ted angus

Neil Airfix purchased the moulds and rights from JB models. Many if not all the JB originals can still be purchased often at bargain prices on e bay TED

Rick did you see my post number 31 a slightly better piccy of the yellow LRC TED

JULES I captured the picture from a video which I had transfered to DVD thankfully the whole film is excellent quality. Afraid its a very short clip with no other view. I am puzzled about your question re transmitters and receivers I didn't mention them and I am afraid I know nothing about them . The Mickey Mouse pattern on my picture is almost certainly a factory applied finish. I have read in both Army Council Instructions and Air Ministry Orders that the Mickey Mouse finish (as it has become known) was not desirable. The pattern on your vehicle is the one which is prefered and is illustated on an Army poster which give instructions on correctly painting vehicles. You say you are going to put it into the right colours What is wrong with the existing colours ?? It looks to be SCC 4 (brown) with either SCC1A Very Dark Brown or SCC 14 Black on top. Which is fine. There seems to be this feeling that everything should be Olive Drab, Both the RAF and Army introduced OD with black in April 1944 The orders said vehicles already in SCC 2 were not to be repainted into OD until a repaint was absolutely necessary. An Air Ministry Order of Sept 1944 notes "many vehicles will continue to be issued to the RAF and Army from factories in SCC 2 until all stocks of SCC2 were exhausted". At the same time (Sept 1944) Orders also noted that vehicles received in OD were no longer to receive the disruptive black pattern, (there was an exception but it was for vehicles received in OD but with a canvas tilt in SCC2 in which case SCC 14 black was to be applied to the tilt as a disruptive pattern but not to the rest of the vehicle.) My conclusion is that not a very high proportion of vehicles went into OD before the peacetime colours were introduced early 1946. Regards TED

in the late 1960s whilst stationed at RAF Scampton we lived in an MQ at Hemswell, some years 20 + years later whilst visiting my son who was also stationed at Scampton we made a visit to Hemswell, where from the aviation history shop I purchased a copy of Night Bombers. It is an original VHS copy and it is stated it was made during the winter 1943/44. I believe this should actually read winter 44/45 into early spring 1945. Over the winter 43/44 the airfield was closed whilst a concrete runway was the laid. The 2 operational Lancaster sqns moved in november 1944. Although the film is attributed to Air Comm Cozens several aviation history articles have attributed it to Gp Capt Sellick who was the Station Commander at the time. Other sources quote spring 1945 as the time when the bulk of the "on station" filming was actually undertaken . Certainly work to swap the turrets on No 1 group Lancs was undertaken over the summer of 1944 and examples of that work are in the film. Which ever it is unique footage. THe Morris LRC is all over yellow and the runway caravan is black and white check. Many of the tractors have yellow on the upper surfaces and the Amazon crane working at the hanger entrance has a yellow upper surface on the jib. SEE attached. I am currently putting together a document on RAF MT colours and markings. Although much has been published on the subject, I have always wanted to do the reaerch for myself. From the AMOs already in my possession lots of detail has been missed by authors who have not interpreted the documents correctly and this has led to inaccurate information repeatedly being published. Another batch of AMOs is eagerly awaited from Hendon, which I hope will resolve several issues including the compromising of camoflague schemes with both yellow and orange. Once work is complete I will post it on the forum under a new thread for comment. I believe the crane in the attached is Khaki Green No 3 with the upper surfaces (except the jib's) in nobels dark tarmac No4. With a cam pattern to MTP 46 . Hope the attachments are of interest. TED

Here is a Guy Ant in RAF service, its with B/26 Bomber Command 26 group which was Bomber Command's special Signals group. Note the truck is in RAF service but bears an Army Reg number. The guys in the piccy are taking part in pre invasion training

The Howards were based at Iselohn from june 59 to feb 63 as part of 5 brigade Ted

Hi Clive, cannot comment on the Army but in the RAF ; long before we were issued with round neck woolie pullies as personal issue, they were held in the cold/wet weather gear cupboards on Flights and Squadrons. WE had them with the string in both RAF Blue grey and olive green. Other excellent gear was heavyweight boots with screw on commando soles and a blanket lined parka which also came in both colours green for ground crew blue grey for air crew. These items were in use when I joined in 64 and were still in use into the 1980s. At some point jumpers without the string came in and guys put a length of para cord into them. These items were for "at work" wear only. Another item still in use at the time was the leather jerkin many of them had a mod to fit a woolie collar. However The one you illustrate is a home made job ! did one myself once totally uncomfortable not like the old real McCoys !! TED ps here is one of the parks but I don't have a piccy to hand of the issue jumper with a string.

