SQUAD COMPANIES

The original Squads in the FDNy used a big van called a "Bread Truck". They were a 24 hour a day unit and assigned to respond on all boxes in their district. They carried hose ( roll ups) and Truck tools. These Squads were used as stated, primarily as manpower. They could be assigned to operate as an Engine or truck by the Chief in charge.
Sometime in the late 60's early 70's the Squads gave up the Bread truck for Pumpers. Around this same time, the Squads were than used as the 1st section of different Engine Companies to augment them due to the very busy times. For example Sq 1 would act as E45, during the tour. E45 would of course still operate as there was plenty of work to go around. At midnite, Sq 1 would return to its home Qts (E43) and only respond to working fires.
After the budget hits in 73,74 all the squads were disbanded. An end of an era of some very busy units that produced some very good firemen.
Alot of Fire companies were disbanded during that time including E269 in park slope. When the community fought to reopen it the job created SQ1 which would respond to E269's 1st due boxes and than respond as a Squad (special unit) in certain Battalions in Brooklyn. It was a win win situation, the community got its Engine back and the boro of Brooklyn gained an additional Special Unit.
When E41 was disbanded, it was also re opened in 1990 under a similiar situation. In that case the Job caved into political pressure and opended it as E41 which would respond to 1st, 2nd and 3rd due Engine Boxes and as a Squad to certain Battalions in the Bronx.
The Squads of the FDNY have a colorful history and have always been very active units.
 
Thanks for that info , than it must have been TCU 512. One of them use to be housed at E43.
 
Squad 1 was organized in Harlem at Engine 59 in 1955. Moved to the Bronx to Ladder 58 in 1972, to Engine 45 in 1975 and disbanded in 1976. Squad 1 was re-established in Brooklyn at the former quarters of Engine 269.




 
fdonthejob said:
Thanks for that info , than it must have been TCU 512. One of them use to be housed at E43.
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OTJ...TCU 512 was at E-45 at 925 E. Tremont Ave. from Nov. 15, 1969 to Nov. 27, 1971. There was never a TCU in with E-43. TCU 513 was with E-94.  :)
 
TCU 712 was stored in E-43 and operated out of E82 then with E85 @ the tin house. Members reported for duty there, then drove to response area then returned at end of TCU tour.
 
TCU 512 was stored @ E90 and operated out of E45, TCU 513 was stored @E96 and operated out of E94
 
Boys boys, get a grip. i know who what and where. I made a little mistake. At one point I remember Sq 1 going to different Engines and acting as their 1st section. Than they returned to the Qts of E43 and responded after midnight to just working fires.
I know everyone wants to be right and show how much they know.... :eek: ::) ::)
Back than, there were alot of changes and things changed fast from one day to the next. At least thats when the job use to try different stuff. Not like today. :'( :'( :'( :'(
Thanks for the history lessons ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
 
Right on.  It was certainly a different time.  The fire load was unlike any other.  Manpower to put the wet stuff on the red stuff anyway they could.  Matching manpower to time of the fire load was a great strategy.
 
If memory serves me right Sq1 was first up day by day at E46,E88 & E45. the hrs were from around 3pm to 12 or 1am. then returned E46's old qtrs to respond on a/h's in the boro. I think L58(L27-2) was still there for a short time until their house was built next to E45.
 
squad 9 was located in the quarters of engine 22,  squad 6 was located in the quarters of engine co 74 till engine 56 was disbanned in the 1960, then they moved to the quarters of engine 56 ( 120 west 83 street), when the budget crises took effect they were disbanned to form ladder 59 in the south bronx during in1972 engine 74 was moved in those quarters to replace squad 6 
 
  Bread trucks? "Bread" vans were actually the second generation of Squad vehicles.  The first original Squads were assigned 1940 Mack L hosewagons that had inward facing bench seats installed in the hosebeds. After the hosewagons came four 1958 International S-150 "Metro" vans bulit on parcel delivery truck chassis' and one more in 1960. In 1962, 4 more newer and larger International vans were delivered and in 1963 the last International van type Squad apparatus was delivered.
 
major1075 said:
squad 9 was located in the quarters of engine 22,  squad 6 was located in the quarters of engine co 74 till engine 56 was disbanned in the 1960, then they moved to the quarters of engine 56 ( 120 west 83 street), when the budget crises took effect they were disbanned to form ladder 59 in the south bronx during in1972 engine 74 was moved in those quarters to replace squad 6   
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Hey guys, I decided to dig around and see what I could find about all the squads:

Squad 1:
1955: Organized at E59 (Manhattan)
1972: Relocated to L58 (The Bronx)
1975: Relocated to E45
1976: Disbanded
1977: Reorganized at former quarters of E269 with Tactical Response Vehicle (Brooklyn)
2003: Temporary relocation to E239
2004: Returned to own quarters

Squad 2:
1955: at E73 (The Bronx)
1976: Disbanded

Squad 3:
1955: Organized at E235 (Brooklyn)
1966: Relocated to E230
1975: Disbanded for 2 weeks in July
1976: Permanently disbanded

Squad 4:
1955: Organized at E231/BC34 (Brooklyn)
1956: Relocated to E283
1975: Disbanded for 2 days in July
1976: Permanently disbanded

Squad 5
1959: Organized at E5 (Manhattan)
1966: Relocated to E17/TL18
1969: Relocated to E15
1970: Relocated to former quarters of E9/L6
1974: Relocated to E41 (The Bronx)
1975: Disbanded for 2 days in July
1976: Permanently disbanded

Squad 6
1959: Organized at E74/L25
1960: Relocated to former quarters of E56
1972: Reorganized to L59 at E85 (The Bronx)

Squad 7
1959: Organized at E212 (Brooklyn)
1964: Relocated to E237
1966: Reorganized to E232 at E231

Squad 8
1960: Organized at former quarters of Rescue 1 (Manhattan)
1961: Relocated to E31
1965: Relocated to E55 for 2 months
1966: Disbanded

Squad 9
1961: Organized at E22/TL13/BC10 (Manhattan)
1967: Reorganized to E85 (The Bronx)

Squad 18
1998: Reorganized from E18 (Manhattan)
2001: Relocated to L20/DC1
2002: Returned to quarters

Squad 21
1943: Organized at L24 (Manhattan)
1945: Disbanded

Squad 22
1944: Reorganized from E20 (Manhattan)
1945: Reorganized to E20

Squad 24
1943: Reorganized from E204 (Brooklyn)
1945: Reorganized to E204

Squads 41
1998: Reorganized from E41 (The Bronx)

Squad 61
1998: Reorganized from E61 (The Bronx)

Squad 252
1998: Reorganized from E252 (Brooklyn)

Squad 270
1998: Reorganized from E270 (Queens)

Squad 288
1998: Reorganized from E288 at HazMat 1 (Queens)
 
Great comprehensive list.  Under Squad 4, the battalion with Engine 231 is the 44, not 34.
 
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