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Help identifying a fuel tanker semi-trailer


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Can anyone help in identifying this fuel trailer?

 

252017_573650675985174_609146465_n_zpsd2ef9266.jpg

 

Ghedi1a.jpg

source: http://www.modellismopiu.it/modules/newbb_plus/viewtopic.php?mode=viewtopic&topic_id=103596&forum=4&start=0&viewmode=flat&order=0

 

vlcsnap-15312.jpg

source: http://www.modellismopiu.it/modules/newbb_plus/viewtopic.php?mode=viewtopic&topic_id=103596&forum=4&start=20&viewmode=flat&order=0

 

I think it is a US made, and was supplied to some european allies in the 1950/1960's.

Thanks!

G_Mendes

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Went searching for the F2B...

And I find some info in the " List of U.S. Military Vehicle Supply Catalog Designations "G" Numbers".

G678 - F2B Semitrailer, 2,000 Gal. Fuel Servicing, HeilCo.

In the "Standard catalogue of US Military Vehicles", by David Doyle, (2 ed; pag 297) a photo shows a trailer type that I seen photos before, and remember that at least two survivors still exists today, one of them in restoration.

 

IMGP0375.JPG

 

IMGP0353.JPG

http://pierreddy.blogspot.pt/2012/06/meeting-aerien-de-florennes.html

 

It's painted as an US Army Air forces F2A fuel semi-trailer, but I suspect that this specific trailer (F2B) was intended to army units, as I never had seen a photo of it with air force markings. The TM for this, TM 9-891 Semitrailer, 6-ton Payload, 10-ton Gross, 2-wheel, Fuel Tank, 2,000-gallon, is available online, and don't mention the use by the air force. Note that the rear compartiment lacks the pump systems.

 

http://archive.org/details/TM9891

 

fueltruck.jpg

 

The F2A has an angled rear, the rest looking identical.

 

BowserF-2A.jpg

source: http://www.usaaf.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=28&view=next

 

352FG-150oct-bowser-b.jpg

source: http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/mustang/mustangtest.html

 

G_Mendes

Edited by Goncalo Mendes
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....

 

It's painted as an US Army Air forces F2A fuel semi-trailer, but I suspect that this specific trailer (F2B) was intended to army units, as I never had seen a photo of it with air force markings.

 

......

 

I reckon you're right there, Goncalo - but it does look nice!

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I reckon you're right there, Goncalo - but it does look nice!

 

Thanks N.O.S.! To me it looks very nice too! And it is rare, I only know of two of them

In the "Standard catalogue of US Military Vehicles", by David Doyle, (2 ed; pag 296), David Doyle mention that this (the F2B semitrailer tanker), was based on one developed for an Army Air Force refueller, that I understand to be the F2A , itself developed from the prewar F2 tanker semitrailer.

 

By the way, anyone know how is going the restoration of the F2 semitrailer owned by "Fleetmaster"?

I would love to see some pics!

 

Best regards,

 

G_Mendes

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Find a 1950/1960 refuel semitrailer, very similar, but with two wheel axes. Maybe the two types were made to a standard design, but with different sizes/use. (fighter bases, heavy aircraft bases?)

 

Corbis-U1088258.jpg?size=67&uid=e5e8b6de-9985-4dc0-a362-8bdcb4ae1f3d

Source: http://www.corbisimages.com/stock-photo/rights-managed/U1088258/fuel-truck-being-loaded-into-usaf-hercules

 

 

7272826090_81f547c191_o.jpg

source: Boeing B-47 "Stratojet" top-off refueling, note the fire truck standing by. This would be a topping off the fuel load after engine runs or fuel load changes.

 

 

Other photo for comparison of their use. It is a real possibility that this is the "sucessor" of the "F2/F2A ", and the above one is the sucessor to the "F1/F1A" fuel tanker trailers, of WW2 time.

 

airforcevehiclesgroundspl3.jpg

Source http://www.modellismopiu.it/modules/newbb_plus/viewtopic.php?mode=viewtopic&topic_id=103596&forum=4&start=20&viewmode=flat&order=0

 

The rear doors and compartiments shapes look very similar.

This trailer identification is a mistery too, so all help is welcome!

 

 

 

G_Mendes

Edited by Goncalo Mendes
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Aha - a penny dropped. I wonder if the first photo on this thread is a Navy tanker? (AN registration?) I have a manual somewhere for a twin axle one which is very similar. I'll try to find it. No idea if it is WW2era or not.

 

Here is a post war single axle tanker, almost certainly USAF. Note the frameless construction:

 

Post War tanker3.jpg

Post War tanker 1.jpg

Post War Tanker 2.jpg

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Hello NOS,

Great photos! Thanks! can you post more? :-)

I believe that the manual that you mention is for the WWII army version of the fuel tranker, the F2B, is available for free in the net.

The trailer registration in the first photo of the tread is "AM" (not AN) is for "Aeronautica Militar" , something like "Army Aeronautics/Aviation". In the first times, the portuguese army and the navy had their dependent aviation branches, with propriatary registrations.

 

The trailer in your photos can be a ww2 version also, (maybe a simpler F2A, perhaps with a different rear pump housing and hoses reel).

I had seen one that looked like it before, but your is a frameless one, completely new to me:

http://g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=209350

http://g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=208725&p=1223668#p1223668

Maybe the pumps/hoses reel where from this shorter version.

 

By the way NOS, how is the Federal wrecker restoration?

 

G_Mendes

Edited by Goncalo Mendes
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  • 7 years later...
On 3/29/2013 at 7:38 AM, Goncalo Mendes said:

Looks like the Heil F6 5000gal unit with the Continenal 4 cylinder pump motor we used to train USAF recruits at the ATC Fuels Specialist Tech School on Amarillo AFB 1964-67.

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