Early CMP Van? - Car, Heavy Utility, 4x2 (Ford C011DF-F8)

[Stuart Kirkham]

England 1944. Is that a Martin Marauder nose cone on the roof?

[David Dunlop]

Hi Stuart.

I think I have read a story about that vehicle many years ago. It might have been in part of an article written about “Follow Me” vehicles in either WHEELS AND TRACKS or perhaps ARMY MOTORS.

David

[Hanno Spoelstra]

IWM Catalogue number FRE 296, captioned as:

"A Chevrolet truck fitted out as a mobile air traffic control unit. In the background is P-47 (WZ-A, serial no. 42-76329) of the 83rd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, which was based at Duxford air base. Passed for publication 11 March 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Discard bomb(er) nose as control tower. Associated Press photo shows: A home made black and white checkered truck fitted with a dome made of a discarded plexiglass bomber nose is used as a portable control tower on a P-47 field in England. It is radio and telephone equipped and the dome gives protection from the cold. A P-47 is seen taking off after being given the green light from the cotrol tower.'"

IWM (FRE 296).jpg

[David Dunlop]

Mobile Control Towers seem to have been a popular conversion for these vehicles, Hanno. At least three different ones in this thread: two with scavenged nose cones, one without.

I wonder if they were common crew transport vehicles on a lot of Air Force Bases and their ready availability led to this alternate use? Fixed control towers would be an obvious target in an air attack on a base in an effort to disrupt base ops. Going mobile would be an effective countermeasure.

David