Northern Territory pics

[Lang]

Mike (Kelly)

If you go to Darwin you should spend some time in the library archives. They have a huge collection of NT photos not seen elsewhere.

I believe someone, at some stage, has dragged through all the AWM and other official sources to build the collection plus many direct donations and local newspaper records.

Your book find is a beauty!

Lang

[motto (RIP)]

Going by the very much modified front mudguards on the Chev in post #7 it has been 'Australianised' but not completely. As Mike K says it is an American cab as evidenced by the one piece side windows. The cowl vent is another giveaway. The truck is RHD.
An anomaly appears in that the fuel filler neck is still on the original (R/H) side instead of having been shifted to the other end of the underseat tank as most were.
The tray body is not the American L/L pattern and is obviously fitted with some form of seating. The fellows in the rear row appear to be standing on their seats and an extra board is mounted on the side to provide a reasonable backrest.
As usual with these trucks the mix and match of components has a 'use what's available' feel about it.

David

[Lang]

David

Do you think it is a tipper with that very big chassis rail reinforcement?

Lang

[Lang]

Well Mike Kelly has inspired me to start looking at NT photos. Below is a small collection of "Darwin" keyword photos only, some actually just prewar.

A huge variety of vehicles.

[Lang]

And more of them

[Lang]

And the next

[Lang]

And more again

[Mike K]

Just a few notes:

I too noticed the RAAF Chev has the reinforcing plates along the chassis rails . Somebody mentioned this as being an Australian modification on these LL Chevs ?

Yes I noticed the cab 12 is missing its roof and the rear cab panel . I think this would be an army vehicle .

Didn't know about Bud Tingwell flying from Coomalie. Another noted 1960's HOMICIDE TV series actor was a Wellington bomber pilot, Leonard Teale. I read the autobiography of Vincent Ball, another Aust. actor, he was a WAG flying in Coastal Command in the UK.

I will scan a few more pics.

[Mike K]

The CMP towing this Mosquito airframe at Coomalie . They towed this away to the sports ground and to celebrate VJ day, they made a bonfire and burnt this airframe.

A B24 making approach to Fenton airstrip.

[Lang]

Later, he was posted to a photo reconnaissance unit, No. 680 Squadron RAF, and flew 75 sorties in Mosquitos and Spitfires during the North African Campaign and the Allied invasion of Sicily. Other aircraft that Tingwell was qualified to fly included the Bristol Blenheim, Martin Baltimore, Bristol Beaufighter and Airspeed Oxford. He was promoted to flying officer in June 1943 and flight lieutenant in December 1944.[5]

Towards the end of the war, Tingwell was transferred back to Australia. He was posted to No. 5 Operational Training Unit RAAF as a flying instructor and then to No. 87 Squadron RAAF, flying photo reconnaissance Mosquitoes over the Dutch East Indies. On demobilisation in 1946, he was awarded the 1939–45 Star, Italy Star and Defence Medal. Tingwell remained a reservist into the 1950s.

[Mike K]

The Coomalie PRU Lockheed Lightning, the notes state , this was written off after a landing crash 1st Sep. 1944

Graphic image of Darwin on fire.