Airfield Fire, Crash, and Emergency Vehicles Vol 2

[P Bellamy]

Hmmm, the 305th at Chelveston had a Crossley too...

[P Bellamy]

The tower at Thurleigh does appear to have had the insulators, but the tender shed was built very close to that side of the tower so there may not have been room to park a Crossley in between.

All the best,
PB

[PETERTHEEATER]

Men wait on and beside their British-made crash tender and ambulance, in case of emergency, as a B17 Flying Fortress lands at an American airfield, somewhere in Britain, after a mission over the Ruhr. The engines of the trucks are kept running and the men are alert at their posts, ready to move into action. Visible on the back of the crash tender is an asbestos suit, which enables the wearer to work in fire for several minutes, giving him enough time to rescue any trapped crew members, should an aircraft catch fire on landing. The aircraft features the letters UX, indicating that it is an aircraft of 407 Squadron, 92nd Bombardment Group.

(Lavenham or Sudbury?)



Courtesy of Imperial War Museum © IWM (D 15116)

[ted angus]

The tender is a Fordson WOT1 Weeton type. 350 of them built at RAF Weeton circa 1940. There is a light pump mounted between cab & tank.

[P Bellamy]

Lavenham or Sudbury?

The "British Equipment at an American Airfield: Anglo-American Co-operation in Wartime Britain" series of photos appear to have been taken at Alconbury during June of 1943.

All the best,
PB

[ted angus]

I thought the B/91 was 91st bomb group which was Bassinbourne ? From other USAAF pics Bassinbourne did have a Weeton as did Framlington

[milfireguy]

I show the 407th at Alconbury, 6 Jan 43, and at Podington, 15 Sept 43.

[P Bellamy]

I thought the B/91 was 91st bomb group which was Bassinbourne?

That's the RAF 91 Gp. Bomber Command marking, not the USAAF 91BG which would have been 8★91.
Presumably the Fordson's previous assignment.

A hard-cab Fordson tender photographed at Bassingbourn in June 1943 carried the number plate RAF17967 and serial 5814659.

All the best,
PB

[ted angus]

Just goes to prove my USAAF knowledge is zero !!!!!!!!! why didn't I think of that6 for B/91 Duhhhh ! do you have a pic of the bassinbourne one you mention that you can post please. In this B'bourne shot they have fitted a ladder to the Fordson Weeton I could never understand why RAF tenders never carried a ladder >.??

TED

[P Bellamy]

Here you go Ted, the same two Fordsons as in your photo, taken the same month:



PB