[MRCA] Tool Box question

[DSP3]

On 11/5/2014 3:29 PM, Ray Fantini wrote:
>
> I am trying to get a date or any information about a tool case that 
> belonged to my step father from back when he was in the service. The 
> relevance being is this something that he used back in the early days 
> when he enlisted in 46 and it was still the Army Air Corps or 
> something from back before he retired from the Air Force in the early 
> seventies. He worked as an aircraft mechanic before becoming a flight 
> engineer and suspects that if this box is old enough it may be from 
> that time.
>
> The data plate lists it as:
>
> CASE, TOOL MECHANICS
>
> TYPE II
>
> SIZE 2
>
> MIL-C-3152    N600s-X-7344
>
> I know that MIL-C-3152 refers to a date of 15 March 1950 but that has 
> little bearing on how long they may have been in production and 
> distribution. If this same box was in use in the sixties and seventies 
> it may have just been one of the many things that he picked up in 
> thirty years of service. If it is a late forties or early fifties 
> period box have thought of restoring it and  may try  to locate period 
> tools and the like for it. Been painted so many times finding original 
> color and the like may be an issue. If it is correct for that early 
> date wanted to go ahead after repairing the metal work and repainting 
> and stenciling on the name, rank S/N and his old unit at that time the 
> 509th Bombardment Group and the eighth insignia. He was always 
> particularly proud of the time spent in the 8th.
>
> I know it's not radio but restoration is always interesting.
>
> Ray F
>
>
Ray,

This may well be the standard, large "clamshell" tool box that were 
issued to USAF maintenance techs well into the late 60's, at least. No 
telling when it was issued, or re-issued, as a base BEMO/CEMO would 
seemingly never issue new ones.  Original color?  I have no idea, 
whatever.  Our squadron had the boxes color-coded for the particular 
section; red for weapons shop, green for MA-1 (electronics) and blue for 
the flightline guys. That said, most guys carried O.D. canvas tool kits 
instead of lugging the huge box around, needlessly.  I had to have my 
guys in MA-1 chain them to the bottoms of their work benches as 
"borrowing" tools was a real problem.   I also tried to get the TO&E 
changed to include some modern electronics maintenance items.... to no 
avail.

Jeep - K3HVG
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