Wayne Works in World War Two
Richmond, IN
1888-1956

This page updated 11-18-2022.

Wayne Works was a company in Richmond, IN that produced 26,002 ambulance bodies for the U.S. Army Medical Corps in World War Two.  The company had multiple name changes, before and after the time it was Wayne Works with various owners and corporate marriages and divorces.  The company's roots actually go back to 1837 in nearby Dublin, IN when the Witt family built a foundry.  In 1956 new ownership merged Wayne Works with Divco.  During its later years, the various companies specialized in school bus bodies.  Finally, in 1992, the Richmond Transportation Corporation filed for bankruptcy and the many iterations of Wayne Works came to an end.

This 1939 aerial photo of the Richmond, IN Wayne Works shows the plant as it was during World War Two.  This is looking to the northeast.

Some of the World War Two era plant still exists and currently is the home of Mosey Manufacturing.  Wayne Works in Richmond, IN ran south to north from North F Street to North H Street.  The eastern boundary was North 17th Street.  The western boundary was North 15th Street.  In 1967 Wayne Works moved its manufacturing from this location to a new 550,000 square foot plant west of Richmond, on the south side of I-70.  Today it is a business park.  Image courtesy of Google Maps.

Wayne Works World War Two Production:  Wayne Works was the exclusive supplier of the bodies for 39,742 Dodge WC series 1/2-Ton 4x4 and 3/4-ton 4x4 Army Medical Corps field ambulances.  These ambulances were used by the U.S. Army during World War Two.  It was these types of ambulances that moved wounded soldiers from the battlefield to the field hospitals.  They were the go-to ambulances of the Army during World War Two.  These were all produced under sub contract to the Dodge Division of Chrysler Corporation.  

The company also produced several other types of truck bodies for the war effort.  Wayne Works manufactured 1,1912 small arms repair bodies that were mounted to GMC 2-1/2-ton 6x6 trucks.  This was a sub contract from GMC.

It also produced 1,500 K-60 van bodies for the U.S. Signal Corps that also were mounted on GMC 2-1/2-ton 6x6 trucks.  This was a prime contract from Radar Industries.  The body was used to house SCR-268, SCR-527, an SCR-545 types of radar electronics.

Hercules-Campbell Body sub contracted to Wayne Works for the manufacture of 200 bus bodies for the war effort. 

Under prime contracts from the U.S. Army, Wayne Works produced 500 bus bodies for the Army.  According to Table 2, these were produced under two different contracts.  Table 2 shows that contract number 294-ORD-2266 was for 100 units.  Table 1 shows that this contract's value was $125,000 resulting in a unit cost of $1,250 each.  Table 2 shows that 400 bodies were built for the U.S. Army under contract 33008-ORD-147 for $459,000 resulting in a unit cost of $1,148.

400 bus bodies for the Navy were produced under contact NXS-27834.  This $496,000 contract resulted in a $1,240 unit cost.

Table 1 indicates that Wayne Works also produced a number of buses for the Treasury Department in 1942.  The Treasury Department was responsible during World War Two for ordering equipment for China as it was not included in Lend-Lease.  These bus bodies may very well have ended up transporting Chinese troops during World War Two.  Using an estimated cost of $1,250, about 160 units were produced.

Using the information from Tables 1 and 1A the unit cost of each bus can be determined.  For Contract 294-ORD-2266, $125,000 divided by 100 equals $1,250.  For contract 33008-ORD-147, $459,000 divided by 400 equals $1,147.50.  For contract 761-ORD-2655, there is not enough information to calculate the unit cost, but it can be estimated as approximately $1,200.

Table 2 - Wayne Works World War Two Document listing its Prime and Sub Contracts

This document is courtesy of the Museum of the Soldier in Portland, IN was added 11-18-2022.

Table 2 shows that through sub contract W374-ORD-6322 Wayne Works produced 39,742 ambulance bodies.  There is one more entry below that for a cancelled contract for 7,265 units with an accumulated amount of 32,477, which is less than the previous amount.  In looking at this, 7,265 was subtracted from 39,742 to give a result of 32,477.  I am not sure why this was done as 39,742 were built when contract W374-ORD-6322 was completed.  The person doing the work should not have subtracted the 7, 265. 

All American World War Two Dodge WC-9, WC-27, and WC-54 ambulances came equipped with Wayne Works bodies.   Wayne Works built the bodies, which were then shipped to the Dodge Mound Road plant in Detroit, MI, which mounted them onto the WC chassis. 

Table 3 shows that 35,934 WC series ambulances were accepted.  Comparing this figure to the 39,742 bodies built, it appears that there was an overbuild of 3,808 bodies.  This was many years before the concept of just-in-time inventories was developed. 

The WC-series ambulance is one of the most overlooked but most important vehicles the U.S. Army had during World War Two.  If a soldier was wounded in combat, a WC series ambulance was his life-line off the battle field to a field hospital.  It was the very important link that quickly got teh wounded out of harm's way to needed medical attention.  Wayne Works of Richmond, IN produced the bodies for one of the most important American vehicles of World War Two.

Ambulance bodies come down the production line at the Wayne Works, IN Richmond plant.  This image is courtesy of the Museum of the Soldier in Portland, IN was added 11-18-2022.

