P Marriott

Bodge steady on there I can't work too hard!! Hopefully I will get the Chevy to Debach as a static exibit if nothing else. If I can get it running and moving then all the better. The only problem is time!! Just got the Dodge winter maintenance finished ready for it's first outing Sunday. Bodge are yourself and Jesse attending this year?? If so the following weekend there is another event at Bentwaters for there airshow, another informal worth while event. NOS will now definately have to pay a visit to see what is missing on mine. Sounds like if Clive does Bolero 2011 we need to get two M6 combinations along with your tanker and my Clark! Stupidly I have promised William the Clark will be drivable for his birthday in November!! Just need a takeout Dodge 230 engine if anyone has one for sensible money. Will post pictures as soon as I get to see it!!

Well I have been offered a good friend's Chevrolet M6 and M5 trailer combination as part payment for some work. This truck has not run for a number of years and is in need of light restoration, or at least that is what he tells me. It is still tarped over on his drive, so who knows what six years weather has done to the tinwork!! It needs new brakes all round, drums skimmed, new rear half shafts, tyres, wiring, a lick of paint and the engine has not turned for along time. When I do finally get to see it in all it's glory I will post some pictures. As for the M5 trailer he has down a fair amount of work on it and only needs the fin holders and toolbox to be fabbed plus a couple of tyres. I already have his repro 500lb and mould so hopefully in x amount of time I will have a presentable rig!!!

So when i go to collect it i will need One bacon slicer One stun gun And a swine flu jab just in case!! Will post pictures of new project when i get it home.

It's a good thing I love bacon sandwiches!!! I'll be armed with a bacon slicer rather than a 50 cal!!

I couldn't possibly say at this moment in time, but a deal has been done !!!! So maybe for Bolero 2011, if Clive pulls his finger out, we could see two said vehicles together!!!

Does anyone out there have any idea where I can find a USAAF M-1 bomb lifter. These were used to jack up bombs under aircraft and were used in conjunction with the Chevrolet M-6 bomb service truck and the M-5 bomb trailer. They were made by Weaver hydraulic lifts. This is what they look like if you are unsure. http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/070423-F-1234S-002.jpg Any leads or parts gratefully received.

Cheers for comments on ring gear. The problem was starting, starter didn't always engage in one position!! I rebuilt the starter last year with new bendix gear as that needed doing. Just thought with a bit of time on my hands i best get dirty and get the job done! Adrian is right it will wear in three places being a 6 cylinder and the wear is quite bad. I still wonder wether to just flip the ringear over or use the new one as supplied by Jeep parts even though it is 1/8" thinner.

Hi all just after some advice on fitting new ring gear. I have already dropped the transmission, removed the clutch , flywheel and taken the old ring gear off. The question is, the new ring gear from Jeep parts is 1/8" thinner than the original and does not have a chamfer on the teeth. Are either of these points a reason not to fit the new ring gear???? Or should i flip over the old one and refit it??????? Should i also be thinking of replacing the rear bearing oil seal as it does weep oil or anything else in the area as i have it apart??? Is it also worth removing thje sump for a good clean out of the oil strainer? Anyway I await the words of wisdom from you all and look forward to getting covered in oil and grease!!

Hi Steve If you need any additional photos of the Debach trailer just ask and I will take them for you. There is also another one nearby that I may be able to photograph. Not sure whether it is 3 or 5 ton though. Regards Paul

Is that not a Federal 606 C2 aircraft recovery wrecker and trailer ????

Cheers Neil, but as NOS says the pasenger looks familiar. Hey NOS that can only be Dave in another life as who else has that vacant look!!!! The one Neil has posted pictures of ,was as stated a non runner, however the other one residing in Monktons field was a runner as I managed to get a drive!! If only my Cletrac projects were that complete instead of scrap.

Just to let you all know unfortunately one of the veterans who attended the Debach dance and openday passed away on Monday 8th June. Coleman Duncan who was an original member of 493rd BG and flew into Debach on 10th May 1944 and flew the first three missions and was shot down on his third mission, having only spent four weeks at Debach and never left the base. Our thoughts are with his surviving family.

Cheers for all making the long trip south, especially when the weather normally gets hotter the further south you go!! As you say next best thing to Normandy and most of us in Suffolk still speak a version of the Queens English, rather than that funny foreign language. Pleased you all had a good time and long may the event continue. Next year i feel a complete groundcrew setup awaiting the bombers return, as well as your excellant control caravan diorama and maybe if Richard paints the Bofors a flak site as well!!! Maybe a Clark tractor could be finished for next year and pull the bombs around with Bodge on top. Then again would need to check the drawbar pull with the extra load!!! Thanks must also go to Adrian for churning up the grass! Thans to you all once again

Hi there Please see the following links for photographs of the Cletrac that is believed to below to a collector who is based in or around Alsace. http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t40/pmarriott100/imm304.jpg http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t40/pmarriott100/chenille202.jpg As you will see it is not complete but of great interest is the fact that in appears that the owner has somehow used halftrack tracks and joined them. They are the same width and pitch as the Cletrac tracks. Any further information would be great. Regards Paul

Hi all I would be grateful if any of you lucky enough to be heading over to Normandy would keep a look out for that elusive Cletrac that has been spotted in the past sporting a fine set of cut and spliced half track tracks. If anyone does spot it then I would be keen to know how they managed to join half track tracks and contact details if possible. Safe journey to all those going.

