It’s pretty easy to build a relationship with a vehicle that you serve with. It’s a piece of equipment, but one that you come to depend on. And one that can be used to save lives. That’s the case with a 1941 Ford fire truck nicknamed Rags that served the U.S. Army for years.

After decades of service and restoration, the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in Pooler, Georgia, introduced the World War II-era fire truck during the Eighth Air Force 69th anniversary celebration.

“Now the Army is so pleased and honored to return this truck back to the people of this area to this museum so that they can see a piece of their history,” says Brigadier General Jeffrey Phillips of the Third Infantry Division.

This fire truck was stationed at Hunter Army Airfield during World War II, and stayed in service there through 1948. It spent the next 16 years at Travis Field with the Isle of Hope Volunteer Fire Department.

The truck recently was restored at Fort Stewart, thanks to the donations from across the country. The process spanned only about three months, and the team searched out authentic fire hoses and accessories. Several volunteers and workers who helped during the restoration were given the U.S. military Challenge Coin of Excellence.

“If we were to have a fire in the museum, now would be a great time to have one,” said Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum President and CEO Henry Shipper, after the restored fire truck was escorted to its new home by a parade of local active fire trucks.

You can learn more about the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum at mightyeighth.org.

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