ted angus

The picture I posted of the one with the Mossie in the background was a GEE test set.

TED

A pile of scrap when I got it, 3 year restoration - it pumps like a new one; Afraid being my wife's carer and now with my own health issues she will be up for sale soon. along with my 1963 Austin Gipsy ex Aux Fire service.

TED

All these pumps for all government depts were procured as part of Home Office contracts for which the Min of Works acted as the buying agents !! They were all delivered in the war emergency fire equipment colour of Dark Admiralty grey. In some instances they would have been repainted into the current camo colour at an early opportunity or they may have remained grey until a repaint was needed. I have seen photos of RAF ones which are beyond doubt grey along side camo crash tenders, I have seen a picture at a UK ord depot where by the tones a couple of pumps are camo but a couple are still grey, I have also seen colour home movie from a big wartime parade in Cairo where all the fire equipment is red. Brian B and I have been swapping notes on this subject ( and other vehicles ) for 30 years now and what a fantastic collection of models he has ! So I reckon whatever colour you choose you will be right. I restored an ex Army 1943 Coventry Climax light trailer pump and wanted a different colour so I chose 1954 when mine was in Germany; At that time everything was gloss deep bronze green including most army fire vehicles and most RAF ones too, for about 3 years the RAF in Germany chose to go DBG for some strange reason . ,

TED

the museum near london you refer to is the royal engineers museum the reme museum is based in berkshire

they would have all the documentation about them a member on here works there woa2,i also work at the museum but on mech side i will try and find out about them as i know a few rechy mechs from that era

 

enquiries@rememuseum.org.uk

 

http://www.rememuseum.org.uk/

Although Klaus's geography is a bit out. He has been in touch with Aborfield My long time friend Brian Baxter is the Tech Historian there

GOOD LUCK Klaus

TED

Here we go lads, it was used to provide electrical power to certain systems in the aircraft for ground servicing /testing etc. The one in the attached was for the radar on such types as the Mossie.

Clive glad you are interested in Ground equip most people in the RAF don't give it a second look, some ground equipment now costs many tens of thousands per item but historically it is just used & abused by the guys on aircraft maintenance. When I was a shop floor monkey Ground Support Equipment was my bread & butter trade. In the book you mention there are shots of 16 MU Stafford, I was a young airman there in what was know as Section 4 ( section 4 in the RAF vocab) Workshops although we did all GSE irrespective of vocab. half our shed was 4th line on MT in the days when we had an airforce. I enjoyed the work in that shed ripping stuff to the last nut and bolt. Along with the learning at 4 S of TT it gave me the foundation for a long and happy career.

TEd

Thanks guys.

 

Ref the record card:

 

RAF West Raynham 18/12/72

Marham - West Raynham 19/1/76

 

The history card confirms its colour as Blue/Grey,

It also looks like it might have been used by 100 Sqn which was flying Canberras

I was at Marham nov 73 to jan 79 100sqn came to us from W .R. so that ties in .

Commer Q4 3 ton 4x4 the reg number is Auxiliary Fire Service/

I am trying restore my LWT Land Rover back to its former glory. I need a colour photo - if possible showing any decals etc. My lwt is one of the 1st Series 3`s that entered the RAF in 20.11.72 .

Any images would be great.

 

Reg no. 53AM78

In 72 we were still receiving L/Rs in RAF blue grey and in gloss deep bronze green roundal on front plus union flag for germany units. also the command/group letter number/ Do you have its record card for its places of service ??

Here is a sister vehicle on delivery. Sorry about the quality taken from old contact prints.

TED

Something used to be moved the whole caravan or just the aerial not sure, well before my time !! . later versions had a scanner if direction changed on the same runway the scanner was rotated. then the later PAR the whole thing was on a turntable.

Show him the attached please The gen sets were in the back of the Diamond tees, they also used the British sets mounted on different chassis including Austin K6, Matador and Fordson WOT1s. But the DT were supplied with the GCAs from the US of A

Please give my Regards

from a fellow RAF vet

TED

Cracking picture possibly a typo but its RAF Pembrey , The adjecant range is still in daily use, thanks for sharing the picture

TED

I have that pair of K2 as MTCA - which may well have been the HMG user of the Pioneer in question, I have seen old Farnborough pics with a pioneer or 2 in shot and one was used at Filton as the Brabazon tug

TED

WLP 531 was a Bedford RL fire tender in service withe the ROYAL AIRCRAFT ESTABLISHMENTS, it was auctioned at Ruddington on 10/78 Iam trying to establish what type of tender it was and to that end could anyone PLEASE post the relevant insert from the sale catologue for that sale.

