SimonBrown

Hi All - not armoured or military vehicle related, but a Cold War era story that you could not make up. In 1969 a USAF Crew Chief stole a Hercules C-130 with the intention of flying home to Virginia from Mildenhall. He didn't make it, crashing in the English Channel. We are now planning to search for the crash site, as we think it may answer a few questions. To offset some of the costs we have launched a Kickstarter campaign: Finding Meyer's Herc If nothing else, do play the video. You really couldn't make this one up but it really happened.

Hi John - The Stanier Association have reported the locomotive to be Palestine Railways P Class 4-6-0.

Many thanks all - its been confirmed elsewhere its not a Stanier. And thanks for the vehicle IDs John - much appreciated. The search continues...

Once again I turn to the collective knowledge of HMVF. Can anyone give some IDs for the vehicles in this image: IWM British Army in Egypt 1942 There looks to be a mix of vehicles, and the locomotive may just be a Stanier 8F. Any ideas what we have in the image?

As ever, many thanks to all. Much appreciated.

The Imperial War Museum have this image of lorries crossing a floating bridge: Albions on floating bridge? And I think the vehicle is an Albion BY3? Could anyone confirm, or otherwise?

Close to where I live in North East Hampshire there is the remains of tank testing: Hazeley Heath Tank Testing In the nearby undergrowth there are a couple of sections of tank track lying around, one of which might be from a Churchill. Until recently I was unaware of its existence, but I will take a ride over there at some point, check it out and get some photos of the track sections. In the meantime, does anyone here know any more about the site?

Richard and John - thank you both very much for the info. Much appreciated.

All, The Imperial War Museum has this image in its archives: Albion AM463 But the vehicle is not identified. Can anyone confirm if it is an Albion AM463?

Short answer is 'depends'. If Merchant Navy then the ship will have an owner, who in turn may have insured it against loss. The cargo would have been owned by someone, who in turn may have insured it against loss. If insured and duly paid out, then the insurance company will own whatever is on the seabed. Uninsured losses remain the property of their owners. If a warship, then the government/country it served. Thats my very basic understanding, but maritime law will be more complex in the detail.

The Black Sea - the water surrounding Crimea - has differing salinity levels to the seas around our shores (for example). Below certain depths its anoxic - lacking oxygen - and together these factors would really limit corrosion, either whilst submerged or after recovery. So it might have been a quick wash down and buff up with WD-40 and it was good to go...

This is a new one for me. Never heard of a narrow gauge railway on that part of the Common...but I will have a ride out that way in the next few weeks and have a look around.

Looking from a purely financial viewpoint, leaving everything on in-situ on Thistlegorm makes more sense to the local economy: The recovered object can be sold by the locals just once, but divers will return over and over again and keep paying good money to see the cargo in-situ. Its worth remembering Egypt is a poor country and right now needs the tourist revenue...I digress... I do have accurate 3D data of the cargo - is there anything specific you need to look at in detail? I used measurements read from the 3D model to confirm the ID of a vehicle from hold four thats now mostly rotted away on the seabed, leaving the engine block and axles as a reminder of what was. It was the dimensions of those parts - measured here in the comfort of my office - that helped with the confirmation. So if you want any measurements or details checking, just let me know.

Yes there are. The engine and winch assembly was built by ACE Machinery and the engine itself was manufactured by Lister.

Many thanks for all the suggestions. Here's our thoughts: Spares for the ship itself? Possible, but if they were carrying 60 of them...seems excessive? Spares for ships of another type? Possible, as the destination was Alexandria. Light or sound? Yes, possibly... Vent or valve? Ditto... We are ruling nothing in, or out. The hunt for the manifest continues, but in the meantime do please keep the suggestions coming.

A pump, or part of a pumping system of some form, is not something we had considered - many thanks for these suggestions gentlemen. It is most appreciated. The form/shape has a real purpose. What needs to go from large diameter cylindrical to smaller square section over the distance of about 2" 9'? Having looked at the top image again, it does appear there are holes in the bell housing end of things...all ideas most welcome...

Good idea...not one we had thought of...however... As far as we know, the ship split from the main convoy and towards and headed around the Cape on its own.

Substantial, yes. And I have just counted 60 of them in the forward hold. Not sure what they are made of. Guess is casting, and looking at the corrosion its ferrous rather than aluminium. Two more images with a view on the ends with some more measurements. Originally they had covers over the 'bellhousing' end:

The search for that continues...so far, every lead has ended in a dead end.

In hold number 1, lower deck, of the SS Thistlegorm are a pile of mystery objects. There is debate amongst the team - Alex thinks they might be searchlight mounts, but I feel they look like gearbox casings with a distinctive bell housing shape at one end....however the square section at the other end seems at odds with this. One image shows the shape/form and the other gives an overall dimension. If anyone needs a specific measurement or two, just let me know. Its a significant amount of cargo and we have yet to nail it down. Hope the collective thoughts of HMVF can assist?

Many thanks for this - both to RAFMT & Niels v. The Crossley Q examples on the Thistlegorm are the flatbed variant, and have a very distinctive curved roof. Its like the designer was inspired by their garden shed...we are hoping that a flatbed is either under restoration, or nearing completion. Its now the last vehicle lacking a survivor...

To resurrect this thread...There are 10 Crossley Type Q lorries on the wreck of the SS Thistlegorm. Of all the vehicle types and models carried on the ship, the Crossley is the only one now listed has having no known survivors. The Albion FBE variant was the other vehicle that was missing, but that one is under progress (Good luck Paul). But this thread hints there may be a restoration of a Crossley underway?

I took a cycle over the ranges today. It was great to be out there in the sunshine. I found both engine houses and managed to complete a scan of the first one before the camera batteries died: Link to 3D model The engine is missing some parts - most noticeable was the radiator - but otherwise in reasonable condition. The second engine house is harder to find but is better preserved (As per ammoman's post above) and the engine still has its radiator. This one runs from SE to NW in direction. A few iPhone pictures: Comms box on the wall: Ordnance close by. Judging by the colour, an inert warhead:

Its certainly the closest match in terms of size. But was there any land-based artillery used in Egypt around that time that would match this size/type of shell? I think not, based on the massive size...but would prefer evidence rather than gut feeling!

The next object for ID are some very large calibre shells. They are encrusted with some marine growth so the dimensions (340mm/13.385" dia x 1630mm/64.17" long) indicated in the images should be taken as approximate. The driving band near the base of one of the shells is visible - just to the right of the top image measurement. Any guidance as to the type of shell and artillery piece these bad boys would be fired from would be most welcome.