Bring a tear into Max's eye

[Col Tigwell]

When I joined the air force in 1957, a lot of our equipment was left over from WW2.

Real jeeps, that we used to do major repairs and service the proper way. Out would come the rubber mat, and the transmission oil drained and the battery removed, and then presto six men would lift the Jeep onto its side.

Soon the powers that be decreed that "real Jeeps" had to go and then sent us post war models, which were not well received. My old SGt had a solution and the later jeeps had their RAAF numbers exchanged with the toy jeeps, and it would be them that went to disposals.

Eventually the powers that be, worked out what was going on, and they decided to beat us at our own game.

I was sent to Dubbo, to pick up our jeep replacement, arriving there I was issued to a brand new, still in Khaki paint, and with only 40 miles on the speedo. Seems like the air force and quite a few in war reserve. Arriving back to base, almost frozen stiff, the transport officer met me and said "lets see what you can swap that one for".

Pre war Federal cranes were our normal lifting devices, and parked in the back of the transport section, I never saw it go was a Cletrac tractor, which was kept just in case.

Again the powers decreeded the weapon carrier be painted blue,
The painters used it as a training aid, and it came back with a gloss finish, that was well above the finish on new cars.

I was transferred out in 1960, and when I came back in 1963, she too had gone to disposals.

Eat your heart out Max, hope it went to a good home.

Regards

Col Tigwell