RAF vehicles

[dcrfan]

Here is an unusual if not unique RAF vehicle recently published in the RNZAF Museum on-line photo collection. A captured German Schwimmwagen believed to be somewhere in France

51296983712_ae129af3eb_z.jpg
2017-173.12_1.t60e631a3.m600.xIxgptBn_ by tankienz, on Flickr

Photo is at https://fotoweb.airforcemuseum.co.nz...-Collection%2F

[Allan Hillman]

Nice photo, thanks for sharing

Allan

[Keith Brooker]

A few photos from my collection.

[Keith Brooker]

A few more photos from my collection.

[Larry Hayward]

The attached photo shows a typical Austin 30 cwt ( I think) in RAF service in 1940-41.

It is camouflaged in G3 and G4 overspray I guess but I think the very faded RAF on the cab door suggests a thin coat of camo over what was the RAF Blue applied on delivery from the factory, as the use of the white 'RAF' insignia was very much a pre-war standard marking but (mostly) dropped with the introduction of camo colours. Conserving paint may have been a factor I guess hence a thin coat of paint, which soon wore off.

[ted angus]

Its a Bedford MSC supplied prewar to the RAF. Many were fitted with oversize tyres after introduction. Yes the RAF is an indication its pre war and no doubt would originally have been RAF Blue Grey.
Ted

[Larry Hayward]

I realise now the photo above was not an Austin. The engine cover hid the detail I was looking for, as in the attached photo of an RAF Bedford MSC in October 1940 with 83 Sqn c/o IWM.

By comparison this Bedford looks to have a cab as yet in need of disruptive camo, to match the rear wooden body. Could it be that the cab is still in RAF Blue at this stage of the war and soon to be completed when the proper paint arrives? It is hard to tell, but with the RAF insignia, it looks quite fresh and the paint appears to have a sheen. If it is in a base coat of G3 camo the RAF insignia would surely have been painted over?

Certainly the cab of the Bedford in the second photo (right) suggests the cab is still in RAF Blue glossy finish, with perhaps a very thin spray of G3 which has worn off or yet to be completed. So were vehicles painted in stages?

Also I guess that whatever the colours used on the wood of the body, they were different paint type from the metal parts?

Incidentally, I find it hard to distinguish a Bedford MSC from an ML. What are the distinguishing features?