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

[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