RCAF vehicles in domestic service

[Alex van de Wetering]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

It is my understanding that RCAF vehicles for domestic use were painted in the pre-war colour scheme as specified by the RCAF. This could be blue/black, yellow or red for airside vehicles or just plain black for administrative vehicles like light cars.

Good point Hanno; that's new to me. I was responding with the RAF "rules" in mind...not realising there is a big difference between domestic UK and domestic Canada.....with UK being under constant threat from the air, especially in the early part of the war!

Andre Gibeault's C60X is painted in RCAF gloss blue and black for chassis. I understand that since Andre's passing, his collection has moved to Borden.
Attached is a picture borrowed from Flickr.

30817443077_b9fec60c36_h.jpg
source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/736834...43077/sizes/l/

[maple_leaf_eh]

My father's uncle James Earl Findlay (1911 - 1991) was a Merlin engine mechanic in 410 Cougar Squadron during the war. I note that his headstone says he was a Cpl, but he never mentioned that. I do remember asking him about his service and how he got around on the airfield. Did he have a Jeep? No he laughed. He had a bicycle with a basket for his tool bag.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by maple_leaf_eh

My father's uncle James Earl Findlay (1911 - 1991) was a Merlin engine mechanic in 410 Cougar Squadron during the war. I note that his headstone says he was a Cpl, but he never mentioned that. I do remember asking him about his service and how he got around on the airfield. Did he have a Jeep? No he laughed. He had a bicycle with a basket for his tool bag.

Ah yes, the venerable bicycle, the most underestimated and forgotten military vehicle....

Could not even find a photo of bicycles used by the RCAF in Canada, so here's one to illustrate their use:

"Pilots of the 353rd “Thunderbolts” fighter group leave a briefing, passing bicycles propped against adjacent buildings. IWM FRE 366"
pic33.jpg
Via: https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/blog/set-of-wheels

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

Good point Hanno; that's new to me. I was responding with the RAF "rules" in mind...not realising there is a big difference between domestic UK and domestic Canada.....with UK being under constant threat from the air, especially in the early part of the war!

Andre Gibeault's C60X is painted in RCAF gloss blue and black for chassis. I understand that since Andre's passing, his collection has moved to Borden.

I forgot about Gibeault's blue C60X. I wonder where he got the information about the colour scheme?

Here's another picture of a RCAF CMP. Painted yellow and with census no. 57K63-A43, I'd say this is a post-war truck.

3433317310_72fc8ed29e_h.jpg
Source: https://flic.kr/p/6eoDC3

[Ed Storey]

Wartime photographs show that a number of different UK bicycle brands were employed on RCAF airfields during the SWW. Attached are two photographs, one showing a stationary type as used in rehabilitation centres and the other of a RCAF bicycle display team during a practice session.

RCAF Bicycle [1].jpg

RCAF Bicycle [2].jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

”RCAF stake truck and trailer recovering an RCAF Lysander after a forced landing near Nobel, Ontario, 1940. Photo courtesy of the Comox Air Force Museum WO CD Cunningham collection via Mike Kaehler.“

16EA4B43-AF72-4794-8901-6B7D639A912D.jpeg