1942 Photo of TBF Avenger - 9N in Background

In addition to N Series tractors, I'm a military aviation enthusiast and found a site recently that has (so far) 113 pages of photos, mostly WWII, of aircraft. This one popped up yesterday, shot at Floyd Bennett Field N.Y. in 1942, of a TBF Avenger.

I'm presuming that's a yellow 9N parked on the far side of the fence, correct? A 2N would have been on steel, unless the military was still able to purchase them on rubber that early in the 2N run.

Here's the link to the photo.

es

Do you fly, Ed?

It would be my guess that the rubber rationing would not have affected any Ns used for military purposes.

Colin

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Nice pic. ED!!!!
Reminded me about the little plane you were building up, before the wind came up, and blew down the back half of yer tractor barn!!!

Did you ever finish that plane, or did it get crunched up in the mess????
Last time I saw the frame....:

Not seen in the aftermath of the barn....:


Never to be seen again?????


Gary

Nice photos-- remember the reason for steel wheels was war time shortages and the military came first so
rubber tires on it fit that scenario. Not all 42s and 3s had steel wheels.I have seen rubber 32s that said
U.S. Tractor only embossed on the sidewall so I bet even farmers could get them just my guess.

(quoted from post at 11:15:32 01/26/20) Do you fly, Ed?

Colin

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I'm non-current, but yes. First 3/10th hour in my logbook is in a B-17 ([u:dfd72c6585]Col. Hal Weekly[/u:dfd72c6585] was the CFI sitting right seat). All the rest of my time is in a C-172 that I used to be part-owner in.

(quoted from post at 12:16:21 01/26/20) Nice pic. ED!!!!
Reminded me about the little plane you were building up, before the wind came up, and blew down the back half of yer tractor barn!!!

Did you ever finish that plane, or did it get crunched up in the mess????

Never to be seen again?????

Gary

Click to expand...

It's still hanging in the rafters of the rebuilt machine shed, Gary (kind of like in the 1975 made-for-TV Disney movie, [u:dfd72c6585][i:dfd72c6585]The Sky's the Limit[/i:dfd72c6585][/u:dfd72c6585]). It had minimal damage from the tornado, but has been waaaay down the priority list for a long time. Perhaps in the not-too-distant future I might finally finish it!

es

Great photos, Ed! I'm a WWII buff as well. I can?t tell if that is a 9N. Can you get more pix? A yellow Ford N would have been a dealer painted model for commercial/municipal use. It isn?t a Moto-Tug or a 2N Warhorse. The 9N Moto-Tug wasn?t released until April, 1943 and was painted Lusterless Ocean Grey, later added to include standard Dark Grey and Olive Drab Green. Many N owners and others misunderstand the Ford-Ferguson 2N Warhorse Model. Very few were actual steel-wheel/warhorse models, approximately 10,000 or so units. 9N production began as usual in 1942. The United States had only been involved in WWII since December 8, 1941 with the attack on Pearl Harbor occurring just the previous day. The US War Board had not yet put restrictions on domestic manufacturing, had not yet put rationing and recycling in place. It had only been two months since entering WWII and on February 10, 1942, all US manufacturing came to a halt at Ford. By the way, it was not just Ford, it was all US manufacturing. There had been plans at Ford to make some new changes and release a new model soon, the 2N, but steel wheels, magneto, and no electrics were never part of those changes. The war changed that. 9N tractor production in 1942 is listed as s/n 88888 thru 99002. 1942 2N production is listed at s/n 99003 thru 105374. The 2N Model was not produced, did not begin production, until October, 1942 and the 6372 units built then were ALL warhorse models. By releasing it as a new model, the 2N, Ford & Ferguson were able to get away with adding some of their planned changes plus making it the steel-wheeled/magneto warhorse unit approved by the War Board. It also allowed them to increase the sticker price as well. If you need more evidence, look at the 1942 MPC. There is not a single 2N prefixed part listed. The only 2N parts shown are all the new 2N warhorse model parts like magneto, idler, carb, front choke rod, and others. It was Roger Kyes, president of the Ferguson-Sherman Corporation, NOT Ford or Ferguson who suggested they build a model without electrics or rubber. In January, 1943 Ferguson went to the White House to talk with President Roosevelt. Harry demonstrated the 9N on his farm in New York and was convinced to lift the war board restrictions. The President was so impressed bought the 9N and the implements on the spot. By April, 1943, Ford was back to standard 2N (on rubber/electrics) models. Production was slow as part suppliers also had to ramp back up with new parts so the line was down a lot til then. Finally, steel wheels were used on tractors long before rubber tires were introduced, and, the 9N was offering steel wheels as options available at dealers.

SAILORS SLEEPING ON A MOTO-TUG:


[i:654c4848f0][b:654c4848f0]<font size="4">Tim *PloughNman* Daley(MI)</font>[/b:654c4848f0][/i:654c4848f0]<table width="100" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" bordercolor="#000000"><tr><td height="25" colspan="2" bgcolor="#CC0000"></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td></tr></table>

The TBF was first used in action at the Battle of Midway in early June, 1942. I found another photo of the same plane (taken at the same location) that indicates it was photographed in "early 1942," so the odds lean heavily toward the tractor being a 9N.

Whichever, it's neat to see one of our little tractors helping the war effort!

es