M.Rimmer

Great job,well done!

Good to see a pic of the compressor being used as intended. Later model B-26 Marauder in the background.

Certainly for a P-51, and I believe this holds true for a P-38 aswell, as long as you have the airframe 'dataplate' (identity of an original aircraft), then that's all that's required to 'restore' the aircraft. In essence it will be a new manufacture.

If you think about the P-38 Glacier Girl, whilst the restoration used as many serviceable parts from the recovered original as possible, it is a virtually new aircraft.

I remember reading that the CAF B-26 Carolyn suffer undercarriage failure a few years after they got her back into the air. The accident damaged the main spar, and as the original plans were lost in a fire at Martin Aircraft years ago, the CAF had to get a new spar made using the damaged one as a pattern - with reference to other surviving examples too I'd guess.

 

Ultimately, if there's enough money anything is possible.

Chris you have raised a very good point and this is why I'm personally not in favour of the presumption that an aircraft should be restored,especially when it's well preserved and historically important(such as the B-17 above or the P-38 from Iceland). I would much prefer to see a conserved wreck than a "restored" aircraft which in fact is little more than a replica.

Matt.

What size are the cartridges Alec? as Richard says they maybe the same as those used on Field Marshall tractors,if so I'll be seeing my friend with an early Field Marshall later this week and I can ask him. Also AFAIK you won't need a certificate as they are classed the same as blanks.

Matt.

That's an early version. Nice pic,thanks for posting.

I agree Paul about giving the Afgans kit,but how long before it ends up in Taliban hands?.

Bob,I don't think we can really compare WWII or Vietnam with Afganistan. After the Second World War there were political reasons for the large scale dumping of vehicles and other equipment,and when the Americans pulled out of Vietnam the South were still fighting the Communist North so much of the equipment was not dumped as such but given to the South Vietnamese.

Leaving kit in Afgan is ridiculous IMO,all we are doing is supplying the Taliban.

If you post pics/model numbers for the wiper motor you need I maybe able to help if I have one in my assorted Land Rover junk...

Matt.

I will post some pictures of my collection of original CCKW dataplates when I get chance.

Matt.

It would seem the ships in the above link are not alone http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/26/science/26shipwreck.html?_r=2

Being a Merchant ship the S.S Gairsoppa and the 84 men who went down with her do not have the same legal protection as a military wreck,but I do wonder if the Department of Transport have taken the fact the ship is a grave into account?.

Almost certainly a local mod,USAAF units especially had a tendency for such creations,just look at the various hard tops fitted to Jeeps by Eighth Air Force units.

Matt.

I would be interested to hear from anyone with pictures of British civilian cars in use with American forces in England during WWII,especially USAAF units. I know the following models were used,but finding photographs is proving difficult!

Various models of Austin including the 28.

Wolseley 10.

Vauxhall 10 and 25.

Standard Sedans.

I'm sure there were probably others too.

Thanks,

Matt.

Hi Nicky,

1. Yes they would likely have been painted RAF blue,I bought the remains of an RAF Mk6 for parts and that was painted RAF blue from the factory,with a later respray in the same colour.

2. Don't know,but you might be able to get your vehicles record card from the RAF Museum using the chassis number.

3. The Mk6 was basically a civilian vehicle,the only real military specific parts were the lights(though some early models had civvy lights) and the jerry can carrier mounted in the rear tub so otherwise much the same as a basic civvy 88".

4. I have some in service photos but will have to locate them,give me a few days.

5. Depended on the unit,but an RAF roundel on the front wing was usual.

Matt.

Not trying to teach anyone how to suck eggs,but Plusgas reaches the parts other spray oil will not(WD-40 is like water by comparison,IMO).

Thanks Ivor. This is doing the rounds on several discussion groups now. Unfortunately disturbance of known war graves is more widespread than many realise,I have just heard of another case involving an aircraft crash site in the UK.

Copied from the Mortimer group on facebook.

Two Dutch salvage ships are desecrating the wrecks of HMS Cressy, Hogue and Aboukir, sunk in 1914 in the North Sea looking for copper and bronze. The issue is complicated because the MOD seems to have sold the wrecks to a salvor in the 1950's. However a group of Dutch divers are organising a petition to get the salavage stopped and the wrecks treated with respect as the wargraves and important parts of the marine environment that they are.

Mortimer says please sign the petition here...http://www.stopdesloop.nl/ It is in Dutch but is easy to understand. This is an International issue- these could be the sailors or service people of any nation.

Matt.

Thanks all for the info:-D I have been to Cosford several times so I think I'll do the motorcycle museum this time. I know some of the restoration staff at Cosford so will be going there again soon!.

Where are you located? if it could be from a Sussex 6x4 I maybe interested!.

Matt.

Thanks Degsy,yes I thought it was Middle East. The chap in the pics appears to be an officer? I will scan and post the other pics,though the only other vehicle shots are of a jeep.

Matt.

Hi Tony,

Thanks for posting those! yes there was also a water bowser version,I sold mine several years ago and Pete on here has it now. The cargo version used the same steel body as the 15cwt Chevrolet C15.

Matt.

Have to agree about Cosford Paul,unfortunately I won't have a vehicle and will need to be able to get back to the city centre so Cosford is perhaps just that bit too far.

Matt.

Thanks for the replies. I think it will have to be the Motorcycle Museum,at least then I can drool over a Brough Superior

I thought others might find these photos interesting. They are from a larger set taken by one of the men in the pics below. Can anyone ID the unit?

Matt.

I will be spending a day in Birmingham next week and would welcome any suggestions of museums etc which are worth a visit and which are not too far from the city centre. Doesn't have to be military,basically anything interesting to pass the time!.

Thanks,

Matt.

I just bought two NOS Cletrac dizzy caps from LWD via their website and cannot fault the service or the parts.