The MD-1 and MD-1A  were used in the 50’s through the mid 60’s along with a couple of versions of the little jeep called the NC-1A.

1. NC-1A (mobile start unit, looked like a 43 Willies cut down with two small steering wheels centered in the back) - I once found a couple of rather good photos on some jeepers' forum - I don't remember when or where, therefore I can't give you links (attaching the files instead). The vehicle itself is an exhibit in the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum (their site is: www.flyingleathernecks.org although they don't have any useful photos there... I also doubt that the "U.S. Marine Corps" lettering on their vehicle is historically correct).

- Some photos I've found on the net:
www.philsea.org/q18.jpg
www.usscoralsea.net/images/Jan670023.JPG

- Please check this youtube link once again, I believe it should work this time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YQOMzwpayU

2. MD-1 (aircraft tow tug, the MD-1A is the one with the gas turbine start unit on the back)

I noticed that not all MD-1's are absolutely identical: there are slight variations in the hood and front grille shapes, different boxes attached to fenders etc...

- Some photos of MD-1's I've found on the net:
www.a4skyhawk.org/5e/g148435html/148541.htm
www.a4skyhawk.org/6e2/html/va-113_j-kopff.htm
www.cv42.com/images/Flight%20Deck03.jpg
www.cv42.com/images/Flight%20Deck06.jpg
www.geocities.com/~bhr31/fltdeck1c.jpg
www.a3skywarrior.com/pg9photos/catsuit2.jpg

- MD-1's manufacturer is a company named Hough, a subsidiary of International Harvester at that time. As I gathered from various Internet sources, Hough was building construction equipment and industrial tractors, including airport tugs and the like.
The Navy's MD-1 tractor seem to be a derivative of their small commercial model designated as TC-60/TC-65 Paymover (the only pic I've found for that one: www.wisconsinhistory.org/whi/fullRecord.asp?id=38132)
I've tried to search for some manufacturer's info... but apparently the traces are lost: first IH was split between Tenneco and Case, then Case merged with New Holland... But you may have better luck than me.

I also included the only close up of the turbine unit I have mounted on the back of a MD-1A that shows the detail around the exhaust pipe. The small model of the NC-1A is one I built using a 43 Willies jeep and deleting the front springs to get it down low, cut it off behind the driver’s seat and then building everything else. I had to work from memory from back in 62 but came pretty close. The generator and control panel was moved alongside the driver from the back so he could see the gauges and keep the current steady while giving power. We used them for starting the Fury and the AD’s also for providing power when they refueled some of the other aircraft.

The MD-1A start/tow vehicle  had lead blocks mounted on the front of the rear fenders for added weight for traction and the front end grill was all cast iron as were the rear fenders. They weighed around 8,500 pounds with a full fuel load or 28 gallons of diesel and 30 gallons of AvGas for the turbine start unit.

The headlights were later painted over with just a small slit so we would not blind any one or ruin their night vision by mistake or just disconnected and the small parking light slits were used if at all. The two used by the Marines sit in a museum in San Diego and was used on a base so the headlamps were functional.