Mark a great site !! and a fine example of the post- WW2 Fordson Sussex heavy ambulance. I suspect this is the one Mike is looking for ?? TED

Richard spot on really thick useful plastic bags double wrapped. battery lead ends also double bagged and taped. the individual filler /breather plags had a rubber extension piece pulled onto them of course these were nicknamed Johnies ; but no good for mis appropriation as they had a small hole in the tip as the batteries still had to breath. Later we had special DRYCLAD bags for batteries a mini version of the dehumidified bags all the war reserve kit was stored in, in Germany. Happy days; Of course vehicles. plant GSE that was required to be immediately driven off the ramp came under different rules. TED

Richard, Although I never saw it I am fairly confident it would have gone up the Andover's ramp Fire extinguisher no problem they were never removed, similar pressurised hand held extinguishers were and still are positioned in holds of transport aircraft . I will have to see the hieght clearance for an Andover ramp obviosly not as greart as a Herc but never the less a useful plane; on such items batteries were the main worry . It was norm to reduce the electrolyte level , fuel down to one quarter full. I shudder to think how many certificates I have signed over the years to say a vehicle or item of ground support equipment has been prepped I.A.W. the air transport regs !! TED

DUNCAN Sorry I missed this earlier; George several weeks ago i passed info you requested via Aidan Fisher including pictures . But to recap Duncan is spot on various "sand/stone" shades in use. Often with the Malta stonework pattern, I would suggest by late 1944 things arriving from UK would be in Light Stone or in OD and then repainted in-theatre. post 1946 it may have gone to Blue grey (with or without black mudguards etc ) but by 1954 would be going back to Lt Stone. But remember the orders always said only repaint as necesary or as per special instructions So possibly some vehicles in Malta never went to Blue grey during their Service life. George I think your best bet with these things is find out an items age then decide in which colour scheme after that date you want to recreate and then look at markings colours etc . I am currently waiting for more AMOs from Hendon but they must be on a go slow !! Trouble is AMOs through WW2 do not fully reflect what went on in overseas commands that was up to the AOC in C of that theatre or command. But Malta is well documented pictorially and once you choose a recreation date it should be plain sailing Good Luck TED

Hi Richard, no not a Chance light. It is the same as the trailer under tow by the Fordson. Its a Landmark Beacon which we called a Pundit. Its the one that flashes 2 morse ID letters. Neon Beacon is accurate although Neon doesn't appear in its nomenaclature ; its light source was 8 neon tubes each rated at 400watts each having a seperate flasher unit and transformer. I may be wrong but I am sure the four sided glazed beacon unit could be removed for shipping and stowed on the platform behind the generator housing. May be your Vauxhall piccies will confirm ?? Its one of these that we finally identified in the hold of the sunk ship the name of which escapes me ?? Putting on my recce instructor's hat : of the 3 types in our convoy; Taking the convoy in travelling order: (on the WOT 1) Floodlight has a parralel full height circular construction behind the gene housing. (Towed by the WOT1)Land Mark Beacon is the only type that has a 4 sided beacon unit, and the only type to have the beacon on the generator housing. (Towed by the Chev)Aerial Lighthouse behind the generator housing is a smaller square construction which houses the mechanism that turns the lamp and activates the required shutters of the lamp unit. The lamp unit is circular and sits on top of the lamp mechanism housing. The 3 types have all been noted on both Eagle & Brockhouse trailers. All three could be mounted on both the 1939 Fordson Sussex and its successor the Fordson WOT1 , However the most common unit on the WOT1 appears to be the Floodlight. Here endeth recce lesson one . Now just as you were beginning to get to grips with this, a second type of floodlight made an appearance towards the end of WW2 at first glance identical to the aforementioned but having a square section full height light unit. This was normally mounted on the WOT1A/1 with the later type of cab. One of these is held in the RAF Museum reserve store. TED

Most vehicles have 3 in the windscreen I would suggest packet 3 of a convoy no doubt an airfield or Air Stores Park on the move. Lead is a Fordson WOT1 mounted on it is an airfield floodlight commonly refered to as a Chance light made by Chance Bros using lighthouse lense principles it projected a narrow hi intensity beam of light along the left side of a runway from the approach end The Fordson is towing A Landmark Beacon commonly called a Pundit. It flashed a 2 letter morse ID for the airfield. The Chev is towing An Aerial Lighthouse this flashed a one letter morse ID. Next is a Fordson WOT1A/1 Airfoam 45 monitor type crash tender. I believe this is then followed by a Crossley tractor unit towing the semi trailer seen carrying the Generator ??? in the individual photo, Next an OX with QM trailer with a AEC 6x6 refueller at the rear. TED

Thanks Mike, the reg of the Wattisham example extends the block I noted, but the Belize one is unreadable. At Belize it would have been established for the Harriers ; in addition to thier use as forks they were used to tow them. Regarding Wattisham At the time of the mini RTA shot No 1 ACC was a lodger unit there, it was a totally mobile radar unit possibly it was establishment to them .thanks for the links TED

