LarryH57

Thanks Ted and Bryan. Firstly I knew it was Hughenden Manor, as I have been to this National Trust property many times and they have started to create a Musuem, as they only discovered in recent years (the early noughties) that the property was used by the RAF unit that made the target maps for Bomber Command in WW2, and only learnt this when an elderly ex-RAF serviceman was showing members of his family around and started to explain to them what was located 'here and there' during his time, during WW2.  Pre Covid they used to have an military themed event of sorts.

So to recap V was used as the Group letter (like B/1 or F/11) for all Transport Command vehicles, so I guess V/38 and V/44 existed.

The Studebaker is a US6 6x4 Tender, 5 Ton and is not the 6x6 version as the front axle is not driven.

However I wonder if there is a list of MT Wings and the M.T. Squadrons or Companies they contolled and how many per Wing?

Were they mixed so as to confuse enemy intelligence or did No.1 M.T. Wing control Nos 1 to 4 M.T.  Squardon (or Company) and No 2 M.T. Wing control No 5 M.T. Sqn / Company to No 9 M.T. Sqn / Company and so on?

Where might I find out about RAF MT Companies in WW2?

I have seen evidence that there was at least No.1 to No.51 but I guess there were more at home and abroad.

There may have been some that operated railways but whether that was in ammunition depots I do not know.

There doesn't seem to be an RAF Group that controlled these independent MT Companies, and photos of them show just the MT number and no Group number

I intially thought that 44 (Transport) Group, that used the letter V was for Motor Transport, but it was for the import and transportation of aircraft from USA. Why it needed a specual Group letter V is not known to me.

This is some of No 4 MT Company in WW2 at what is the National Trust house at Cliveden (correction it's Hughenden Manor) . The archivist would be interested to recreate this photo if anyone has camouflaged vehicles of the same type, including a Studebaker, which I am told is a US6  6x4  5 ton Tender used primarily on roads?

Duplicate post- please delete 

The online entries are closed, for this event, as I was not sure I could attend but I wonder if like the early years, I can just turn up in my Lwt and hain entry?

I can't get them on the phone but I did give them a good 'write up' in Windscreen magazine recently, regarding the 2022 show, so I wonder?

I saw a Home Guard Austin 7 on the A337 heading towards Lymington and Beaulieu on Friday. It would be good if they had a Trucks and Troops event there again, that existed from about 2005, organised by Andy Jones.

My Lwt started last evening, and when I drove out of the garage it stalled and wouldn't start. I then realised I had even less fuel that I thought and quickly added 10 litres of freshly bought E5 petrol from up the road, and after a few attempts it started, but only after the engine was colder.

Attempts to start are in direct proportion to the 'displeasure' shown by 'Mrs' that I will only be up the garage for about 15 minutes!

My fear is that I will stall at the lights and not be able to restart, when Itake it for a run. Sadly no time today, as have other 'normal' things to do like work. 

So the ethanol and water is heavier than Petrol?

My theory; when the Lwt is started in the garage, the fuel sucked up the pipe is pure petrol as the ethanol is floating at the top. But once on the move it gets moved around and mixed, causing the rough running. After all my engine was designed for leaded petrol?

Your thoughts!

I realise that the petrol in my Lwt is a year old. It still starts and runs in the garage but the last time I took it out it was a bit rough. So how best to get rid of the fuel safely?  About 1/3 full.

I appreciate I can remove the drain plug and let it flow in to a container, but I don't want a fire or risk of explosion in my garage. 

Are there firms that could come and remove such fuel. I don't have a hard standing to be more in the open, so once out of the garage I am on a road way.

Thanks. Of course you are right it is the 6.50 x 16 I need, and I would NOT trust some 30 year old tyres on my Lwt, even if the inner tubes were new.

Shame that 6.50 are no longer available. I thought at one time many Short Wheel Base LRs used them?

Thanks. Of course you are right it is the 6.50 x 16 I need, and I would not trust some 30 year old tyres on my Lwt, even if the inner tubes were new.

Shame that 6.50 are no longer available. I thought at one time many Short Wheel Base LRs used them?

I can't remember if I saw this post but I would be interested in tyres for a Lwt Land Rover. They should be 9.00 x 16, but I have to use 9.50 x 16 as the others are not available in the UK.

Currently I have fitted Deestones but with the proper looking British Army tread, but Im told the British Army never fitted 9.50 x16, so a source for the smaller ones would be great.

I think the tread pattern is Michelin XZL

A few years ago I went to the Musee des Blindes in Saumur, France and spotted this Sherman in their 'scrap' pile, which I guess might be their awaiting restoration collection.

It has a late war turret and 76mm gun(?) and yet what appears to be the remains of a DD Sherman wading screen?

So what is it ?

It is some time around the September as I have just searched the DVLA

https://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/?locale=en

This makes sense as the Letter I  got from the DVLA was after Capel MV show. They get top marks for being helpful!

Oh dear Im not sure I signed up for an update!

