Today in WW II: 9 Jul 1940 Battle of Calabria [Battle of Punta Stilo, the toe of Italy] fought between the Italian Royal Navy and the British/Australian Royal Navies, 30 miles [48km] east of Punta Stilo. More ?

9 Jul 1943 US-British invasion of Sicily begins [night of 9-10 Jul].
9 Jul 1944 British and Canadian forces capture Caen from the Germans, a critical post-D-Day objective in Normandy, France.
9 Jul 1944 US forces reach the northern end of Saipan, finding thousands of Japanese civilian men, women, and children who commit suicide by leaping off the cliffs rather than be captured.
Visit the Olive-Drab.com World War II Timeline for day-by-day events 1939-1945! See also WW2 Books.

GMC Model AFKWX-353 Truck, 2 1/2-Ton, 6x6 (G508)

The GMC Model AFKWX-353 Truck, 2 1/2-Ton, 6x6 (G508) was produced starting in 1942 and was in use until the 1950s. It shared many parts with the GMC CCKW, but was a distinct truck with about 7,200 manufactured in total. It's driveline was largely the same as the CCKW but the shorter, Cab-Over-Engine (COE) design required some parts changes. The wheelbase was 164 in. and the overall length was 266.5 in.

Early production AFKWX-353 trucks had a closed metal cab and metal 15 foot long cargo bed. Later production had an open, military style cab and wooden cargo bed. In 1944, the design was changed by making the chassis and bed two feet longer, 17 feet. In final form, the designation was changed to M-427. The open cab variant could be fitted with a machine gun on a ring mount.

The GMC Model AFKWX-353 truck was powered by the GMC 270 cu. in. in-line 6 cyl. 91.5 bhp engine mated to a five speed transmission and two speed transfer case.

GMC Model AFKWX-353 Truck, 2 1/2-Ton, 6x6 (G508) with 17 ft. wooden cargo bed.