Dodge T110L

[Kevin Goodwin]

I have to build a rear body for my Dodge and have stumbled on this picture, is anyone able to give anymore information on this truck or theatre Or does anyone have any other pictures of the truck?
Thanks

[Lionelgee]

Hello Kevin,

Going off the Dodge's pivoting windscreen I would say that the vehicle was modified for the Australian Army. My Holden built cabin 1940 Chevrolet truck has the same style windscreen. The slouch hats and other uniform features also place it as the Australian Army.

I cannot help you with the truck's rear body though. It has very high sides. The numbers written on the front bumper when read by a more experienced person than me should be able to tell what the unit the trucks are with. That information could lead to identifying the rear body for you.

Kind regards
Lionel

[Mike Kelly]

Can I see a faint RAAF on the door and bumper , or is it RAF ? Could be a truck in use with 451 squadron RAAF which used the squadron code 'BQ' they served in the Middle East and Europe https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._451_Squadron_RAAF

The unusual body was probably retrofitted from another vehicle , could even be a body from a captured vehicle fitted somewhere in the M.E. Or, maybe the body was custom built by a workshop , to fit that particular chassis, the wheel box cutout does line up accurately with the rear axle.

[Lynn Eades]

Lionel, what is special about folding windscreens in Australian assembled Dodge trucks?

[Mike Kelly]

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

Lionel, what is special about folding windscreens in Australian assembled Dodge trucks?

The Australian Army specified that they required their MCP vehicles ( Ford Chev Dodge Inter ) to be fitted with a opening windscreen , roof hatch , spring front number and other mods .

The locally assembled 1940 models did not have these mods but by 1941 the mods had come into local MCP production . I've seen brass opening inner windscreen frames on various vehicles , the 41 Plymouth army utes I had were examples.

That RAAF Dodge pictured would have been a British contract vehicle I would think.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Looking at the screenshot I see you found the photo here on MLU Forum. Do you remember the thread or search term you used? There may be more info in the original thread.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Looking at the screenshot I see you found the photo here on MLU Forum. Do you remember the thread or search term you used? There may be more info in the original thread.

Got it:

Originally Posted by cliff

Here is a range of different bodies on the Dodge chassis. Mainly British or Australian

And the original as found in the AWM: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C307266

Description: Calvi, Corsica, France. August 1944. Road convoy of the advance party of members of No. 451 (Spitfire) Squadron RAAF moving towards the embarkation point in Corsica en route to Southern France.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

The above would be an interesting conversion of your Dodge with a story to tell: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._451_Squadron_RAAF

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

And the original as found in the AWM: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C307266

If you search the AWM you will find more pictures of this unit and their vehicles, some of which were camouflaged.


https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C275625

Corsica, France. 1944-07. Two motor cycles and a truck, part of a road convoy en route from Serragia on the eastern side of the island to Calvi (St. Catherine) on the west coast, pulled up on the side of the road during a temporary halt on the journey. The motor cycle in the right foreground is a RAF vehicle, but bears the letters "BQ" indicating that it is attached to No. 451 Squadron RAAF. The second motor cycle and its rider are from the US Army's Military Police. At rear is a truck belonging to No. 451 Squadron RAAF which is transporting squadron members to their new base at Calvi. The door of the truck, on which its driver is leaning, bears the letters "RAAF BQ" and the symbol of a kangaroo above a boomerang. (Donor M. Johnson)

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C307265

Calvi, Corsica, France. August 1944. After a night spent beside their trucks in the assembly near a Corsican port, transport drivers of the advance party of No. 451 (Spitfire) Squadron RAAF, roll out of the warm blackets in preparation for the move to Southern France. Left to right: 16649 Leading Aircraftman (LAC) A. F. Radford of Kojunup, WA, and 26326 LAC D. S. Linn of Glenelg, SA.

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C275624

Corsica, France. 1944-07. Members of No. 451 Squadron RAAF resting on the side of the road where a convoy of RAF and RAAF trucks in which they are travelling has made a temporary halt. The men are moving from Serragia on the eastern side of the island to the squadron's new base at Calvi (St. Catherine) on the west coast. The truck at extreme right with camouflage markings is a RAAF vehicle. (Donor M. Johnson)

There are 100's of photos of this unit on the AWM site: https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-sear...e=true&ppp=100

e.g. Dodges:
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C306659
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C332692
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C306656
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C306658
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C307400
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C306950
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C307191
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C307192
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C307279

?
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C305732

CMPs:
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C208256
http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=32743

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Found an earlier picture of the subject truck:
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C306654

El Daba, Egypt. c. 1943. Informal portrait of transport drivers of No. 451 (Spitfire) Squadron RAAF. Left to right back, (sitting on bonnet): 33447 Leading Aircraftman (LAC) Joe Stevenson; 30366 LAC Ron Burslem; 23310 Corporal A. A. (Gordon) Clark. Front: unidentified; 11713 J. K. (Jim) Kline; unidentified; unidentified; 23393 LAC G. A. (Bluey) Norman; 27255 J. R. (Buster) Pearson. Note the markings of RAAF BQ on the door of the vehicle.

