RAF vehicles - Page 4

David_Hayward (RIP) · #1 21-02-06, 13:40

Quote:

another version of the 6x4 Fordson Sussex this one a searchlight carrier

Did the Fordson, GMC equivalent et al have a drive from the engine PTO to the dynamo to power the S/L?

Rlangham · #2 13-04-06, 18:47

Great stuff, just come across this thread, i'm fascinated by RAF vehicles, favourite has to be the Fordson WOT1, especially as theirs quite a few preserved nowadays in the UK - two fire tenders, a crew coach, a barrage balloon vehicle and a mobile dentistry unit. Went to the Lincolnshire Aviation Centre at East Kirkby yesterday where they have a Fordson WOT1 fire tender and Fordson WOT1 crew coach among other interesting vehicles such as a David Brown bomb tractor, Bedford OX and queen mary trailer and a 6 wheel AEC matador refueller, attached are some pics of the two Fordsons - when i've got the money i'd like to buy one of the Matador Models Fordson WOT1 vehicles and perhaps use the cab for a fire tender

Edit - looks like simpload.com has failed me yet again! The photos are here

http://community.webshots.com/album/549430509qSDsYR

Hope you enjoy the pics!

Richard Farrant · #3 13-04-06, 20:07

Quote:

Originally posted by Rlangham

The other fire tender is at another airfield somewhere in England (not sure where)

There is a restored WOT1 crash tender in the Spitfire Museum on what was once RAF Manston, near Ramsgate. Now called Kent International Airport.

Richard

Rlangham · #4 13-04-06, 20:20

Ah that makes three then - there's one at the Twinwood airfield museum, it's a beautiful restoration, apparently it took twenty years so a lot of effort gone into it

Les Freathy · #5 14-04-06, 19:04

Good evening all

Not had much spare time of late so decided tonight to see how the threads are going, good to see the RAF items still appearing the mention of the Ford WOT fire tender at Manston takes me back as at one time it served Silver City airways at Lydd Airport in Kent andfor a long time after the decline of air traffic stood in one of the old Nissan huts. Around 1970 i called in there to seeif i could take photos and was told if i can get it started i could pull it out to take some shots, sadly it was indeed a no hoper and i had to satisfy myself with sectional shots in the shed
Two photos of another RAF fire tender this one the early Crossley Q 4x4
Les

sapper740 · #6 14-04-06, 19:58

Apologizing profusely in advance!

Quote:

Originally posted by Les Freathy

one of the old Nissan huts. Around 1970 Les

AAAh...in that decade, wouldn't it have been a DATSUN hut?

Keith Webb · #7 14-04-06, 22:47

Would this have originally been built for the RAF?

More here.

Bill Murray · #8 14-04-06, 22:51

You have a good memory, Sapper but of course you know too that they are Nissen Huts to you and Quonset Huts to us barbarians.
Bill

Rlangham · #9 14-04-06, 23:53

Quote:

Originally posted by Keith Webb
Would this have originally been built for the RAF?
More here.

That, possibly the most ancient looking vehicle to serve in WW2, is the Crossley Q type, i've only heard of them being used by the RAF, as 3 ton tenders or as tractors for the Queen Mary trailer along with the Commer Q2 and Bedford OX, interesting pictures.

sapper740 · #10 15-04-06, 05:13

Quote:

Originally posted by Bill Murray
You have a good memory, Sapper but of course you know too that they are Nissen Huts to you and Quonset Huts to us barbarians.
Bill

Bill, I have a failing. I'm obsessed with correcting spelling mistakes. I consider myself linguistically precise and detail oriented, however my wife thinks I'm anal!
We Colonials, whom are assumed to all be barbarians to our British friends, use many terms interchangeably. I figured one of my contemporaries would enjoy the little wordplay.

Rlangham · #11 29-04-06, 18:57

Here's some more period photos i've found on the web, this time of the Fordson WOT1 crash tender, this sort is known as the Weeton type, one of four types on the Fordson WOT1 chassis, i'm going to attempt to scratchbuild one in 1/76th soon, just need a Fordson WOT1 cab and chassis.

