Northern Territory pics

[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.

[Andrew H.]

In post #18 at top left, the front two trucks are Model A Fords.

[motto (RIP)]

Lang. No, not a tipper.
I have a TM 10-1677 manual that covers models 4403, 4408, 4409 and 4412. On the cover of this manual below the large CHEVROLET title where the truck designation would normally appear e.g. 1-1/2 Ton 4x2 Truck,there is a strip of paper glued on that is printed in red and headed 'SPECIAL NOTICE'. It goes on to say that 'The 160" Wheelbase, Chevrolet Trucks imported by the Commonwealth Government for essential civilian users are equipped with:-
HEAVY 10" x 5/16"FRAME REINFORCEMENTS, AUXILIARY SPRINGS, 7" WHEELS, 7-7.50 x 20 TYRES and have an allowable gross vehicle weight of 14,300 lbs
With a tare weight of 5,488 lbs for the stake side body truck this gives a payload of just under 4 ton for what was initially classified as a 1-1/2 ton truck.
I personally have not seen a 160" wb truck without the reinforcement and it appears that trucks conforming to these specifications were also used by the military.
I thought this was an Australian adaptation but stumbled across a '42 Chev in Washington State (Port Angeles)many years ago which had the same reinforcement. It was identical to an Aussie L/L truck but LHD
David

[Lang]

Thanks David.

Andrew, here is the photo text for the Fords. 1939?

Two 30cwt Ford trucks are hitched side by side in front of a Thorneycroft Hathi tractor and using the power from all three vehicles, the men of the Darwin Detachment succeeded in pulling along the drug (a low wheeled trolley) weighed down by a six inch piece. the success was short lived as soon after the rubber hose on one of the Fords burst and Captain V C Secombe, riding on the running board narrowly escaped scalding. The large number of men seen riding in the Hathi were needed to ensure additional traction on the poor surface of the East Point Road.

Lang

[lynx42]

Where are they now? I have spent many many hours trying to find one of the Thornycroft "Hathi" trucks. Australia had, from what I have been able to ascertain, 8 of these trucks which arrived in the early 1930's were still on the books after the end of WWII.

I would love to find one to restore, so WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Here are a few photos of the Hathi in action.

1209thorneycrofthathi.jpg

Lined up at the end of WWII.

an002683.jpg


THORNYCROFT.jpg

Wide enough for 4 to sit across the front seat.

large_000000 (1).jpg

A good photo of one in England on test in 1929.

21462400_10155758229194329_6007233554350225361_n.jpg

Please let me know of the smallest part you might know about.

Regards Rick.

[Lang]

Rick

Looks like the photo I put up was taken a few hours after the news clipping railway yard photo. 6 tons was obviously too much to pull so they needed the Fords to help.

It lets us properly date the AWM photo to 1932 not 1939.

Lang

[lynx42]

Another question..

I have searched all through the AWM126 books but cannot find any of the "C" prefix numbers.

Lang, Mike C and Mike K all seem to have access to these earlier ARN's but I do not know where to look.

The Hathi in my last post has "C-205" for a registration number.

Thanks Rick.