RAAF FWDs
G'day Col,
the RAAF did use quite a number of FWDs in the Airfield Construction Squadrons but these were the HAR-1 version and all the ones I have ever seen were tippers. These trucks had an open cab with door-cut outs only - very similar to the "tropical or desert-cab" GMCs. There is a great photo in History of Holden Since 1917 by Norm Darwin that shows HAR-1s being assembled at a GMH plant.
There were many used in the 1950s here in Darwin in the reconstruction of the RAAF Base Darwin runway by 5ACS. Rumour has it that much of Darwin was built out of the cement that was brought here by 5ACS to mix with the road base for the huge runway - swapping truckloads of cement for the amber fluid seems to have been quite the norm.
When 5ACS left, many of the HAR-1s stayed behind and were used by government departments (Works and Housing) and later by civilian owners/contractors. I have talked with some of these blokes - all state they were good trucks but just too slow and very thirsty. The couple of wrecks I have, and others I have seen, all have the governors removed and holes bronzed closed - trying to get just a little more speed.
Jared
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