The photo was posted by UKSubs in his thread on the Recoilless Rifle. The unit designation caught my eye. The White 41 on Green/Blue indicates 1st Airborne's Airlanding Recce Sdn. That division had the Tetrarch Light Tanks, which were organised as the Airborne Light Tank Sdn (ALTS) not, as far as I am aware the Recce Sdn. On the division's move to Sicily, the ALTS was transferred to the new 6th Airborne Division and redesignated the Airborne Armoured Recce Sdn. The tanks were then marked with a Cambridge Blue 79 on a Maroon background. The 6th AB Divn used the US M22 Locust on Op Varsity. So, is this an anomaly - a Locust Light Tank marked with the unit designation of 1st Airborne's Airlanding Recce Sdn - or have I missed something in my research?

Steve W.

__________________

The Glider Pilot Regiment 1942 - 1945

Assault Glider Trust

It looks as though they have (almost) copied this photograph



although I have yet to find a shot of a glider borne Locust with the lifting shackles fitted to enable the tank to be slung under a C-54



So Bovingtons M22 would appear to be this later type.

Two cracking photos! Any caption for the first? Would love to know the provenance.

Steve W.

__________________

The Glider Pilot Regiment 1942 - 1945

Assault Glider Trust

Only pertaining to What! Nothing on When, Where or Who.

Where did you find the photo?

Steve W.

__________________

The Glider Pilot Regiment 1942 - 1945

Assault Glider Trust

I found it in a George Forty book, 'A Photo History of Tanks in Two World Wars'. On the front flap all of the photographs are credited to the collection of a It could be this tank



This famous shot is the standard 'Locust leaving a Hamilcar' picture. You cannot, however make out any arm of service markings, only the pegasus of the Airborne divisions, which is in the same position and of the same size. In both shots, the tank does also have the same mud guards and is fitted with lights, but missing the light guards. Finally the front towing shackles in both pictures appear to be in the gravity defying 'up' position.

bodston,

Thanks. I think I'll get onto Bovington.

Steve W.

__________________

The Glider Pilot Regiment 1942 - 1945

Assault Glider Trust

I found another shot of the same tank



Edit: again no information as to Who, When or Where.