RAFMT

Hi Gary, I'd offer to check the RAF Museum's collection, as I'm 99% certain there's a few in an album of MT photos. Unfortunately the Museum is now closed for the duration and we are all working from home.

Sadly Wally, these days its usually poor babies get nowt. The RAF Museum previously used Crash and Smash for aircraft movements, but in more recent years it's been done by commercial firms.

I'll be honest, I'm struggling to find any evidence of hard bodied 15cwt Chevrolet CMP radio vehicles in use with the RAF. Most of the 15cwt CMPs I've seen served overseas, particularly North Africa/Med and the Middle East.

Bryan, It appears the RAF Location of Units doesn't include the RE. I guess the Signals lot were more integrated into RAF operations, hence why they are included?

Jolien, I have replied in the other thread to this. The image in that book is of a vehicle in use with 2TAF, they painted roundels on place of the invasions stars. EDIT: My mistake, just checked the book and it is not 2TAF as the photo was taken after the war. It is in fact serving with BAFO

Jolien, I'm not sure which of my colleagues at the RAF Museum supplied you that information, but I can assure you that they were incorrect, and possibly misunderstood what was being asked. Firstly the RAF had long stopped using blue-grey by the time the C15 was introduced into the RAF. Secondly, even assuming it was blue-grey, the roundel on the front offside wasn't officially introduced until April 1941, around the time some commands were camouflaging their vehicles. Thirdly, the command letter was introduced in August 1941 at the same time the RAF mandated all vehicles would be camouflaged. The group number that came after the command letter wasn't introduced until January 1942. Also, there would not have been roundels on the sides of the body, and the only roundel on the rear would be a small one on the nearside the same as that carried on the front offside wing. If your example has evidence of RAF blue-grey paint on it, then this is likely from it's post-war service.

The RAF, at this point, published their Locations of Units annually. The January 1990 edition has:

Contrary to popular belief, the RAF Museum has never owned a Beverly. The RAF parked one up at RAF Hendon as a gate guardian, after they finally moved out and many months of badgering by the museum a team was sent to inspect it. The team concluded it was too badly corroded internally and thus the airframe was scrapped before it was ever passed on to the museum.

I agree, if it had come off the runway on take off or landing it would have made a bigger mess.

It should be contract V5134 (chassis numbers 56576-57398) and S2178 (chassis numbers 57401-58000) which are for the Load Carrier Type 3. Contract S3035 cover Tractor Type 1, chassis numbers 71001-72750

Agree on the contract date simply because the MoS used the one number sequence. This is a Type 2, Mk 2. from about mid-way through the contract (chassis numbers for this contract run from 51201 to 55467) which consisted of both Mks 1 and 2. The provisional edition of the maintenance manual (poorly copied typed notes, the preceded the printed first edition) are dated August 1940.

Yes, somewhere. I'll dig it out and post it later

Number 43 would be the 2nd Field Regiment RA in an Infantry Division wouldn't it? So if it is the 43rd Wessex then this would be 112th Field Regiment RA

As 10FM68 said earlier, this isn't an RAF trailer, and thus the towing vehicle isn't likely to be RAF either. I assume the Army had different specifications for their equipment.

Unfortunately, I don't have time these days to do an in depth search of the record cards. But if anyone can give me some reg numbers I can pull those cards (if they survive!) and tell you what is listed in the colour entry.

Hello Ian, Stores Ref. 16A/1135 was "Trailers, Jeep", aka: Trailer, 10cwt, 2 wheeled, lightweight, GS, no.4 Bryan

Give the info on the brass plate, or a picture of it. Chassis number would be good as we can get potentially get a contract number from it. Crossley 4x4 manuals aren't impossible to come by, we have a few at work.

Is it a Q type? Of another model of Crossley? I'm sure the relevant manuals could be found if you can let us know.

GS body for the Thornycroft Amazon - it's on page 25 under Lorries, 6-ton, G.S.

Here we go, 100 yard intervals. Taken from AP3024 "Flying Control in the Royal Air Force".

I'll take a look when I get a chance. It's going to be hidden a mess of APs

No. They should all be listed in the appropriate AP1086, but I've yet to find one for that period.

You're after the entry in the Vocab of Stores? That AP is pretty much just a long list of kit, so won't give much info on the flares themselves.

You had to go and pick the thicker of the two Clive! I'll try and get it done over the next couple of weeks.

I recently had some time to spare at work, so I thought I'd run AP2515A Vol.III, Mechanical Transport Vehicles Complete, dated May 1946 through the scanner. It essentially lists all of the MT vehicles, trailers and associated bodies, in use with the RAF at the time. Interestingly, some of the chassis/complete vehicles have the contract numbers listed and for many of those the chassis number ranges covered by each contract are included. Also included at the end is the first amendment list, from January 1947. If it's of interest, we also have the second edition of May '52 and the fifth edition from April '64 Apologies if there is a better place to put this. AP2515A 1946.pdf