antarmike Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 Ted why do you reckon the "Shell" O854 still has RAF painted cab? what is the background to this practice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted angus Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 Mike that is a real mystery all I can offer is ; in the years immediately after WW2 The Air ministry were instructed that they, through the RAF were to provide assistance in the form of vehicles, ground equipment and P.O.L. to BOAC around the world as they were re-establishing routes etc. This may be an extension of that ??? my only other thought is that in the early days many vehicles operating on aerodromes were not registered with the relevant local authorities as long as public traffic had no access to the operating areas. May be this truck had passed to shell and the RAF serial was left on merely as an identifying mark ??? The tank is probally the standard SHELL yellow the cab could be ShELL red but it could be as you say RAF Blue Grey ?? A Mystery but a great period shot TED Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antarmike Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 Ted they don't seem much interested in vehicle identification, The O854 I posted sbove the shell tanker seems to have no plate, no painted number in fact it seems totally devoid of all identification. The shell picture has always puzzled me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted angus Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 I wonder if the vehicles were in the process of going on loan or sold to Shell or an other ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antarmike Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 What really puzzles me is the Shell tanker seems to have very fresh glossy paintwork to the cab, almost as if it was painted at the same time as the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antarmike Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 (edited) http://www.suezcanalzone.com/pics09.html I don't want to keep banging on about it, but Water Tanker towards bottom of page clearly and undisputedly has a roundel on the back of the tank Suez 1950-55 period. You don't need any special viewer for this one, nor does it require any interpetation! Am I right in saying it an RAF Austin K9 water bowser? Edited April 4, 2009 by antarmike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted angus Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 Mike you got the roundel right but not the truck Its a Bedford OY water bowser I think the reg is 19AG43, It is in fact a truck fire water 500gal, but in these theatres a water bowser was a water bowser. In the post 1949 reg system; block AG there were about 560 OYs as fire trucks, with approx 80 more in the AM block as general water bowsers. If you look at the rear compartment doors they follow the eliptical contour of the tank, plus the external hinges. On the K9 the pump compartment had parralel sides from the mid point downwards and concealed hinges. Finally there is rear towing facilty on the OY, few if any RAF K9 tanker had the rear hitch fitted. TED Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antarmike Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 I should have known that , I had a matchbox K9 tanker as a kid! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 I should have known that , I had a matchbox K9 tanker as a kid! :-D........Mike, if our parents had known what it would lead to in years to come, they would not have bought us those Dinky and Matchbox lorries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antarmike Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 it was buying the Antar that was the REAL mistake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 it was buying the Antar that was the REAL mistake :rofl:..........I had a Dinky Antar but it was the Dinky Bedford QL that made its mark on me as it was my "first" military vehicle, back in the mid Fifties I guess. :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted angus Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 Mine was the Dinky Bedford Army lorry as a former Driver/Mech in 279 field Co RE my Dad gave me every encouragement !! I later learnt to drive on an RL TED I Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antarmike Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 My first proper truck was a Matador, and I think the Airfix kit was partly to blame for that.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan turner (RIP) Posted October 31, 2009 Share Posted October 31, 2009 Would anyone be interested in these from my usual source? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
honeileen Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 Cracking photos there, I remember driving the AEC refuellers with a 4500gallon trailor hooked on the back Christian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antarmike Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 Aircraft rectification truck most interesting, since this is the second role my Matador was converted to fulfill!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted angus Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 Would anyone be interested in these from my usual source? Interested can I use the word orgasmic on here ?? Alan thank you again for sharing. The Bedford ambulance is not quite what it seems, It started life as a Radio Vehicle Type 316 Mk3, it was designed and equipped to transport ground radio servicing parties and their equipment. IT still retains its AV reg (signals vehicles) and I suspect was for transporting a patient connected to lots of wires and tubes or someone with an infectious condition after aero med from overseas. Will try and find more. Alan looking forward to the next set !! regards TED Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chevpol Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 like the Austin 1800 landcrabs, you dont usually find photos of staff cars/runabouts Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan turner (RIP) Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 these have only gone as far as Bedfords, some more under Leyland Hippos, Staff cars cover Fords Morris and Vauxhall, which seem not to have themes, one of Woolwich's last titles was RAF Movements (London). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 The Bedford S type Lacre runway sweeper........what an animal ! I did a total rebuild on one many years ago, down to bare chassis. Worst part was working in the rear body, loads of filter bags and shaking mechanism to remove the dust from them. What thing to operate though, all powered off the 300ci petrol engine. Those huge rear view mirrors are classic, imagine seeing a Vulcan in them !!!! :shake::shake::shake: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted angus Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 like the Austin 1800 landcrabs, you dont usually find photos of staff cars/runabouts Mark most of them siezed up when we went over to that useless multi grade oil Richard what was it OMD75 ??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted angus Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 these have only gone as far as Bedfords, some more under Leyland Hippos, Staff cars cover Fords Morris and Vauxhall, which seem not to have themes, one of Woolwich's last titles was RAF Movements (London). OOOOHHHH HIPPOS !!! I won't sleep tonight now TED Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 most of them siezed up when we went over to that useless multi grade oil Richard what was it OMD75 ??? Correct Ted, OMD75 replaced the monograde OMD110. Kept us busy on engine overhauls though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted angus Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 It played havoc with the B series in the fire trucks and with the ground power units for the Victor MK 1 which were B61 & 81 powered . Some days we struggled to keep operational at Marham. TED Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan turner (RIP) Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 OK more staff cars for you to drool over Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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