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Help please,identification "van" from picture 18.may 1945


Higgins kpt.

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Hi , search details informations about unknown van on picture?

 

This van served for "Czechoslovak army film unit" ,

 

think from 1941 in England and late in Europe battlefield and this picture is from CIABG motorbattalion

 

back home 18.may 1945 near Pilsen.

 

But I dont know more, is British or American van ? Morris or Ford?

 

In CIABG served two more vans as "Ambulance" very similar to the aye.

 

Thanks for help

 

Tomas

Czechoslovak Army Film Unit III.jpg

vlcsnap-2010-11-04-17h59m00s174.JPG

Czechoslovak Army Film Unit V.jpg

vlcsnap-2010-12-10-19h41m17s13.jpg

vlcsnap-2010-12-10-19h41m49s102.jpg

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I think its an American GMC/Chevrolet step van, the only pic I could find is this later1950's model

 

Gutter line does not look right. Your photo has perfectly straight gutter/ roof line, the one we are trying to identify clearly has a curved gutter/ roofline. I would not have thought a later version of a vehicle would so drastically alter that a new press tool would be required for both roof and side panels.

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Is it not one of those Renault Guadilyboobliewahwah-things that they also made in 4wd for battlefield ambulances?

 

Hmm, good one this...............

 

Alec.

 

No , not Renault Goelette or previous wartime models, I think it is American but as to make:undecided:

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It looks, as Nick said earlier, like an American "step van", probably used by voluntary organistions for servicemens welfare, although in one photo the lettering on the side says "Film Unit". Is it the same van in all the photos, because lettering looks different? Doubt that it is a military supplied vehicle, and my feeling is that it could be something like a Ford, Chev or International, with a Metro, or Metropolitan body.

Edited by Richard Farrant
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something along these lines( prior to 1940 chevy ) still looking ........

Thanks for help,

 

i see on net few pictures vans with very similar body,

 

but every time not 100%, few small differences,

 

this Chevy is very similar!

 

on net is pictures two ambulances with describing International Haverster D-15 Metro,

 

and think this van is very different,

 

and on both sides this van is write "Czechoslovak army film unit" with CIABG unit badge

 

in centum. on the last pictures is same van , but ,think with hands made inscription.

 

Tomas

 

 

 

 

sanita jedna.jpg

sanita 2.jpg

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On the czech model forum was this van indentificated as Ford Vanette.

 

The van have to be early than 1942 yer of manufacture, from this date is wieved on the army movie.

 

Ford%20Vanette%201940.jpg

Edited by Radek
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Hi Radek,

 

Off thread, but bottom left of your first photo is a Ward Lafrance M1A1 towing what looks like a QL. Are there any more photos showing these two vehicles?

 

Thanks - Mike

HI Mike,

 

sorry Im Tomas, not Radek,:D, I search about this "Army film unit" vehicle,

 

this pictures with Ward laFrance is from Pilsen town ,main Republic square,

 

18.may 1945, after liberation by US Army,

 

and in this time was in Pilsen many, many US Army vecles from 3rd US Army,

 

18.may back home Czechoslovak brigade from Dunkirk battlefield and

 

on Pilsen main square was stirred American, Canadian and British vehicles,

 

think this Ward was from US Army or from Canadian heavy transport unit,

 

becouse transport all Czechoslovak Cromwell tanks from Dunkirk make Canadian heavy trucks with trailers.

 

If you want? sent to you more pic ,this Ward(think are),

 

Tomas

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Hi Radek,

 

Off thread, but bottom left of your first photo is a Ward Lafrance M1A1 towing what looks like a QL. Are there any more photos showing these two vehicles?

 

Thanks - Mike

looks more like WOT6 , rounded mudguards and headlamp (too big ) on mudguard , QL has the headlamp mount in front of the cab .

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HI Mike,

 

sorry Im Tomas, not Radek,:D, I search about this "Army film unit" vehicle,

 

this pictures with Ward laFrance is from Pilsen town ,main Republic square,

 

18.may 1945, after liberation by US Army,

 

and in this time was in Pilsen many, many US Army vecles from 3rd US Army,

 

18.may back home Czechoslovak brigade from Dunkirk battlefield and

 

on Pilsen main square was stirred American, Canadian and British vehicles,

 

think this Ward was from US Army or from Canadian heavy transport unit,

 

becouse transport all Czechoslovak Cromwell tanks from Dunkirk make Canadian heavy trucks with trailers.

 

If you want? sent to you more pic ,this Ward(think are),

 

Tomas

Thanks Tomas (:blush:),

 

Any photos you can send me would be much appreciated as wartime colour photos of WLFs seem to be rare. If you don't want to post them on here you could email me on tootallmike<at>hotmail.com

 

Thanks - Mike

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  • 4 weeks later...
Thanks Tomas (:blush:),

 

Any photos you can send me would be much appreciated as wartime colour photos of WLFs seem to be rare. If you don't want to post them on here you could email me on tootallmike<at>hotmail.com

 

Thanks - Mike

Hi Mike,

 

try search, please let me more time,

 

regards

 

Tomas

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