RAF gas transporter for barrage ballons used in the desert campaign 1941

AnthonyJGIbbs · #1 (**permalink**) November 4th, 2009, 04:29 PM

Hi There,
My name is Tony Gibbs, my Uncle Fred Pallett served in the RAF in WWII and was posted to the RAF transport division in the Middle East during 1941 to 1943. He was a driver of Truck/ Lorry which I have uploaded a photo of. It only shows the front with the registration RAF91011 and was apparently used to transport gas for barrage balloons. I am interested to know if anyone can tell me more about these trucks who made them, or to see a better picture than the one I have here. Apparently it also towed a trailer and they were huge things to drive on the unpaved desert roads.
thanks, Tony

PzJgr · #2 (**permalink**) November 4th, 2009, 04:45 PM

At first I thought it was an AEC Matador or even a Leyland Hippo but the grill is different. Hopefully von Poop sees this thread.

AnthonyJGIbbs · #3 (**permalink**) November 4th, 2009, 07:45 PM

OK Thanks, I will search the two types you mention.

applevalleyjoe · #4 (**permalink**) November 4th, 2009, 08:13 PM

Hello Anthony, welcome to the forums. I see that you got immediate feedback alredy. Good luck with your hunt.

JagdtigerI · #5 (**permalink**) November 4th, 2009, 08:22 PM

Hello Tony, welcome to the forum and good luck on your search!

dgmitchell · #6 (**permalink**) November 4th, 2009, 10:37 PM

Hello Anthony and welcome! I suggest you post your query in the military vehicle section of the forum. Also, after you have made 5 or 10 posts (I forget the precise number), you should be able to send Von Poop a personal message (PM) from his profile. I suspect he will know the answer to your query.

AnthonyJGIbbs · #7 (**permalink**) November 9th, 2009, 07:59 AM

OK, thanks for the tip

Von Poop · #8 (**permalink**) November 9th, 2009, 08:38 AM

Hi Tony,
Looks like an FWD SU-COE.
Chassis manufactured at their US Clintonville plant with bodies added by the Canadians at Wilson Motor Bodies. It was supplied as a GS/MAT truck and a tractor for semi-trailers.

One example of the Articulated variant here:

(Another pic there too, which the original poster has mocked up to show a trailer attached.)
From MLU - One being restored there.

(Was he definitely in the Middle east rather than Africa? I only ask as I've an article in the now defunct 'Wheels and Tracks' magazine that covers RAF MT in N Africa that may be of interest if he was there too)

Cheers,
Adam.

PzJgr · #9 (**permalink**) November 9th, 2009, 01:06 PM

Aha, Adam stikes again!

AnthonyJGIbbs · #10 (**permalink**) November 9th, 2009, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Von Poop

Hi Tony,
Looks like an FWD SU-COE.
Chassis manufactured at their US Clintonville plant with bodies added by the Canadians at Wilson Motor Bodies. It was supplied as a GS/MAT truck and a tractor for semi-trailers.

One example of the Articulated variant here:

(Another pic there too, which the original poster has mocked up to show a trailer attached.)
From MLU - One being restored there.

(Was he definitely in the Middle east rather than Africa? I only ask as I've an article in the now defunct 'Wheels and Tracks' magazine that covers RAF MT in N Africa that may be of interest if he was there too)

Cheers,
Adam.

Wow thanks for the info, My Uncle Fred did start off in Palestine, then did many tips up to Derna and Benghazi to deliver gas for the barrage ballons, That photo looks like it has the same front grill, amazing to see a picture.

Fred died some years ago, but his brother Charles who is 91 came to our house last week and recounted all about his experience at the battle of El Alemein, he was with in Northumberland hussars assigned as a driver working with a bofour antiaircraft gun, he had great stories to tell about life in the desert, the battle etc and he said he met up with Fred on a desert road by chance once. He he served was driving near Derna and Fred spotted his division and searched him out, they met up for a couple of hours and went ther separate ways.