LarryH57

Photos 70 onwards seem to show the results of a Luftwaffe bombing and strafing run

I saw this site on the SAAF which contains stories and photo albums from those who served in SAAF in North Africa and Italy etc. This particular album contains many vehicle photos. Enjoy http://saafww2pilots.yolasite.com/ralph-harding-photographs.php

What a shame such a nice vehicle is leaving the UK.

And after 5 years did the repair still hold even if other holes appeared elsewhere?

I had a bit more of a detailed inspection of the inside of the restored tank and there is a patch of rust about 3 cm across, which I treated with 'rust killer' solution. However, the rust has created a very slight 'indentation' on the inside of the tank (effectively thinning the rear side) and I'd like to smooth it over with some kind of epoxy filler, but would that react with the fuel?

I remember Ted posted this photo on a related post on RAF Camo a while ago. I guess it's orange to comply with AMO A731 of 3rd October 1940, especially useful as there appears to be a genuine mist in the background. However, there is a danger that we might get off topic, so the search is on for that elusive photo of a WW2 RAF vehicle saying Follow Me on it!

Great Find; it looks to be a standard GS version, so I'm looking forward to seeing the progress on its restoration.

There is another 'angle' on 'Follow Me' vehicles in that in the early war period the RAF probably could not spare a vehicle to be painted yellow and used just for one purpose. So such vehicles, that existing in small numbers may only have appeared later in the war. Painted yellow, the Tilly suggests it was used within 12 months prior to VE-Day. Bryan aka RAFM may have the date of the AMO that ordered the tops of RAF vehicles to be painted yellow if they were driven on airfields, which I guess was mid 1944. Was it about that time that the RAF Grimsby MT got busy with their yellow 'Stop' Tilly?

Last point; what do you all think of the fuel tank sealers by Frosts PO15 etc?

The bracket on the rear of the tank is just damaged by a botched removal and has no rot nor any fumes. I like the idea of drilling and bolting the metal strip as no welding would be required.

Ruxy, Have you any thoughts on fixing the tank with a broken rear attachment plate?

Bowser1107, Thats a very interesting point concerning RAF Grimsby that you made. I wonder if it was needed because the airfield received more diverted aircraft than normal? If an RAF aircraft was shot to bits and had wounded crew members might it divert to the first airfield the pilot saw after crossing the coast. Perhaps other coastal airfields along the East Coast need investigating for similar vehicles?

Thanks Ruxy. I am planning to remove the old tank and clean it all off and see if it can be saved. Incidentally I have another tank that is good to go - but it looks like it was damaged when removed because the single hole at the rear has 'broken out' of the steel support bracket - so the hole is open and edged by two turned up corners. Now people laugh when you suggest welding a petrol tank but it has been cleaned out for about 12 years so I was wondering if the bracket could be heated, the broken edges hammer flat and perhaps a large washer welded over the hole to restore it. The damage to the rear bracket suggests the front two nuts and bolts were taken out and the tank fell out or off its supports and so ripped the rear single bolt hole!

Old post - but I found a photo of a Vulcan 14 Seat Coach and the engine looked a reasonable match for the RAF Horsebox posted above - plus the wheels in this attached photo suggest bigger wheels at the front - but this may be an optical illusion as in the photo I'm trying to identify. Could the RAF horsebox be a Vulcan then, as in 1940 it would not be that old if built circa 1926-28.

The nearside fuel tank in my Lwt is weeping slightly from around the drain plug but it only drips fuel if the tank is full but stops if it gets to about 20 litres left. It's been like this for several years and still passes its MOT. A LR engineer friend of mine said that such weeping is due to a leak in the seem around the side of the tank and fuel leaks towards the drain plug under the underseal, rather than the leak being near the drain plug itself. I've no idea if this is true. I have got a replacement tank ready and painted in about four coats of printer and red oxide and two coats of hammarite, but I want to coat it with underseal like the original but have no idea of whether it will stick to paint or how it was applied in the factory. My undercoat is in a tin and soluble in petrol so I guess I could stipple it on. As for the 20 litres of fuel I forgot was in the tank its from at least 2016, so guess its gone off, but if I introduce a bit at a time in to the Lwt it might not notice as it seems to like old 97 Ron fuel.

Baz, do any of the Chilwell lists exist online?

Its also apparent that the RAF received some vehicles in base colour and 'decorated' them with camo once in service!

I saw this sad example of a ex RN Lwt in Whitechapel - I never knew that RN rather than Royal Marines had any of these! That red line on the wheel points to a large hole in the floor that given time will be large enough to get through. Inside appears to be in use as a skip. Hopefully someone does actually care for it. At the moment its the kind of vehicle that theives add to in the night so that over time it will be worth nicking! Sorry if it's yours!

For RAF Pilots in WW2 that had to divert to a strange airfield in the dark, they followed standard instructions to land, turn left at the end of the runway, open side window, look out for nasty obstructions (with the help of other crewmembers if necessary) and also look out for any 'RAF Station persons' sent to meet them, usually on a bicycle and equipped with a pathetic excuse for a torch. If not met and given the VIP treatment, the pilot taxied to the nearest 'pan' within walking distance of 'civilisation' such as the hangars, Officers Mess or the 'Rose & Crown' so as not to have to walk with their kit from what seemed like miles all way round the perimeter track in pitch darkness.

Thanks Fulltilt, Well thats the end of this thread then, as far as I'm concerned. If owners have an RAF Follow Me Jeep I suggest you repaint it as a USAAF version

I posted this as the second one in this thread. The fact that the Spitfire is canon armed with humps in the wing and has very late to early post-war roundels on the wings, says post-war. Also the 'crash tender?' is red as per post-war instructions and that's its clearly a Jeep used as Follow Me it's not from 1940

I believe the photo actually dates from 1950, and I guess the Bedford OY is also a Fire Engine / Crash Tender. Surely using a vehicle to stop the traffic was a bit of a waste, unless it was only in the road long enough to allow the other vehicles to cross then caught up with them afterwards. But on the other hand most drivers would have stopped it a fire engine was exiting the airfield.

I think this is a post war shot but why have STOP on the Tilly roof? Are they policemen at Defford?

I guess the 'unknown' 3 tonner in the photo is a Canadian Modified Conventional Pattern Truck, of which it seems the RAF got a few later in the war, from Ford, Dodge or Chevrolet etc. I still wonder why the rear body looks a box body with a rounded front end. Is it solid or just the tilt blowing?

Not exactly related to camo as the photo is too dark, but ignoring the civi cars and the Fordson Ambulance, what vehicle types are shown on the right; a GS 3 tonner that looks like the wind has made the tilt look like it has a rounded rear body and perhaps a crew bus? Im not sure if Fido was at Tempsford BTW