This is a blog version expanding upon an older Facebook posting. This posting was last updated September 23, 2026.

Presenting fire apparatus past and present that have served at Wilmington International Airport. 

194_ Chevy/Holabird Class 110 – 100/250/50# x4 CO
194_ crash truck 
Former Army Air Corps apparatus that protected the airfield during World War II. (Wilmington Morning Star, Aug 17, 1961)

1954 ALF Type O-11A – 500/1000/100/80
Likely serial #54L210, which was former NCANG
Included 80 gallons Chlorobromomethane
Possibly sold at auction, along with second 1954 ALF crash truck, at surplus airport property sale in June 1991. (Star News, Jun 3, 1991)

1964 Ford F-100 – 300#
Yellow Bird – June 1979
Wayne Greer photo

1974 International/FireBoss – 400#/100
Chief 1 – June 1979 – Wayne Greer photo
Delivered in February 1975. (WMS, Feb 15, 1975)
Alt. capacity 600# (WMS, Dec 20, 1974)

1976 Oshkosh M-1500 – 1250/1500/180
Unit 2 – June 1978
Wayne Greer photo
Also cited as a 1975 model (Star News, Feb 11, 1989)
Cost $156,928. Purchased with funds including a $132,020 federal grant from the FAA. (WMS, Feb 15, 1975) Delivered around August 1975. It replaced one that the airport shared with the Air Force, and that was being transferred to Charleston, SC. (WMS, Mar 11, 1975)

1969 Oshkosh MB-5 – 400/400/30 
Rescue 19
Wayne Greer photo
Acquired circa 1988 as surplus, former Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. 
Likely the truck referenced in a 1988 news article, cited as having 100,000 miles, mechanical issues, and purchased from the Marine Corps. (WMS, Jan 15, 1988)

1976 Oshkosh M-1500 – 1250/1500/180
Refurbished and repainted circa 1989
Wayne Greer photo

1989 Ford F-350/___/1991 Fire Boss – 100 gallons premixed water and foam/475# Purple K
Rescue 14
Wayne Greer photo

1989 Ford F-350/___ #2 of 2 – 475# Purple K
Rescue 15
Wayne Greer photo

1990 Oshkosh T-1500 – 1200/1500/200
Rescue 18 – Wayne Greer photo
Cost $305,000 (Star News, Sep 29, 1989)

2001 Oshkosh T-1500 – 1500/1500/200/460#
Rescue 16
Patrick Shoop photo

2011 Rosenbauer Panther – 1850/1500/200/500#
Rescue 18
Patrick Shoop photo

2024 Oshkosh Global Striker 3000 – Specs go here
Rescue 1 – June 2024
New Hanover County Fire Rescue photo 

Airport Fire Department History 

See new and expanded posting from September 2026.

Notes

The Wayne Greer photos are from the collections of Jon Umbdenstock and the late Jay Thomson.