In May 2021, my Lwt was finally registered as Historic at the Post Office, as it was by then over 40 years old  as at January 1st 2021.

Then sometime after May 2022, I got a letter from the DVLA saying I was driving an untaxed (at Nil rate) vehicle, but that they had 'taxed' it for me (!) but they also asked respectfully that I remember to 'tax' it in May 2023.

The trouble is I have forgotten the process or know the date in May 2023 as the tax from date? 1st May is a bank holiday, but would any date from the 2nd be OK?

I don't think I get any letters to take to the Post Office any longer, for Nil rate tax

Your thoughts 

Thanks  Larry 

Thanks for the video, which by implication must mean Nicks bank account has been 'freed' from the UK burocratic strangle hold of last year. Keep up the good work Nick.

Best to sign the petition as a start!

Anyone who knows Cornwall, with know of RAF St Mawgan. The CAHC is (or soon won't be) next to RAF Saint Mawgan, Newquay TR8 4JN

Sadly it has been forced to close by the local council, and the site must be cleared immediately and they are in despirate need of temporary homes for some of their exhibits or even coveres or temporary structures for those exhibits that may have to be left out in the rain, and be ruined

There was a plan to build a new museum nearby but that fell through, at the last moment.

What is strange is on the one hand you have 'Visit Cornwall' Tourist Board and yet a council who wants this museum closed when there are no immediate plans to do anything with the site. Its not as if the diggers and construction are waiting to move in and start construction. Its just a bloody shame, the local council are not being helpful at all  and it makes no sense.

This was an award wining  museum and has helped in the education of many local schools and groups

My dad flew their nice looking Vickers Varsity and my cousin worked on their EE Lightning. To see them cut up for scrap would be a shame

There is a petiotion on change.org of 50,000 signatures, against the decision.. Hopefully this link works

https://chng.it/8bXPLXWhWB

Any help from the MVT in the SW England area would greatly be appreciated

timy-d@cornwallaviationhc.co.uk

Tel: 01637 861962 

My late father in law drove Indian Pattern Wheeled Carriers in Burma with the RAF Regiment in WW2.

I am putting together a history for the family of his time in the RAF as a Ground Gunner and later a member of the RAFR

These vehicles used CMP engines and running gear on a design that originated I believe in India, although they were used in North Africa by Indian Regiments and by the NZ Army in Italy. The one my father in law drove had a turret , which my father in law remembered had twin machine guns, but whether these were Brens, Vickers or 0.30 inch Brownings he couldnot say. The only photo I have ever seen of a turreted version is a shot of one from the rear in Tanks - encyclopedia.com

Incidentally a pair of Vargas Girls legs were painted on the side by someone before hand, and a Japanese skull was put over the headlight by someone else less squimish in the unit. The colour was overall dark drab green 

The one in the photo below is possibly from North Africa or Italy. I'm not familiar with the type and Mark Numbers but I guess the turret version came later from 1942?

Coz, Id like to visit but don't have a WW2 vehicle yet (!)

Dear John,

Regarding to the first photo and your compressor to identify, the blue paint and white lettering looks decidedly 1950-60s RAF

Other than that I have no further clues!

So entry at the REME Museum, open to WW2 vehicles only?

All very interesting Ruxy, but my fear is that with no more petrol cars, the BP EV refuelling stations will look at us with the same expression, as I'd get at the Doctors Surgery, if I asked for a jar of leeches ! Why would any fuel supplier cater to a miniature market?

The vintage and veteran cars still on the road, are said to be worth £3 Billion to the economy but as time goes on, there won't be the skills to maintain combustion engines or the firms still in business to support it. When you look at some of the miraculous restorations, almost all have been carried out by the older generation!  

With the UK and now EU banning new Petrol Cars from 2030/2035 in order to 'save the world' logic tells me that right or wrong that the sale of Petrol itself will become less common, and like the time leaded fuel was 'banned' first there was a few garages that stocked leaded fuel, then there were none. Now we have E5 and E10 but E5 pumps are often locked as out of stock.

You can argue all you like over the futility of Net Zero, that diesel will /won't always be needed for heavy vehicles or that reduction of Co2 isn't going alter the climate one bit! But the reality is that politicians have to be seen to be green to get their votes, and Petrol will disappear in the near future, the very near future whether we like it or not.

It must be an age thing; I remember MV shows from 1978-1980s like they were yesterday, Beltring from the early 'noughties' and it wont be long for 10 years to wizz by!

I guess we need to save for a museum to hold the best of our military vehicle history, otherwise what was once 'grandpa's pride and joy will be crushed and on its way to a furnace in China!

The hundredth anniversary of D-Day won't include a host of working Jeeps etc, and instead a host of young people in EVs explaining how evil the British, Canadian and American troops were in making so much noise and smoke, and destruction when they landed!

Pessimistic or what? 

NB - I am told that petrol is produced, as a part of the refinery process for oil, which produces far more than just fuel or plastics, but I somehow doubt the oil companies will be shouting "come and get your free petrol" that they can't dispose of!