Goncalo Mendes

Hello NOS, Great photos! Thanks! can you post more? :-) I believe that the manual that you mention is for the WWII army version of the fuel tranker, the F2B, is available for free in the net. The trailer registration in the first photo of the tread is "AM" (not AN) is for "Aeronautica Militar" , something like "Army Aeronautics/Aviation". In the first times, the portuguese army and the navy had their dependent aviation branches, with propriatary registrations. The trailer in your photos can be a ww2 version also, (maybe a simpler F2A, perhaps with a different rear pump housing and hoses reel). I had seen one that looked like it before, but your is a frameless one, completely new to me: http://g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=209350 http://g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=208725&p=1223668#p1223668 Maybe the pumps/hoses reel where from this shorter version. By the way NOS, how is the Federal wrecker restoration? G_Mendes

NOS and Marriot, Fantastic photos! Many many thanks! G_Mendes

Thanks NOS! Is it possible to post the photos? G_Mendes

Thanks Mr. Bellamy! I never had seen a "half size" one before. I only guess their existence, and then finally find the photos above that show them. Regarding their WW2 use, find this link to a video and on minute 3.35 clearly show one of them! The video dates from 1941, so the existence of a standard half plate is undeniable. However I never seen refered the lenght of this "half" plate. Regards, G_Mendes

Here is another pic of other larger tanker: source: http://www.chinalakealumni.org/1958/1958mo.htm#thumb G_Mendes

Hello NOS, Many thanks for your replay and help: I had seen the 8144, but somehow I forgot the bigger tires. In the photos I had seen it's difficult to see a a "real" diference between tire sizes. At least I noticed that on the 8144, it appear that the tire top is higher than the truck frame. In 7144 it is more or less aligned with it instead. Question solved! :-) By the way, this use was rare, or it was a "normal", when no Federal/Reo/Biederman/Corbitt was available? I thought that they where in dedicated "pairs", so why the use with U-7144/8144 and M-525/526? G_Mendes

In this photos, a Autocar U-7144T is towing with the 5th wheell, a F1A Fuel trailer. source: http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?3672-Some-real-USAAF-heavy-weight-vehicles!!/page8 source: http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?3672-Some-real-USAAF-heavy-weight-vehicles!!/page16 source: http://foro.aacvm.com.ar/viewtopic.php?t=313&sid=0d129a82087ca241d38f17dcf139d637 A Federal too! source: http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?3672-Some-real-USAAF-heavy-weight-vehicles!!/page23 As the Autocar and the Federal usually have 9x20 tires, and the trailer had 10x22 tires, this combination "works", or ir possible that the Autocar must have bigger tires , like 10x20 or 11x20 , or the trailer would use a smaller size, like the 9x20 or 10x20 or 11x20 also? source: http://www.modellismopiu.it/modules/newbb_plus/viewtopic.php?mode=viewtopic&topic_id=103596&forum=4&start=20&viewmode=flat&order=0 For this trailer, the usual tractor were the Reo 28xs/Federal 605/Biederman F1, with 11x20 tires. I have seen at last 2 examples of this trailer's being pulled by a M425/M426, the M426 the most obvious suspect has it have 11x20 tires also. Thanks, G_Mendes

Find a 1950/1960 refuel semitrailer, very similar, but with two wheel axes. Maybe the two types were made to a standard design, but with different sizes/use. (fighter bases, heavy aircraft bases?) Source: http://www.corbisimages.com/stock-photo/rights-managed/U1088258/fuel-truck-being-loaded-into-usaf-hercules source: Other photo for comparison of their use. It is a real possibility that this is the "sucessor" of the "F2/F2A ", and the above one is the sucessor to the "F1/F1A" fuel tanker trailers, of WW2 time. Source http://www.modellismopiu.it/modules/newbb_plus/viewtopic.php?mode=viewtopic&topic_id=103596&forum=4&start=20&viewmode=flat&order=0 The rear doors and compartiments shapes look very similar. This trailer identification is a mistery too, so all help is welcome! G_Mendes

Thanks N.O.S.! To me it looks very nice too! And it is rare, I only know of two of them In the "Standard catalogue of US Military Vehicles", by David Doyle, (2 ed; pag 296), David Doyle mention that this (the F2B semitrailer tanker), was based on one developed for an Army Air Force refueller, that I understand to be the F2A , itself developed from the prewar F2 tanker semitrailer. By the way, anyone know how is going the restoration of the F2 semitrailer owned by "Fleetmaster"? I would love to see some pics! Best regards, G_Mendes

Went searching for the F2B... And I find some info in the " List of U.S. Military Vehicle Supply Catalog Designations "G" Numbers". G678 - F2B Semitrailer, 2,000 Gal. Fuel Servicing, HeilCo. In the "Standard catalogue of US Military Vehicles", by David Doyle, (2 ed; pag 297) a photo shows a trailer type that I seen photos before, and remember that at least two survivors still exists today, one of them in restoration. http://pierreddy.blogspot.pt/2012/06/meeting-aerien-de-florennes.html It's painted as an US Army Air forces F2A fuel semi-trailer, but I suspect that this specific trailer (F2B) was intended to army units, as I never had seen a photo of it with air force markings. The TM for this, TM 9-891 Semitrailer, 6-ton Payload, 10-ton Gross, 2-wheel, Fuel Tank, 2,000-gallon, is available online, and don't mention the use by the air force. Note that the rear compartiment lacks the pump systems. http://archive.org/details/TM9891 The F2A has an angled rear, the rest looking identical. source: http://www.usaaf.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=28&view=next source: http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/mustang/mustangtest.html G_Mendes

