Prototype BSA WD B40 RAF Police Escort

I have a photograph showing the above motorcycle whilst it was at FVRDE Chertsey for initial pre-production trials in 1967, it has the number 7523 stenciled across the top of the petrol tank, see photo. Someone mentioned it could be what is known as a 'Wing No.' Does anyone know what this number means, what it relates to and where I might locate the Trials Records from FVRDE Chertsey for this motorcycle please?

Dave

DAVE in the last lot of information e- mailed to you the report on the fitting of the VARLEY batteries to the trails BSA B40s clearly shows the wing number for the RAF B 40 AS 7523 this was also known as a establishment number and was applied

to all equipment this was done for photographic purposes as a military type number was not always on the vehicle but did remain on when the military plates were applied later

DAVE in the last lot of information e- mailed to you the report on the fitting of the VARLEY batteries to the trails BSA B40s clearly shows the wing number for the RAF B 40 AS 7523 this was also known as a establishment number and was applied

to all equipment this was done for photographic purposes as a military type number was not always on the vehicle but did remain on when the military plates were applied later

Sorry Wally, I am having trouble understanding your comments, are you saying that this number is unique to this vehicle, or this 'Establishment' number was applied to All vehicles?

By the way, I only got 'Page 1' of that report you sent me and didn't realise it related to this particular motorcycle? Are there more pages for this report?

DAVE ALL equipment had its own unique wing/ establishment number in this case 7523 for the RAF AND 7508 for the

ARMY BSA B40 used in this trial all other vehicles equipment had there own l only sent the front cover to show you

how the details were recorded in the reports

DAVE ALL equipment had its own unique wing/ establishment number in this case 7523 for the RAF AND 7508 for the

ARMY BSA B40 used in this trial all other vehicles equipment had there own l only sent the front cover to show you

how the details were recorded in the reports

Hi Wally, Thought you were away till June? ;-)

So, let me get this right, ALL RAF Equipment was marked with the same number i.e. 7523, and it wasn't unique to this particular RAF B40 ?

By the way, the RAF B40 in this photograph is showing the registration number 00 SP 77.

Sorry for the confusion but I am getting information from a number of sources and it's like doing a Jig-Saw without the advantage of the picture on the box to guide me ;-)

Dave

DAVE the number 7523 only applied to the one vehicle not to every vehicle in the trial each had a different identity number

so another RAF BSA B 40 IN THE TRIALS for example may have had a wing number like 7535 and that would only be on

that motorcycle no other I was due to be away until the beginning of JUNE but we only got the bank holiday away then had to cut short the break

DAVE the number 7523 only applied to the one vehicle not to every vehicle in the trial each had a different identity number

so another RAF BSA B 40 IN THE TRIALS for example may have had a wing number like 7535 and that would only be on

that motorcycle no other I was due to be away until the beginning of JUNE but we only got the bank holiday away then had to cut short the break

Hi Wally, Thanks for that, now I understand, sorry for the confusion. After you sent the first page from the Trial Report, I discovered the photos of the RAF Prototype at Chertsey showing the number on the tank. Because it was only described in the Trial Report as 'Motor Cycle B.S.A. B.40 (RAF) Wing No.7523.' with no registration number or frame number etc. I could not make the connection between the Report and the actual Prototype in question. We now know that the motorcycle in the Trial Report IS the RAF Prototype reg. no.00 SP 77.

Any chance of the other pages from that report?

Also, now we know the Wing No. etc. would you be able to find anything else on this motorcycle? According to the BSA factory records it was at Chertsey from 14th August 1967 to 6th September 1967.

Regards, Dave

Dave, Have you investigated the National Archives ?

They hold, with varying levels of detail, various ledgers and files relating to vehicle testing and assessment. My only experience is with wartime and pre-war stuff but it seems as if they also have later information.

The WO194 series would seem a good place to start. These files may give some clues :-

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14401

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C11273408

I've come across the term 'Wing Number' before and had the idea that it was simply their stock or test fleet number and on a four-wheeler would have been painted on the front wings. In that way, it appears clearly on the accompanying photographs.

Few of these NA files are on line so it will mean a trip to Kew, including the test on how to handle parchment, if you haven't been before !....A fascinating place to visit though and I always find the staff really helpful but of course it helps to do your homework first.

Hi, Yes I have used the Nation Archive before,however it was for WW2 Squadron project. Living in Yorkshire it's not exactly handy to get to, but I intend to visit again in the future on this subject.

Thanks for the info.

Dave