Answers to an old question: Les Freathty?

[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by Steve Guthrie
Found this photo in a June 1981 Airfix Magazine.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c8...rie/SdKfz8.jpg

Frequent MLU poster Les Freathy asked for any info on the history of this vehicle. It's a German Sd Kfz 8 12-ton half-track, in British Army service. In the photo King George VI is about to dismount from it.

Les, did you find out anything else about it?

Steve,

I will jump in here, if Les does not mind. It is a Kraus Maffei Sd Kfz7 8-ton, and is still in existence and undergoing restoration although the project has been on "ice" for a good number of years. When I first saw it about 25 years ago, there was a panel on the floor with the wartime British census number on it H62466226........ as in photo and the post war number as well. I showed the owner the photo and he said that it answered a question as to why there were some holes in the top of the radiator cowling, they were for the flag mounting, which is shown flying the Royal standard in the photo.

It may well be one that was completed by REME when they liberated the factory and it ended up in this country for evaluation purposes, probably at Farnborough.

I will not reveal the location of this vehicle but I suspect there are some on here who are aware of it.

Richard