This looks like another picture of the same Dodge:
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C307294

Cuers, Southern France. September 1944. 24412 Corporal J. H. Buckland of Mullumbimby, NSW, a cook of No. 451 (Spitfire) Squadron RAAF, gives some biscuits to two small French children.

Not the same truck but related?
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C307468

Cuers, France. October 1944. 257451 Flight Lieutenant H. C. Ferguson of Brighton, Vic, Adjutant of No. 451 (Spitfire) Squadron RAAF, points out the emblem adorning his mobile orderly room. The castle signifies squadron headquarters.

[Kevin Goodwin]

Thanks everyone for the input, much appreciated

[Mike Cecil]

'BQ' on the door is the squadron code for 451 Squadron RAAF, as carried on aircraft. Other than the RAAF vehicle registration number, there was virtually no uniformity in MT markings in the RAAF.

No.451 Squadron originally operated Hurricanes in an army co-op role in North Africa, then Syria and over Cyprus. Re-equipped with Spitfires before moving to Corsica in early 1944, then to France, UK and finally Germany in Sept 1945. Disbanded 21 January 1946.

An aspect that is possibly relevant to this thread is that the Sqn took over the aircraft and equipment of 6 Sqn RAF at Qasaba on 1 July 1941. I assume that also includes transport, so these Dodge trucks with their interesting rear bodywork were most probably ex-RAF.

Mike

[Lynn Eades]

My close knowledge of Dodge trucks is with WC Dodges. With closed cab Dodges I have seen two types of opening windscreens The US army style (with the arms and knobs as per an MB Jeep) and the other one with the handle in the dash center with the "push chain". I can't recall seeing a truck with a fixed screen? I still don't understand what is different about Australian assembled opening screens.

[David Dunlop]

The large wooden body with the screened upper walls with canvas covers.

Could it be a ‘Field Kitchen’ with all that upper ventilation? It looks like the same vehicle in the photo of the two children getting biscuits.


David

[Mike Kelly]

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

My close knowledge of Dodge trucks is with WC Dodges. With closed cab Dodges I have seen two types of opening windscreens The US army style (with the arms and knobs as per an MB Jeep) and the other one with the handle in the dash center with the "push chain". I can't recall seeing a truck with a fixed screen? I still don't understand what is different about Australian assembled opening screens.

Hi Lynn

Chrysler Australia had their own body making plant in Adelaide, a subsidiary called TJ Richards. Australian Chrysler bodywork - truck cabs and car bodies, typically would have the 'TJR' raised stamp visible on the firewall. The early WW2 era Australian Dodge army trucks and the RAAF staff cars , would have TJR bodywork fitted . The Canadian made cabs arrived later on, with the cabs being included in the T110L CKD kits , but even then, these Canadian cabs were modified and fitted with the Aust. pattern roof hatch.

The 1940 TJR truck cabs have the standard fixed civilian style windscreens but the factory eventually tooled up for the production of the required army mods which included a opening windscreen. The pic is of a Dodge with the TJR cab with opening windscreen, the hinges are visible. Not sure of the exact design of the TJR windscreen opening mechanism but my Plymouth utes ( with TJR bodywork) had a central push lever arrangement.

The vehicle pictured appears to be a army DD1-16 model with 116" wheelbase, 16" rims , but it has a unusually wide rear body fitted, normally these models had a typical 'ute' style body. I had a 1946 DD1-16 for years as my everyday car , it was very reliable and I drove it interstate a few times , it is pictured with my nephews , the day I found the Command Car body at Caragabul N.S.W.

I found a pic of a earlier production army Dodge ute with the fixed windcreen, I think this scene is the Ryde vehicle park, a 12cwt Dodge/Plymouth car based GS VAN is also seen.

[Lynn Eades]

Thanks for that Mike.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

The large wooden body with the screened upper walls with canvas covers.

Could it be a ‘Field Kitchen’ with all that upper ventilation? It looks like the same vehicle in the photo of the two children getting biscuits.

Most likely. It is not a wireless truck or some-such as there are no aerials.