Hi, This is maybe a strange question, but anyone has ever seen/noticed the existence of a "half size"" PSP plank. In many psp airfield runways photos, the landing strip borders is aligned, something that couldn't be done if using only the standard interlocking PSP plank, as if they "cut" psp plaks in half, and put each one on each side of a row as needed. I had seen his in many photos, but almost all of them low resolution, or the detail couldn't be seen. I never read anywhere about this been a standard plate also, or a "field work", but imagining them cutting(?) locally thousands of plates doesn't seen feasible. source: http://416th.com/melun.html In this photo it's even clearer: http://www.fold3.com/image/#37226879 look at the smaller plank in the bottom: http://www.fold3.com/image/#42265204 look at the stacks in the lower right: http://www.fold3.com/image/#56724145 Anyone can put some light on this? Many thanks, G_Mendes

I'm also searching for the same! http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?37544-Help-identifying-a-fuel-tanker-semi-trailer&p=360462#post360462 Possibly a F2B tanker trailer? As for not being in the 1953 edition of TM 9-2800-1, maybe it is a specific to the air force, and by that time the USAAF was already a independent branch, so their specific vehicles could be absent of the army catalogue... G_Mendes

Thanks for the info! It looks that some one else was looking for it also! http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?3672-Some-real-USAAF-heavy-weight-vehicles!!&p=193939#post193939 As for the trailer, the F2A is WW2. I never heard about the F2B! G_Mendes

Can anyone help in identifying this fuel trailer? source: http://www.modellismopiu.it/modules/newbb_plus/viewtopic.php?mode=viewtopic&topic_id=103596&forum=4&start=0&viewmode=flat&order=0 source: http://www.modellismopiu.it/modules/newbb_plus/viewtopic.php?mode=viewtopic&topic_id=103596&forum=4&start=20&viewmode=flat&order=0 I think it is a US made, and was supplied to some european allies in the 1950/1960's. Thanks! G_Mendes

Any news about the restoration/actual state of these trucks and tank trailers? G_Mendes

By the way, how is going the fuel trailer and the autocar restorations? Please post pics!!!! G_Mendes

Thats a Clarkat, I think. G_Mendes

I think you are right!!! And the other truck is one too. Many thanks! G_Mendes

Can anyone identify the fuel truck tractor combination? It looks like a GMC 353... Possibly a Chevrolet G-506 tractor, but they had closed cabs, and this looks to have dual rear wheels, open cab... and a smaller windshield. source: https://travelforaircraft.wordpress.com/2013/10/02/lockheed-xr6o-1-constitution-write/ The fuel trailer looks to be a F1 or F2, as I seem to remember view something identical elsewhere. G_Mendes

Just seen a Autocar and a F-2A fuel trailer for sale in G503 http://g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=209350 G_Mendes

Thanks Brian, but unfortunatly, for now I don't have the means to purchase them. But I hope to do so sometime! Regards, G_Mendes

I think this is a Federal 605, F1 Fuel tanker tractor, for USAAC. G_Mendes

It seems to be a Brockhouse WWII type . Not sute about the the weight. I think they had one rated to 3 ton, on torsion bar suspension (straussler type), and another rated to 5 to in normal spring suspension. Maybe someone has the technical specs could confirm post some data. I would like to know the wheelbase, dimensions too! Could you post some photos of your trailer? As for parts, your trailer type doesn't appear many times, as your search for images already give a clue. From other trailers, I think that it as a wood frame... At least I have seen this type of construction on other wartime trailers. Wheels 10.50x13 seems to be rare too. The trailer itself is rare, and worth saving! I hope that someone with more knowledge, can give a more accurate reply. Best cumpliments, G_Mendes

Hello, Is it possible to post photos of your trailer? Is is a rare item, that doesn't appear many times! Thanks! Best cumpliments, G_Mendes

Hello, Anyone that has a TM 9-2800 Standard Military Motor Vehicles, 1943 or 1947 editions, could scan and post the related pages to: Semi-trailer, Fuel Servicing, 4000 Gal F-1 Semi-trailer, Fuel Servicing, 4000 Gal F-1A Semi-trailer, Fuel Servicing, 2000 Gal F-2 Semi-trailer, Fuel Servicing, 2000 Gal F-2A Trailer, Fuel Servicing, 220 Gal A-2A G692, Biederman, Reo, Federal, 7ton, Truck, 6x6, tractor, F1 (Truck, Tractor, Fuel Servicing, 7.5 Ton 6x6) The photo identification reference can be seen here: http://usaaf.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=27 And these, if anyone has them, as I dont know if they exist. G626, Autocar, U2044, 2ton, truck, 4x4, oil service ------, Autocar, U4144T, 2ton, 4x4, tractor G635, Autocar, U5044T, Truck, 4x4, tractor, COE I couldn't find reference to them anywere! Many thanks. G_Mendes