WC-54 Army tactical ambulances are awaiting spare tires before shipment at the Dodge Mound Road plant in Detroit, MI.

The Dodge WC-9 Truck Chassis with a Wayne Works Ambulance Body:

This WC-9 1/2-ton 4x4 field ambulance was part of the former Ropkey Armor collection.  Author's photo added 10-1-2021.

The Dodge WC-27 Truck Chassis with a Wayne Works Ambulance Body:

This WC-27 ambulance was one of 2,579 built in 1941 and 1942.  This particular unit was produced in 1941.  Author's photo added 10-1-2021.

The Dodge WC-54 Truck Chassis with a Wayne Works Ambulance Body: 

Note in the photos below that the Red Crosses are different on the vehicles.  There were several different regulations for markings on the WC-54 during World War Two.  The presence or absence of stars or stars in circles was largely determined by the theater of operations the WC-54 was in.

This WC-54 was on display at the former Victory Museum in Auburn, IN.  The chassis arrived at Wayne Works with front grill, hood, fenders, doors, and windshield all attached.  Wayne Works installed everything behind that.  Author's photo.

There is a sheet metal seam just below the word "Ambulance."  This was the separation point between the Dodge and Wayne Work portions of the vehicle.  Author's photo.

Author's photo.

Author's photo.

The body had three inches of insulation covered with Masonite.  There were fold-down benches to seat six soldiers.  It could also be configured for four litter patients.  There was a vent fan in the roof for ventilation and a heater to keep wounded soldier warm in cold weather.  Author's photo.

These two WC-54s were on display at the 2014 MVPA National Convention in Louisville, KY.  Author's photo.

This WC-54 was on display at the 2015 Rockford, IL World War Two encampment.  Author's photo.

Author's photo.

This WC-54 was on display at the Indiana Military Museum's World War Two History Days in 2014.  Author's photo.

This has the brackets on the right side of vehicle for the pioneer tools.  Author's photo.

This WC-54 is on display at Camp Blanding, FL.  Author's photo added 11-30-2020.

The Evansville Wartime Museum has this WC-54 on display among its many exhibits.  Author's photo added 5-23-2021.

Author's photo added 5-23-2021.

Signal Corps K-60 Van Bodies:  Wayne Works produced 1,500 bodies for use with SCR-268, SCR-527, and SCR-545 radar units.
 

The body was mounted on a GMC 2-1/2-ton 6x6 truck.  This image is courtesy of the Museum of the Soldier in Portland, IN was added 11-18-2022.

This image is courtesy of the Museum of the Soldier in Portland, IN was added 11-18-2022.

This image is courtesy of the Museum of the Soldier in Portland, IN was added 11-18-2022.

This image is courtesy of the Museum of the Soldier in Portland, IN was added 11-18-2022.

Navy Busses:  Wayne Works built 400 bus bodies for the Navy that were mounted to International Harvester truck chassis. 

This image is courtesy of the Museum of the Soldier in Portland, IN was added 11-18-2022.

This image is courtesy of the Museum of the Soldier in Portland, IN was added 11-18-2022.

Army Busses:  Wayne Works built 518 bus bodies for the Army that were mounted to International Harvester truck chassis.

It is hard to read in the photo, but this bus was U.S. Army registration number 2096537.  This image is courtesy of the Museum of the Soldier in Portland, IN was added 11-18-2022.

This image is courtesy of the Museum of the Soldier in Portland, IN was added 11-18-2022.

The former Wayne Works Factory in 2020: 

This is the Wayne Works plant in 1939 looking northeast.  The multi-story buildings have been razed and only the single story addition remains today.  North 15th Street is the north-south street on the west side of the multi-story buildings.

This shows the streets referenced below.  Image courtesy of Google Maps.

The following series of photos were taken in early November 2020.  This photo was taken on North 15th Street facing east.  The grass area is where the multi-story building used to stand.  The single story building is in the background.  Author's photo added 11-23-2020.

This photo is facing west looking at the east side of the building.  Author's photo added 11-23-2020.

This photo shows the southeast corner of the building at the intersection of North F and North 17th Streets.  Author's photo added 11-23-2020.

This view shows the long east side of the building that runs parallel to North 17th Street.  Actually, the street has become a private driveway to the fenced-in area that is now part of the facility.  Author's photo added 11-23-2020.

This photo was taken from the north side of the plant looking south along the east side of the building. What used to be North 17th Street can be seen behind the gate.  Author's photo added 11-23-2020.

This is the north side of the building along North H Street.  Author's photo added 11-23-2020.

The blue siding is relatively new.  An older sheet metal siding, which may have been the original, can be seen protruding beneath the new siding.  Author's photo added 11-23-2020.

The concrete has been here a long time, as it is highly aged.  Author's photo added 11-23-2020.

The letter below is courtesy of the Museum of the Soldier in Portland, IN and was added 11-18-2022.  Dated July 16, 1943, it was written by a Wayne Works employee to the office of the Cincinnati, OH Ordnance Department.  The letter explains in detail the work that transpired up to July 1943 at the Wayne Works to help win World War Two.  This is very unique document and I want to thank the officers of the Museum of the Soldier in Portland, IN for allowing me access to the photos and this document that they have collected on this company's endeavors during World War Two.