" is part of 3rd Platoon, C Company, 3rd AT, which participated in the initial landing in support of BLT 3/9.

3rd AT Reference

Don

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