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.

Crane, Truck Mounted, 4-Ton Aircraft Maintenance Grove Model RT41AA (SCAMP)

The Grove Model RT41AA is a hydraulic, rough terrain self-propelled crane identified by NSN 3810-01-144-4885. The RT41AA is powered by a WHite D3400 6 cyl engine with 339 cid. Its two-section main boom extends from 19 to 33 feet (5.8 to 10.1 meters). Its main hoist is a Braden PD12A with 10,542 lbs of pull, maximum. The crane is fully militarized with 24v electrical system, mil-std light package, four point lifting eyes, tie-down and towing lugs, and pintle hooks (front and rear). It is air-transportble by C-130, C-141 and C-5A or air-liftable bby medium lift helicopters.

The Grove Model RT41AA 4-Ton Aircraft Maintenance Crane is also known as the SCAMP (Self-propelled Crane for Aircraft Maintenance and Positioning). About 175 were procured by the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Command.

109th Aerial Port Squadron loading a 4-ton SCAMP crane into the cargo bay of a USAF 105th Airlift Wing C-5 Galaxy, on the ramp at Albany, NY airport, 5 September 2005. The crane is on its way to the Gulf Coast for Hurricane Katrina relief operations.

Crane, Truck Mounted, 4-Ton Aircraft Maintenance Grove Model RT41AA (SCAMP). Photo: Manitowoc Crane Group.