ted angus

Hi Mike, I don't know what to think; HD cargo was the named used to describe nuclear warhead/weapons transporters, the AEC models in service for many years were I think we have now established 6x4 Mammoth Majors. If there was a Militant then it may have been a prototype ?? I found on the net an FoI question re FV numbers HMG replythey do not have a list of FV numbers for vehicles only spare parts. I wonder if Bovingdon have a list- does anyone have contact there . regards Ted.

Hi Richard there were at least 2 possibly 3 batches of the AEC/ Leyland HD Cargo, the attached is indeed AEC Mammoth major with just a small LBL badge, there was an 81AE** batch which appears in press reports but the up -armoured front end has obliterated the makers badge. Is it possible to get access to a correct FV numerical list ? Dave re Explorers- when I joined (1964) the RAF still had the responsibility for recovery of its vehicles, selected stations /units had an Explorer on call 24/7 to cover a predetermined area, I think requests were routed via the ops room at the big cop shop at Rudloe Manor. in addition 71 MU crash and smash had 06AH78. known units : Chivenor had 07 AH 49 which was painted yellow as it also had an airfield crash role, Stafford had 07 AH 39 operated by 2 MT, Coltishall had one in Holland RAF Eindoven had 08 AH 19, in Germany Laarbruch had one but no reg known but I have a pic. Finally re the Militant I wonder if the owner/ restorer is trying to play the part of the Matador used at Gielen'k by the MTSS LAD ? regards TED

Hi Dave, Let's address the perpetual rumour- I saw 2 Mk 3 Militant Rcy in RAF service 71 AN 57 was with Deployment Flight ( harrier force) Gutesloh, the second one was with 431 MU to cover the clutch area. I saw both during the period Jan 79 to jan 82. There may have been more as they were replaced by Crusaders with EKA gear - there were 4 of these, one for definite with the Nuke convoy which I saw many times and def one at 431 MU the latter I saw on my later germany tour- I don't know who had the other 2. Turning to the AEC Militant-in Pat Ware's book covering FV vehicles , FV11*** covers Militants and Mandators, FV 11022 is I believe the AEC Mandator HD cargo 6x4 I think 6x6 is a mis- recording of info- lots of errors in the book HD cargo was the description used to describe the warhead transporters, . As regards the preserved Gut example I am scratching my head you say served from end WW2 that is far too early for a Militant regards Ted. p s picture courtesy the MT drivers site taken at Gut families day 1983 ish.

That's a blow I thought I had the one you were looking for ! Ted

Ok I got lucky found the cutting it was published in the feb 2005 edition of FLYPAST part of a story about an LAC in a sqn. The picture was credited to the Bruce Robertson Collection. Ted.

I think this is the picture you are after. It was published many years ago from which I took this scan, I cut out the page to scan it so it might still be amongst thousands of such items in dozens of boxes. I think it was a RAFA magazine I will look in the most likely boxes if I get lucky it may reveal the IWM number Ted,

I agree with Richard Thornycroft Nubian and a Fordson tractor. definately a Fordson WOT1 Ambo standard heavy ambo, there were at least 2 body styles this one appears to have the less austere body and cab roof signage Ted

I would say the tanker is water- even though it appears to be multi compartment. I cannot see any refueling equipment or pump, just a single delivery hose, it is parked beside the first mystery trailer. The trailers were of a standard basic pattern, size and shape; however this one has a full length raised centre portion which incorporates a ventilator which indicates it is a "cooking tender trailer" in other words a mobile kitchen. The water tanker is parked beside it and its the focus for the lads, most sitting on 2 long wooden forms to have a cuppa and what ever goodies came out of that box. There is a crudely made duckboard resting against the trailer possibly for use when a hot meal is served via a lift up hatch with the canvas side raised to become an awning. So I would say this is the "Messing Area". Second trailer- solid sides , no windows, 2 vents in the roof, I would say this is a Stores Tender Trailer- i.e. binned and loose stores which would be a typical for an Air Stores Park. Hope this helps. ted

WE got rid of the last MK5 trolley acc in the mid 1990s at Leuchars. I think they were circa 1945-7 . TED

Doubtful they didn't bring Col H home from the Falklands , I think Iraq was the first full blown action where we repatriated. TED

Hi Ex Boy, your recollection is correct ; RAF " mobile receiving stations" were renamed "Mobile field hospitals" in May 1943. searching the tinternet post WW2 the British Army always used the word reception. I was coming to the end of my RAF life sentence when I chose to get specialist help at Redford barracks rather than the NHS- It was the best decision I ever made !! The RAF called our post war equivalent of the MRS, station sick quarters, then regional medical centres then station medical centres god knows what they are called now LOL sorry to deviate from the thread subject TED.