Hi guys here are a few pictures of the tea hut!!!!!!!!!

Hi Howard I was up near Kettering buying those spare Cletrac chassis's last weekend and the farmer had a Chance Vought light built on a standard Brockhouse trailer. Anyway he is 85 and as usual is inventive, he had used tornado nose wheel tyres, that apparently will fit the standard rims!! This maybe a possible option. Regards Paul

We now have a new visitor centre ( posh word for tea hut!!) next to the ambulance shed and able to supply the avid traveller with tea and coffee. Plus the big bonus for this years event fully plumbed toilets, so theres no long walk back to the tech site for a pee!! Will post some pictures of this rather impressive structure, all constructted by OAP's except for myself of course!! As for the HMVF crew well up here in Suffolk two's a crowd so with five or more we can have a party. As for the 493rd, they flew their first combat mission on D-day and lost two B-24's in a collision over the beaches, so for those unable to get to France Debach will do nicely.

I was just about to post that very same photo taken from a certain bomber at war book!!! You are right could these tankers mainly have been used for oil as 450 gallons is of no use to a bomber. There are several other very similar photos in other books also showing oil bowsers and not fuel. Most likely used for fuel maybe on fighters. Anyway Howard at the end of the day a great find and worth saving. They would have most likely been loaned to USAAF in the early months of the war anyway, just need to find some evidence. There used to be a complete boswer like those on Snetterton airfield back in the early 90's and also one at the side of the road on the way to Fakenham, both complete. Richard has a rough one at Debach as well!!

Mine has to be Cletrac M2 One day mine may will move under it's own power and look like this!!! http://cletrac.org/media/pictures/marriott/8AAF-1.jpg Check out colour footage of the beasts at work!! Always looking for parts!!

Clarks are also great vehicles, I have two mill 44's and Matt has a mill 44 and the heavier version as well!

Hi Snowtracdave There used to be one on a farm over in Peldon in Essex I believe that was complete with fittings etc.. Could this be the same one or do you know of another?? I to have a very rough Cletrac as Jesse so politely says!! Mine came off a farm in Bently, not far from youself. Matt and I are on the hunt for any parts what so ever. NOS tracks would be great, more chance of winning the lottery though. A collector only ten miles from me now has a mint Cletrac so access for measurments is not a probably Matt. I now have four correct headlights and one rear light with switch but only one headlight mount, still need to find two!! Other parts required are: Eight roadwheels with good rubber Windscreen frame and mount Rear compressor Air bottle and regulator Side 110vdc generator Toolbox Flagpole holder I'm sure if Matt was to list his requirments then you could just double the above. Matt I'll call you next week to disscuss options

When I was working in Vietnam in the early 1990's I was lucky enough to go inside the old American embassey, which is know home to Petro Vietnam and even managed to get a look on the roof. You know where you see the last chopper lifting off. Old sandbags and rubbish still there then!! Did undersea surveys of the chopper wrecks off Vungtau and various other places. Saw M60's being pulled out of the bush for scrap along with various other bits and pieces. There were hundreds of US mules running around as everyday transport and modified Reo's. In Vungtau, which was an R&R base, visitted the old airbase and saw various buildings still in use and the old radar was still on the top of the hill at the mouth of the river. At Saigon airport there were lines of Carabou's lined up as well as Hueys with the blades folded back. The story goes these are left just as the Amercians had left them when they pulled out. The Caribou's were meant to still have the cargo onboard along with the manifests, how try this is is anyones bet. I managed to get some photo's of the aircraft at Saigon airport on one drunken trip home. Will try to dig them out sometime. Oh yes and managed a flight in Liberty Belle and a picture in Aeroplane magazine along with Clive for the same!!!

Was one of the ones that you have importted the one that was on eBay last year at a very low price,yet very complete??? The more info and pictures the better. Do you intend to post pictures during the restoration process? Well done for pulling it off!!!

Hi there Is this the fuel bowser that was advertised for sale in one of the classic commercial magazines a few years back?? It will certainly be a show stopper being towed by the Autocar. These are amazing trailers and were commonplace on all USAAF bomber bases during the war. There is a 4000 gallon bowser being restored somewhere in France, I did have a website address for it. I will try to find it and post it. So who is going to restore a Federal F1 tractor unit and a 2000 gallon bowser?? Army cars USA recently had a 2000 gallon bowser for sale at $6000 that was in excellant shape just needing a paint job.