LarryH57 Posted July 23, 2021 Share Posted July 23, 2021 (edited) Guys, firstly may I have the RAF vehicles identified, in the attached photo line up from WW2. I know the middle vehicle in a Bedford MW type, but is it just a GS truck? The trucks both appear to be 4x2. Is that just an illusion? I may approach the National Trust to see if they might wish to take a then and now photo in their courtyard. But are the vehicles readily available if we wanted to ? Is anybody interested? Hughenden Manor is just north of High Wycombe. Strangely this site was so secret that the National Trust never knew about it until in recent years a very elderly map maker returned on a visit with his family and started discussing where he sat and where work was done, and a staff member overheard, and from that they are looking to create a room dedicated to the memory of those who served there. Your thoughts please. Larry Edited July 23, 2021 by LarryH57 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted angus Posted July 23, 2021 Share Posted July 23, 2021 OK Hillman on the left either a van or car, on the Right Studebaker 6x4 of No 4 MT company Ted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rootes75 Posted July 23, 2021 Share Posted July 23, 2021 Yes, its a Phase 1 Hillman Minx. That front end styling is from 39-47. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryH57 Posted July 23, 2021 Author Share Posted July 23, 2021 That's great - but where am I to get a Studebaker 6x4 which I guess is a US6 version. Some were 6x6 and still US6 Many years ago there was one on a London to Brighton run with a registration of GAB 919, not that I remember having seen one at any MV show! A photo on the web also shows OFF395 at a MV show Ted how do you know the vehicle belonged to No 4 MT? Just from the 4 on the fender? Not the bridging weight? BTW Ted - have a look at MLU later Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted angus Posted July 24, 2021 Share Posted July 24, 2021 Vehicles of the UK based MT Companies didn't carry the conventional Command/Group marking they were required to display the Company number on the front and rear offsides. 4 MT was based in London to cover the docks and provide MT support to the surrounding district. I imagine support to small units such as this was a typical task. TED Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryH57 Posted July 24, 2021 Author Share Posted July 24, 2021 Ted, as ever - thanks for the clarification Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted angus Posted July 24, 2021 Share Posted July 24, 2021 From the RAF data book sorry one page is not good quality. TED 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryH57 Posted August 26, 2021 Author Share Posted August 26, 2021 (edited) Regarding the MT Companies in the RAF, am I right in thinking that if 4 MT used 4, there was no attempt to hide their identity - so there must have been 1 to 4 (or more) but I guess easily identifiable anyway. But I guess some MT Companies were based overseas with out of sequence numbers. Where they 1 to 4 MT Companies in UK and others overseas with the same numbers, or was it like an RAF Squadron (those with aircraft) with a unique number that was formed and reformed? I can't find much on RAF MT Companies online Lastly, in the photo of RAF Hillside I guess the Studebaker must have been used for bulk supplies of paper or ink etc at it does seem rather large to take even 300 maps for a raid to Bomber HQ. The Bedford MW could have done that. Edited August 26, 2021 by LarryH57 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted angus Posted August 27, 2021 Share Posted August 27, 2021 In the UK there were 6 M T Companies numbered 1 to 6. Overseas a different set of numbers. I would suggest if a vehicle of the Studebaker's capacity was required on a full time basis then one would be on the units establishment. With the exception of 2 M T , tasking for M T Companies was directly by the Air Ministry . Whilst a single raid might only generate the need for say 300 maps there would be a range of maps held by ops at every group and station which would amount to quantities in their tens of thousands, so the need for such a vehicle may be say a weekly task. What we don't know is exactly what maps were produced there ? Was it just specially prepared target maps or all . My guess is possibly commercial printers produced non target maps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryH57 Posted August 27, 2021 Author Share Posted August 27, 2021 (edited) Dear Ted, It was specialist maps they made; those made at Hillside were target maps and one set per aircraft on each raid. But of course I realise it was for every Group too and so that multiples the number of maps. I guess that if a Bombing Raid was split as a decoy then that increases the variations! No wonder they needed a 5 tonner! Edited August 27, 2021 by LarryH57 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted angus Posted August 28, 2021 Share Posted August 28, 2021 Yes I just found and read the article on the National Trust site- it makes me think I had previously known about Hillside previously and forgotten about it, Ted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.