abn deuce Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 Through another site and a Link posted there I found a group of WWII photographs while looking amongst the thousands of pictures , almost all were completely new to me several pictures of bulldozers , cranes, dump trucks and a like this modified bulldozer and one seen any thing like this ? the captions for all the photo's were in french which I can't read but will add if I can cut and paste correctly ! ;-) it worked thought there was more text I gather it say's Normandy in 1944 a bulldozer works in the ruins? "Bataille de Normandie : été 1944 : Un bulldozer dans une ville en ruine" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 It's an armoured Caterpillar D7. The tractor number is always painted on the front of the radiator cover on the armoured D7s and they only seem to be in the 1T range. This is not a number range listed by Cat and there was some speculation that they were in fact assembled from parts by another manufacturer, possibly the one who made the armoured hulls and were given a special number sequence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Clark Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 Hi ABN, any chance you can give us the link to the pictures as there are not many of engineers equipment that I know of. By the way my ex-wifes uncle drove armoured dozer's in WW2 some of his stories are incredible. If you have a copy of the book "Monte Cassino" by Matthew Parker he is mentioned on page 314 his name is Stan Goold. Jim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 Hi ABN, any chance you can give us the link to the pictures as there are not many of engineers equipment that I know of. That goes for me too! Would really apreciate the link. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeEnfield Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 Now thats an interesting photo,.................shame not to see many (any ??) of these fine machines in preservation,........(well that get to any of the shows I've been to, anyways...... :-)) Would welcome a chance to view site it came from, as well. Cheers, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashley Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 Hi all, this coucd be from the "flickr photos normandie " site .Tried to copy a link across but no joy yet . I an sure there is already a link to this site here on the forum if it is flickr Ashley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Degsy Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 Yes you are correct Andy, ABN told me he got the photos from flickr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Clark Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 I think this may be it loads of pics to look at , enjoy, http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosnormandie/ Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 None in actual preservation i understand http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/Greatwartruck/CAT-1.jpg[/img] This one of course works for a living. Tim (too) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abn deuce Posted December 4, 2007 Author Share Posted December 4, 2007 Yes that the link I wasn't really trying to be mysterious about it I wll post the other 3 photo's I found on bull dozers and their french text's Un bull-dozer américain d'une unité d'Engineer aide des soldats à déblayer les restes de la gare maritime de Cherbourg. Remarquez que le conducteur porte l'insigne de ASF (Army Service Forces) Dans le giron ASF on trouve les éléments du Corps Of Engineers (voir note) Quartermaster Corps Medical Department Ordnance Department Signal Corps Chemical Warfare Service Transportation Corps (après juillet 42) Note: Même si les Engineers sont listés dans l'ASF il n'en est pas tout à fait le cas, en 1943 le Corps Of Engineers (COE) est divisé en deux groupes sous contrôle: AGF = infantry, cavalry, field artillery + coast artillery, antiaircraft, Armored ASF ( (dés lors notre GI fait partie d'une des unités suivantes) Eng General & Special Service Regts Eng Separate Bns Eng Dumps Truck Cos Eng Forestry Cos Eng Petroleum Distribution Cos Port Construction & Repair Gps Eng Topo Bns (GHQ) Eng Equipments Cos Eng Base Shops Cos Eng Heavy Shop Cos Un dozer américain conduit par un sapeur noir tente d'enlever une épave de wagon, à droite un autre GI semble s'entretenir avec quelqu'un hors cadre. En arrière-plan, les ruines de Coutances. Voir l'immatriculation du dozer à l'arrière de l'engin, il appartient au 392nd Eng GS Regt., assigné au ASCZ et porte le numéro 205. ASCZ =Advanced Section of the Communication Zone. voir ici: Un bulldozer Caterpillar " booger kid " rebouche des trous de bombes sur une route du bocage normand à l'ouest de Saint Lô. En arrière plan un convoi est arrêté sur le côté gauche en tête un Half Track, les hommes appartiennent à la 30th US ID qui va couvrir le flanc gauche de la percée de Operation Cobra le 25 juillet 1944. Sur ce tirage l'insigne d'épaule du GI à gauche est censuré. Référence page 293 du livre First US Army, Heimdal, 2004 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pop larkin Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 Excellent pictures. English translation below: Pic1 An American bulldozer of an unit of Engineer helps soldiers to clear away the rests of the maritime railway station of Cherbourg. Point out that the driver carries the insignia of ASF (Army Service Force) Pic2 An American dozer driven by a black sapper tries to take away a wreck of a wagon, to the right another GI seems to discuss with somebody not established. In the background, the ruins of Coutances. See the registration of the dozer at the back of the device, it is up to the 392nd Eng GS Regt ., allocated to ASCZ and carry the number 205. ASCZ =Advanced Section of the Communication Bums around. Pic3 A bulldozer Caterpillar " booger kid " fills in the holes of bombs on a road of the Norman hedged farmland on the West of saint Lô. Behind an escort is stopped on the left side at the head Half Track, the men belong to the 30th US IDEM which is going to cover the left side of the breakthrough of Operation Cobra on July 25th, 1944. On this printing the insignia of shoulder of GI to the left are censored. