Desert Rat

Watched the Vulcan doing a brilliant display over RAF Scampton today. Obviously getting ready for Waddington this weekend.

Does anyone know what the covers for the roof turrets were made of on the Scammell Pioneers ? I assume they are canvas covers but would they have had a metal or wooden ring forming the shape ? Does anyone happen to have any pictures ? Many thanks.

Just to muddy the waters and to give Howard more sleepless nights...:nut: I have had a couple of ex-RAF Fordsons. One had always been a grey/blue colour and had the low-speed gearbox. The other was dull and faded but was and always had been Fordson green (a dark green). This one had an RAF number on the tank, plus a plate and an RAF roundel on the mudguard. Some however were that early British brown/green drab colour. Now, mudguards... Early RAF Fordsons from the pre-war contract had wide mudguards. From around 42/3 they had narrow wings (to save steel apparently) and then later one it transpires had no mudguards at all because by then, most airfields had concrete peri-tracks, dispersal's and runways so mud and muck was not such a problem. So, as to colour, if yours has no wings it will be a later one so that will probably give you the option of a late war colour scheme (same as other airfield MT kit) The most interesting thing (for me) is what wheels does it have ?

Very sad indeed. RIP Fred. Condolences to all the family.

Best thing to do is contact the sqn association and see if they can help: http://www.the-battle-of-britain.co.uk/squadrons/242sqn.htm A friend of mine served on 161 sqn flying Stirlings all over Europe on S.O.E drops out of Tempsford. He was the rear gunner and since his passing a few years back, I managed to get in touch with his Flight Engineer. It's nice to hear stories that I listened to in my youth from another member of the crew. I know of two Stirlings that were cut up in 1946 but not sure when the last one went.

They've only moved them to the other side of the road ! :laugh: Pity they're going to be broken up.

The bomb bay was divided to Ministry specifications to carry differing loads available at the time. There were no cookies, block-busters etc in those early times. Shorts always said they could change the bomb bay to a single open area but the Ministry refused (and also refused Shorts original design of a 112ft wingspan). The Stirling was more agile than either the Lanc or Halifax due to its high wing loading and was said to have been able to out turn a JU-88 when being attacked (mainly due to the JU-88 being faster)The Stirling gave invaluable service as a bomber in the early years but then as a supply aircraft dropping vital equipment to resistance groups all over Europe and then going on to being one of the main aircraft for towing gliders on D-Day, Market Garden etc. If only someone had the fore-thought to have kept at least one of every type from back then.

No, but thanks for the concern :nut:

Apparently it is to be within the next two years (start of rebuild).

Well that's answered the question of what vehicle I need for the road-trip.... :laugh:

Ray, personally I have no concerns about either cost or fuel economy. I did however ask about fuel economy as I was trying to work out if there was much in either vehicle therefore would there be a vast difference in how much spare fuel you had to carry in the absence if a filling station but to be fair, there sounds little in it. As I said, I've had a bit of experience with 353's but nothing with Dodge WC's. That said, they do sound appealing....

Having spoken to Andrew (Panton) a while back, he told me that the possibility of using the old existing runway was under negotiation with the current owner. Also, while the Lanc was being rebuilt to flying condition, they would obviously lose their main exhibit so they were looking at buying the Dakota 'Drag em' oot' which is based there at East Kirkby. This would give them an exhibit and also something to do taxi-rides in. It's not a Lanc, but it's still an interesting aircraft.

A Dodge 6x6 ? I can see your reasoning but were they not under-powered for the size ? (I truly do not know as I have only read a couple of bits about the 6x6) Obviously a 6x6 has more room so would be better in that respect. The other thing I should mention is that I have no intention of trying to live and survive like a G.I. The US troops and the Brits, Canadians etc had a tough time of it and all I am looking to do is go to some of the places they went. I know some think it 'all part of the fun' but all we are doing is going on the trip to pay our respects to them, not to try and replicate the hell a lot of them went through. With that in mind, as I said, we will stay in hotels and accommodation in the evenings and we will also be putting in some better seating/cushions in what ever vehicle we choose but wont be cutting the vehicles about, just making sure people are comfortable(ish...) and safe (as mentioned, better lighting etc) Now, as far as MPG goes for a GMC 353, WC 4x4 and a WC 6x6, what would would average at a sensible speed ? More curious than important really.