Mike We had them at Akrotiri supporting No 70 sqn who at the time were changing over from Argosy to Hercules aircraft. They were operated by RCT Air Despatchers, sadly one rolled while I was there and the lad died instantly. I would suggest all the ones on transport aircraft stations were RCT owned and operated. The RAF had 70 AN 86 to 95 (possibly more) these were at Gutesloh and Wittering as part of the Harrier field force support; their primary job was handling munitions in the ord/logs parks such as the BL 755 cluster bombs. They were carried in the back of RLs. They were also established as part of the deployeable support equipment at RAF Coltishal whose Jaguar aircraft were a tactical ground attack assett having a fast reaction deployent role in the ACE mobile force set up. Personally I never heard of any at Wattisham but they may well have been regards TED

The top piccy is a Bedford OXA lorry 30 cwt 4x2 armoured anti tank, built after Dunkirk to equip mobile home defence units. The caption says its a MK 2 Armadillo All the info I have says all MKs of the Armadillo had wooden boxes twin skins, the gap between filled with pebbles. We also have a thread on Armadillos The vehicle in that shot which is clearly visible in the Britain at War colour shot is also an anti tank lorry. I believe many were reassigned to airfield defence once the anti tank role was subsumed one the army had carried out proper re-equipment post 1940. TED

Just being digging some info out for Thread Bedford MWs and realised this is vehicle is a Bedford OXA truck armoured anti tank with a steel body. MK1,2 +3 armadillos were double skinned timber bodies with pebbles between the skins ? Ted

If you have a good look at the panoramio albums there is a colour piccy showing 2 Hippos in fire section service with 2 Nubian DP1s. I expect they were the same pair, they never clocked up many miles. When I was at akrotiri the fire service at Episkopi had changed hands from Army to RAF and there was also a Hippo at Episkopi; This could account for the second one that used to be at Akrotiri. For those interested most middle East statyions had Hippo water carrier in service with the Fire section, originaly they were equipped to lay foam strips on runways, but when the purpose build foam layers came into service the foam laying items were removed. The attached piccy showing the ad hoc arrangement for laying a foam strip precedes the picture earlier in the thread. The trailer pumps in the attached are in the same fire service parking area taken from behind the vehicles looking towards the guardroom / In the panoramic view of Akrotiri main gate area in the bottom left hand corner is a queue of people waiting to enter the guardroom for a pass this is to the left end of the building visible in the trailer pump piccy. TED

I got into it by manually typing in the link but ommitting the word "original" a real collection of Bedfords service RLs civillian QLs and bonnetted Bedford buses Many of the buses and trucks weren't quite what they seemed when you went under the bonnet. Also Landies and Austin K9s. A scrap yard near Lanaca with hundreds of mint WW2 period vehicles, provided rich pickings for spares. Often by the side of a remote boundu track you would stumble across a K6, Scammel fordson wot1 or QL many Oys were running around. . The subject picture was taken from the fire section hose tower which then was adjacent to the guardroom. The guardroom is still in the same place but the fire section moved onto the airfield during the station's development and is sited at the foot of ATC facing onto the taxiway parallel to the runway. The best 3 years of my life were spent there 70-73. We were actively involved in supporting the King during the Jordanian civil war, and for the last year of my tour the pro and anti President Makarious fractions were blowing each other up. WE all handed in our Tommy helmets and got 44 pattern turtles, on opening the war reserve crate issued to my flight the helmets were all a bright blue colour with POLICE in white letters; The helmets were stacked in the crate and the liners had melted, consequently every helmet had a black sticking band around it from the liner of the helmet above we used to wrap rag around the inside of the welmet to save the liner sticking to your head !! It was a time of adventure , fright hard bloody work in the summer months but boy did we play hard !! happy days TED

abdul and Mo short for Mohamed on the crane , the kite is a Hurricane with of course the quality product from Luton towing the QM. My Dad worked at Commers from 1940 till the mid 80s. just spent a good 30 minutes looking at JAMD some good shots including a couple more of the trafalgar square V2 Thanks for posting regards TED

The RAF fire service at akrotiri were still running a Hippo water carrier when I was there 70 to 73 TED

Item 32 was used by the RN & RCAF re item 33 I have seen the story of this one will have a dig TED

I believe the attached is another view of the short trailer in message 67 see the door marking ?? TEd

You are a Gentleman Sir Thank You. The 10ft wheelbase Commer will be the later one with the Bonnet. The attaced is borrowed from one of Bart's bibles the photo is from the Victory parade Another item that is featured on Pathe, Thanks again I will get these all printed and into my bedtime reading book ! regards TED

You must be kidding its keeping me awake at night dreaming about it !! HAVE you looked in the RAF MT drivers web site some great stuff . compulsory really !! you can see the thumbnails, but you have to subscribe it about £10 to see it in full. AS an enthusiast I am sure the site owner Ian Scales will welcome your membership. Les is a member . Have a look at that Pathe site some good stuff on there. In addition to my Gipsy and WW2 trailer pump I have about 500 models, NFS, post 1948 AFS and RAF softskins are my pet subject I suppose after 39 years in the RAF the latter is compulsory. regards TED regards TED