My vote is number 3, returning to the original picture with the Whitley do we have an approx date TED.

Re 22 MRS OK under command of Air HQ Western Desert 22 Medical Receiving Station, in July 1942 located at Gambut, I next track it down to jun 44 part of Desert Air Force HQ Vasto at Foggia but it appears that all the RAF MRSs have been retitled Mobile Field Hospitals. Ex Boy - I was a patiant at the Medical Reception Station Redford Barracks early 2003 under Col McDonald ortho surgeon cracking chap!! TED

Hi Richard yes sounds good, but piggy back like that whilst protecting certain items caused other damage.; Unless the tank was drained fuel used to slop out of the fuel filler and in hot climates would attack the insulation on HT leads etc, and unless the nose of the tow arm was raised and secured on to a bulk of timber the shank of the tow eyes would bend and that meant towing would be out of the question. This has been a most interesting thread. regards TED

Greece 1941 211 sqn, carrying those single axle generators seems to be common practise for some reason, incompatible towing eyes weak towing eyes ??? don't really know TED

Both the Dodge and Chev in RAF service had Hyd brakes , the Chev was servo assist. re the white RAF its because the vehicle is finished in a dark colour- The 6x4s seemed to cope with the difficult corners OK TED

According to the RAF Data book Yes the Dennis was piped for trailer Vac brake operations. They appear in several overseas pics, my late friend Bart was normally spot on but I think he had picked up on some misleading info. The Dennis also had a 2 speed aux gearbox which leads me to the conclusion it was designed with trailer towing in mind. Its in- service companion the Albion- only had vac brake connection fitted to the units built as tractors for semi( artic) trailers and were not fitted with an aux gearbox. returning to the origins of the thread I cannot find my pics of the Albion wireless tender but here is a shot from Les Freathy's book - I have cropped the aerial array and stowage box shown in Les's pics , to show it as it MAY have been used in a slightly different comms unit role. John G thanks for sharing these photo unit pics. You may be aware these shots appear to be of "the Photo Section " of HQ 285 wing in N Africa. No 3 MFPS reached N Africa and they took over the task of the 285 photo section but don't seem to has become operational unto landing on Italian soil ?? regards TED

Afraid not, I have hundreds of WW2 and post war locations for these ATVs but not yours. . TED

Towards the end of the war Austin ATVs were lent to various gov depts, the AG committees were under min of food control, a number also went to the GPO and a number overseas to help countries get on their feet. The Nederlands had them in use as soon as we liberated, with their post office and fire services. I believe yours would have been in its original form with the AG comm then after return to the Home Office it was stored for a period until converted to a canteen van late 53 or early 54 . For the AG Comm I would think it was just used as a delivery/collection van. TED

Larry, firstly your Hillman JMV 936. I have a list of MT on charge to 59 sqn when they made their 20 may 1940 escape to the french coast amongst them was Hillman Van ( Tilly) JMV 732. Turning to our mystery vehicle , I have just remembered pre WW2 the RAF had a wireless tender on the Albion chassis, I will search for a pic regards TED

Can you share the odd Albion shot please TED

The description Hillman Tender is a headscratcher, Tender was over a certain weight below that the RAF used the term VAN- Hillman supplied vans ( in the commercial meaning of the word) and Tillies neither are big enough to be your mystery vehicle, there were some large Dennis uniform Vans and some Commer Vans - some of which were converted to recruiting vans, Everything else on your list is a "standard" RAF type and does not fit the picture . TED

So we have come a full circle and are back to the lift up section of door at the back, still thinking NAAFI or similar or an impressed vehicle . Definitely not an Austin crew bus, these came along quite late in the war. I don't have an RAF Austin crewbus shot on my pc. in the meantime here is an RN one converted into a mobile radar workshop. it gives an idea of its length v height and general silhouette. TED

No I think you are right; so many different vehicles converted to tea wagons, many were camo painted in the early days although this was against the defence of the realm act ! TED

Yep see what you mean about the engine- right time for a mug of tea and a meat pasty- always my favorite off the NAAFI wagon !! TED