This nice colour photo shows one at Prestwick in 1944, I think the ambulance behind it is an Albion AM463, it's from the IWM collections website

This series of photos shows one in use with the USAAF, many British fire tenders and ambulances etc were used at American airfields, in the first photo the vehicle next to it is the lovely Austin K2 - also from the IWM collections website

Allan Hillman · #12 29-04-06, 19:38

I am only seeing a little red cross for each picture - is anyone else getting the same thing ?

cheers

Allan

Rlangham · #13 29-04-06, 20:48

Ok i'll try again, i'll have to upload them one by one. This is a Fordson WOT1 weeton type crash tender used by the USAAF next to an Austin K2 - RAF vehicles were given to the USAAF for their airfields in WW2, emergency vehicles especially

Rlangham · #14 29-04-06, 20:50

Side profile of another Weeton

Rlangham · #15 29-04-06, 20:50

Yet another, quite interesting and good looking vehicles

Rlangham · #16 29-04-06, 20:51

Lovely colour photo of one in RAF service at Prestwick, Scotland in 1944

Rlangham · #17 29-04-06, 20:53

And you thought mobile phone technology was new!

Rlangham · #18 29-04-06, 20:55

Here's the last one. There's quite a few interesting photos of RAF vehicles on the IWM collections website www.iwmcollections.org.uk the best way i've found is to type in 'tender' or 'bowser', but it's still hard to find matches

Allan Hillman · #19 29-04-06, 21:25

thanks - all clear now !! what happened last time ?

cheers

Allan

Rlangham · #20 29-04-06, 22:11

No idea, I uploaded them on simpload.com and used the image tags so they showed up and you wouldn't have to click on them, worked for me but after you posted they seemed to stop working! Had to attach them one by one instead.

Larry Hayward · #21 21-05-06, 18:15

Can anyone identify the make & model of this RAF Tractor seen in 1944 at RAF Chivenor.

Bill Murray · #22 21-05-06, 18:45

Hi Larry:

Closest I can come is that I believe it is a Clark Tug and I do not know the model number. Definitely ex US.
Here is a photo taken in 1953 which seems awfully close to your vehicle.
bill

sapper740 · #23 21-05-06, 20:24

Quote:

Originally posted by Rlangham
Here's the last one. There's quite a few interesting photos of RAF vehicles on the IWM collections website www.iwmcollections.org.uk the best way i've found is to type in 'tender' or 'bowser', but it's still hard to find matches

Of particular interest is the total lack of defensive armament on the B17 in the background, suggesting that this may be one of the trans-Atlantic mail planes. The RCAF's 168 Heavy Transport Squadron hurriedly pressed 6 B17E's into service after roughly painting over the US markings. Perhaps this B17 is one of them?

CHIMO!

Rlangham · #24 21-05-06, 21:01

I think the B17 is used specifically for fire training, most likely broken or damaged beyond repair and probably nothing more than a hulk, like old airliners used at airports today for fire training. By the way, the bomb tractor shown is made by Academy in 1/72 scale, it's a US design, as well as that sort there was a similar sort without the large radiator guard at the front, one of which can be seen at the Sywell Aviation Museum http://www.sywellaerodrome.co.uk/museum.html

cletrac (RIP) · #25 22-05-06, 08:16

That little aircraft tug is the Clacktor (probably model 6). It has a flat head Dodge 6 for power and if you look at the rear fenders you can tell they're made of cast iron (about 3 inches thick) to give them traction.

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #26 22-05-06, 08:48

Slightly off topic, but I have been asked about the colour schemes of RN/RCN vehicles. Can anyone advise?

Phil Waterman · #27 22-05-06, 15:17

OK it is not a whole RAF CMP Truck but how about this one. Kevin Garison here in New Hampshire has just started restoring a basket case C15 with it came the extra door which is pictured. That is all that is known about the history of the door.

Larry Hayward · #28 22-05-06, 23:43

"That little aircraft tug is the Clacktor (probably model 6). "

David,

Is your spelling correct? Do you mean Clacktor or Clacton?

I cannot find any links for such a make as Clacktor. I have for Clark though.

Richard Farrant · #29 23-05-06, 00:02

Quote:

Originally posted by Larry Hayward
"That little aircraft tug is the Clacktor (probably model 6). "

David,

Is your spelling correct? Do you mean Clacktor or Clacton?

I cannot find any links for such a make as Clacktor. I have for Clark though.

Larry,

He obviously meant to say Clarktor, made by the US company, Clark.

Richard

Bill Murray · #30 23-05-06, 00:43

For whatever it is worth, not too much I fear, here is another photo of a Clarktor 6.
It would seem my original posting showed another version, possibly powered by a 4 cyl engine and not the same as the one we started with.
Edit: This is a postwar photo and the vehicle has been changed a bit and made into a sort of Hot Rod. Still, the wheels, bonnet etc. look awfully close.
Bill