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abn deuce Posted December 5, 2007 Author Share Posted December 5, 2007 another interesting piece of equipment here note the duel front tires being used on the Jimmy the french caption "Pose d'un enrobé sur un ALG (Advanced Landing Ground). enrobé = Hessian mat (toile renforcée goudronnée) " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abn deuce Posted December 6, 2007 Author Share Posted December 6, 2007 a Jimmy Dump truck just barely the french caption Isigny sur Mer, le 4 juillet 1944, des convois américains se croisent dans la ville en ruine. Le Génie US a dégagé les voies de circulation, des MP font la circulation ; remarquez la guérite en bois au milieu de le rue derrière la Jeep. Des civils marchent le long d'un trottoir, au premier plan un camion GMC CCKW 353 LWB benne Génie. Deux jeeps de la Military Police sont garées au milieu de la chaussée. Il s'agit du carrefour de la p013006, à l'extrême gauche l'arrière de la façade de la maison avec Pub" Petit Beurre LU" Voir les p013252.et p013006. Pancarte à droite au milieu de la chaussée : PERSONAL BELONGINGS "personal belongings" =effets personnels dans l'US Army on dirait plutôt "Personnal Equipments", par contre on retrouve plus souvent ce "terme" comme "unit belongings, depots etc.." chez les britanniques signifiant unité ou dépôt rattaché/gravitant autour (et non pas attaché). Isigny sur Mer était pourtant en zone américaine ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 Les photos magnifique, abn CCKW, encore! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abn deuce Posted December 15, 2007 Author Share Posted December 15, 2007 French caption Ces sapeurs de la C Co, du 202nd Engineer Combat Bn de la 3rd US Army déblaient la route avec un bouteur pour permettre l'approvisionnement de Coutances Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abn deuce Posted December 15, 2007 Author Share Posted December 15, 2007 CCKW Dump truck French caption Libération de la Basse-Normandie pendant l'été 1944, en secteur américain. Chargement de matériel en zone portuaire, sur un 6X6 GMC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick W Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 Dual front tyres on the Jimmy presumably to stop it getting stuck in soft ground? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 Looks like it is standing on a rhino. Most interesting. Tim (too) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abn deuce Posted December 15, 2007 Author Share Posted December 15, 2007 Yes I agree Rick W that is the usual reason for the duels being used on the front as it makes for very stiff steering so they were used on a limited basis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abn deuce Posted December 15, 2007 Author Share Posted December 15, 2007 Great War Truck yes I think your correct , there are more photo's of the mulberry harbours most are bare views nothing but structure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pop larkin Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 Wonder if the twin wheels were used to aid a straight line drive? Looks like it is laying the matting for the airfields constructed in Normandy just after the invasion to aid supplies and casualty evacuation. I have a DVD here somewhere with some footage of the airfield construction, will have to check it out and see if those CCKWs are using twin wheels too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Degsy Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 Could be to minimise rutting of the graded surface. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pop larkin Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 Could be to minimise rutting of the graded surface. Thats possible. Watched the DVD yesterday and it showed them levelling the surface with a bulldozer towing a large wheeled scoop that was removing the top layer, pressumably to get a nice level surface for the matting. No sign of any GMCs on the DVD, though it is primarily about the airbourne and troop carriers. Plenty of Dodge ambulances. They were landing DC3s on unfinished landing strips get the wouned out and there are rows of them waiting to unload :-( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abn deuce Posted December 17, 2007 Author Share Posted December 17, 2007 CCKW Dump truck poor photo but shows mines being cleared and temp. road matting French caption Un GMC 353 Genie gagne l'intérieur des terres derrière Utah Beach sur un chemin de sable recouvert d'un treillis métallique anti-ensablement, un second est garé sur la droite. Ce grillage est visible en rouleaux sur la p012720 et posé sur les Pose de ce grillage sur une voie en sortie de plage sur les: p011400, p012695 et p013271. Le grillage Sommerfeld à mailles irrégulières se caractérise par des fers ronds passés à intervalles réguliers dans les mailles pour les maintenir à plat. Ces fers ronds étaient pincés en boucle à chaque extrémité et un câble ou des barres passées dans les boucles ainsi formées rigidifiaient le tout. Un grand panache de fumée s'élève dans le paysage, explosion d'une mine neutralisée par une équipe du Génie appartenant au 531st Engineer Shore Rgt. Phot prise entre le 6 et le 8 juin 1944 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abn deuce Posted December 21, 2007 Author Share Posted December 21, 2007 Jimmy Dump truck note additional jerry cans on side step and raised partion in dump bed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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