Whatever we decide to get, I will take a full spares kit, toolkit, extra spare fuel, water and oil and service kit as well as obviously giving it a full once over in the workshop before we left... Just out of interest, when looking at recovery for a 353 or Weapon carrier, who should we contact to get the right cover to get dragged in from abroad if needed ?

Hi Pete, This whole daft idea is still in its early stages so nothing is in stone. I just want to hear what tips, advice, good or bad people have. A weapons carrier might make more sense, I'm not sure yet but I have to start somewhere and thought a 353 would be a good vehicle for such a trip. I've done the whole Ardennes trip back in 2004 but now my colleagues have a taste for visiting these sites so we thought the next one should be a bit of a 'once in a life-time' kind of thing.

I've had a fair few MV's and still own several (Scammell Pioneer, Ford GPW, Bedford MJ's, TM's etc) but think a GMC would be a nice truck for a good distance trip. I have also been considering a Dodge weapons carrier but wouldn't have thought there would be much advantage ?

As I was on the ferry coming home I thought about the chat that our group had had and to be honest I thought "Why the bloody hell would I want to do the trip in an old WW2 vehicle ?" and then I thought "Because I can and it's just one of those things that doesn't need a reason"

Gents, I have a bit of an idea for a trip but would appreciate the thoughts, opinions and advice of the rest of you. Having just returned from a wonderful tour of Normandy (managed to do all the beaches plus para-drop zones and the Maisy Battery which has just been opened for anyone who hasn't been - go see it !) Now, myself and four others got talking as you do and we are considering the following: Buy a GMC 353 and then drive from the UK across to the Ardennes, look around for a few days and then drive back. Now, we will stay in hotels as I do enjoy at least some comforts these days. The truck will obviously have to be a decent one as reliability is a must. So, is it too much to expect from an old 353 these days ? (I have owned a couple before but literally owned them, drove them to a couple of shows and then did a deal on a DT-981) What would be the things to consider before even getting into this ? Seriously, I would like to hear your thoughts. Thank you.

I think a Jeep marked up from the 7th would make a great change and would stand out nicely. Just out of interest (and following a discussion the other day down the local) in reality, would there really have been many Jeeps on the front line with the 101st that were marked up with 101 markings ? Would not most of the transport have been from supply units etc ? Div. HQ may have had them but if you go to any show these days you would think the 101st were a vehicle hire company !

Fairly close call as the aircraft crashes not much more than 2 or 3 seconds after he baled out. A real shame to lose such a wonderful aircraft but more to the point, great news that everyone was okay. Thanks to all for posting the vid clips.

He did however ask him to bury him at midnight as that would be about the time they were over the target, so i suppose it was more or less correct. They really have made a massive thing out of the naming of Nigger though. As Mike said, they could have just relay the morse signal and then I suppose they could just say "They did it ! Its gone !" rather than change the dogs name and completely hash things around. Any reference to the dog before the raid could just be a simple "Come here lad" or even use the name Nigsy which apparently people including Gibson actually did. The bit that puzzles me (if we are going to be so PC and pedantic) is that people are so alarmed at the naming of a historical fact, i.e the naming of the dog yet find it acceptable to make a film concerning men getting shot out of the sky and civillians getting drowned.... Its a strange world.

Mike, the original film did use morse to send the signal and it can clearly be heard - the name however is called out by the morse operator at Grantham as he is relaying the message back to Wallis and Harris in the room.

When the brakes are warm they are simply brilliant. You can feather them nicely.

Then come and drive it first thing...:cool2: I will scrape you off the windscreen after breakfast.:nut: I think if i get a day next week I will get her in the workshop and have the drums off. I agree that Mk/MJ's are bad on the brakes and I have always been able to 'warm' mine in the morning but just lately she has been horrid. Its a flatbed with an Atlas crane, ex-RAF. Lovely truck and it runs like a sewing machine, well, a sewing machine with sharp brakes !

Thanks all. During the summer when stood for a week or two, I had to 'warm' the brakes by driving round the yard with them on but then she would behave brilliantly and would brake as well and controlled as any car (well, like a morris minor...) but the last week or so she has been nothing but a pig. I will look at the adjustment tomorrow and also using methyl hydrate. I drained the tanks down the other day - bit damp but nothing unusual but will do again tomorrow. I'll let you know how I get on. :-) Thanks, DR