THANK YOU

TED

Dan promoted to acting Cpl yes a York

Dave 22AG54 it was the pre production prototype and tested to destruction _that is their term-- by the ministry

TED

Well, Ted, I needed more of a challenge. I know, but I didn't start the thread; I do try to use the correct term "MK6" and to educate others, I remember the salamander is the chassis. Anyway, hope you and Mrs A are well. Best wishes.

Dan- glad my years of trying to educate the world were not wasted- But I think as your main vehicle ex Skeggie is just a chassis cab set up , then it can be called a Salamander without you reporting to the guardroom for some corrective training !! Not in good fettle at the moment popped discs in the lower back and a trapped nerve in my neck- I fear the Gipsy & trailer pump will have to go to a new home in the spring.

Dave --the Kineton job was a new build and was not a converted MK6- indeed they did refer to it as an Alvis Salamander although in truth unlike the rest of the ALVIS B series powered 6x6 variants ( Saracen Saladin Stalwart) Salamander was the Alvis chassis only name. THe Kineton job ended its days as a riot truck in N.I.

Attached are pictures of the MK6 concept proving vehicles plus the prototype . please not the heading on the Pyrene flyer I will be asking questions after class !! I have some cracking shots of the British Army's single example in a box when I find them- I will scan and post.

TTFN TED

Blimey Dan you have progressed from the GG !!! Have been searching my dozens of RAF Fire service & MT publications but still havent found an RAF crash truck called an Alvis Salamander ????????????????????????????

Mnnnnnn !! ?*

your old mucker

TED

Only ever seen it refered to as the Federal same with the International !

TED

as promised

(British) Army Fire Brigade Beirut yes very likely--- "Beirut fire brigade" a bit of a red herring; From mid july 1941 Beirut became an important supply hub and Harbour facility for operations in the Mediterranean theatre.

I think I have possibly 3 or 4 more decent shots including the vehicles after fitting of BA stowage containers I will post once they are scanned. Those young chaps from Africa were very loyal and able soldiers from what I have read.

TED

Fantastic, that is clear evidence - thanks for sharing. attached is the shipping notes diagram for the International raised by the UK army staff in Washington. also attached an International post 1949 in Habbaniya. As soon I I can get scanner access I will get the Feds done and post them on here.

Have you all the complete 1940 data book ?? I stretched the pension to breaking point earlier this year and purchased a mass of stuff from Hendon the !)40 MoS edition was on my list for next year how many pages ??

regards TED

Yes it was British Army Staff in Washington who arranged contract of such equipment and its onward shipping, they acted on behalf of the RAF for its requirements. However, the WD number plates in english & arabic were a requirement of the Egyptian Government. prior to early 1941 all RAF vehicles were registered with Middlesex CC, overseas, ad- hoc systems were used, In Egypt most RAF vehicles had WD plates until the RAF 12345 system came into use, some seem to retain them until the 12AA12 system came into use. The WD plate was not a mark of ownership. - "Stores", all shipments would normally be received by a depot, MU, store or sub store; overseas many "stores " were multi service. So even if vehicles only remained in store for long enough for the paperwork to be processed the user unit would draw it from "Stores".

A classic example in more modern times, THe Land Rover based TACR 1 crash rescue tenders had their Service VRN applied by HCB, MT org worked out an allocation programme, HCB delivered the vehicles to CVD Hilton, receiving units were then instructed to collect their vehicles as they were processed at Hilton, The MTO of the receiving unit would either arrange his MTDs to collect from Stores or if it was a larger vehicle requiring a Q to drive would request the Stn F. O. to arrange collection using pre qualified fireman drivers. I have been delving into UK military fire vehicles since 1970, my friend Brian Baxter ( formerly dep curator at Aborfield museum) for even longer - we have never previously heard of an RAF connection to the Federals so would be very interested in your source. I will scan the Federal pics as soon as I can but it may not be for a few days.

Hi Fyll- hope you are keeping well

regards to both

TED

They were not put into storage, they were issued to the Army Fire Service Not the RAF The RAF fire service got a batch of Internationals !!

The Federal is attached, I do have better shots I will try and get them scanned.

TED

THe RAF stopped using RAF blue grey long before 1991 ??

What colours have you found on her I bet the badge is Defence Fire Service ??