RAFMT

There appears to be long discussion on the G503 forum about this jeep. It would appear that the film makers used footage from the Pacific or possibly the Med in a documentary about D-Day (it happens all the time, trust me I have had to work with some very unenlightened companies). The Jeep in your pictures is apparently a US Navy Radio Jeep.

I'm 99% certain that that is not an RAF colour scheme, and pretty sure it's not a standard British scheme for NW Europe/Army of Occupation.

EDIT: I have found the picture on the site you quote, and all the images in that sequence show American navy personnel and the rest of the images are of American Jeeps and soldiers. The film the stills come from is an American documentary too, so I would suggest that the Jeep in question is with an American unit.

If aircraft type isn't a problem, then I'm sure there's some plans at work that may be of use. I'll have a look.

I got involved with a group looking for American gear supposedly buried outside a village in Hertfordshire. One of the locals, who'd been a young boy during the war, swore they were buried and he'd seen the diggers.

Nothing could be found with metal detectors (other than the usual old tins etc) and after some detective work in the local library and council offices the story came to light.

The vehicles were all parked up on the land that became the woods we were searching just like the old chap told us. Then they were all purchased by various local dealers to sell on to farmers and the like. A bulldozer or similar was apparently used to crush leftover "junk" which was then sold as scrap.

One of them looks very familiar because i have the misfortune of working with him :embarrassed:

(even if the nose art name is actually misquoted, it was actually "Thats all brothers"),

The period photo clearly shows it named Belle of Birmingham. So when was that applied?

The sad fact of the matter is that in many cases if they aren't updated they get scrapped. Better new dress and shoes than disappearing altogether.

I can't believe you let that lot loose on it!

How was the loading? Presumably you had a few more people to help with that part.

Generally, a very nice collection of vehicles you guys have over there.

It's just a shame that the RAF staff car is painted blue instead of the wartime camouflage scheme or post war blue and black scheme.

Very nice.

My only (small) piece of criticism would be the proportions of the roundel. These should have the ring diameters on a 1:3:5 ratio. Otherwise a very good looking vehicle, this is what i envisioned the RAF Museum's Minx would look like when finished.

Well, 11 or so, with 3 "supervising" whilst sitting on the fuselage- got to them other chaps a proper work out!

And having handled some of those aircraft I can say that a small team of men would have no trouble.

In fact all it took to get an Albatros out of the back of a modern artic was about 4 men.

Or get yourself PLI and make yourself a group of one!

My insurance is through AFRA, who run an umbrella scheme because the insurance is too bloody high for small groups or individuals. So you join up (i think it's about £15 for the year) and are covered, they even send you a membership card. Simples!

Failing that, I have a mate in the film industry, has his own production company. Some retailers only need a letter from a company to say it's being used for theatrical purposes...

Ah, but it's a Belgian made Browning, and to some people that's not as good as a "proper American" weapon (and yes someone has said that to me once)

That one is an FN made example, so not as desirable to some collectors (although it all depends on what you are in to really).

If I had the spare change in the sofa I'd pick it up because I'm that sort of deviant I'd buy Belgian made Browning weapons:embarrassed:

Sorry, roundel and command/group marking should be on the nearside rear.

In theory there should be a MAX LOAD warning on the tailboard, however it's not often seen.

The most important are:

Roundel on the offside wing should be 9 inches in diameter with 1:3:5 proportions.

Above the roundel should be the Command/Group markings in 5 inch high characters in a B/1 format. In your case the command will be T.A.F. and the group depends on when, but most likely either 83 or 84.

Just prior to the invasion Type Numbers were introduced on the nearside door panel, they were 3 inch high letters, in your case it should read TYPE 1500. After September 1944 these were no longer applied and if the vehicle was repainted they would be painted over.

The usual bridge load classification of 9 inch diameter yellow circle with black 3 inside.

Oddly there were particular wartime regulations with regards to registration numbers, but they generally tend to follow the same format as the Army when it comes to size and placing.

Does it not mean literally what it says? Reading Charger in the classic military sense of Steed?

So the mounts of Commanders of Troops or Batteries.

Some of the later Gnome Mono engines used two "ignition plugs" per cylinder, usually seen at 90 degrees to the cylinder, but as they were made by a multitude of manufacturers it could just be down to that.

As an aside, it was widely recognised by those that used the things, that the Monos built by British manufacturers were of vastly superior quality than the French built ones. One diary I've read - by a chap who later rose to Air Vice Marshal rank - complains about the output of his French engine (he was getting far less than the 100hp advertised) and had even changed it 3 times and was wistfully dreaming of being able to use a British made Mono.

It does look like it could be the same vehicle.

I'd only come across them through a search for more info on the German made vehicles used by 2TAF/BAFO/RAF Germany.

I believe what you have there comes from a Gnome engine

You'll have to forgive the quality as I had to use the photocopier at work to scan them in.

You're after the form the medical officer fills out to state there's a medical reason for not wearing boots?

If so i'll have a look around i'm sure i've seen one somewhere.

The address is just up the road from where I live!

I think Charlie Chaplin actually shaved his full moustache to look like Hitler's in order to make fun of him..... At least that's what DB Cooper told me...:cool2:

Matt

Chaplin had a toothbrush 'tache in films during WW1, including Work (1915) and A Dog's Life (1918), basically his "Tramp" character which i believe made his first appearance in 1914. So while Hitler was possibly rocking the Toothbrush 'Tache at this time he certainly wasn't famous enough for people to wear one to make fun of him.

I learnt recently in one of those history channels that the moustache style was from shaving to fit the gas masks and many of the units he served ex soldiers used to retain the style as a badge of honor?

I doubt it, considering the gas masks are full face it makes no difference if your moustache is as wide as your nose or your mouth.

It was however a very popular style in the earl 20th Century, even in Britain, up until Hitler ruined it. Much like the Swastika the toothbrush moustache was linked too much with the Nazis so fell out of favour with the west. Charlie Chaplin, Oliver Hardy and even George Orwell all bore toothbrush 'tashes. In fact Hardy's 'tash predates the First World War thus proving once again that the history channels on TV are lying sods!:shocked:

So this one has been confusing me, what are the differences between the K3YZ and the K6?

The stats given in the various RAF Databooks read pretty much identical , however by 1945 whilst most bodies are listed as being fitted to both chassis, the bomb flat is given only as being on the K3YZ chassis; so there must have been enough differences to make it worth making that distinction.