Odiham ww2 vehicle pics

[Mike Timoshyk]

The vehilces pictured were located at Odiham Village, County Hampshire England. The location is 45 miles west of London, midway between Fleet and Bassingstoke Railway stations. These fotos come from the estate of a Canadian Medical Orderly who was posted there. In the Squadron history the following is mentioned "No. 110 Squadron RCAF arrived in the UK February 1940 as an Army Cooperation squadron. It was renumbered as 400 Squadron at Odiham Hants., England , March 1, 1941.

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Mike Timoshyk

The vehilces pictured were located at Odiham Village, County Hampshire England. The location is 45 miles west of London, midway between Fleet and Bassingstoke Railway stations. These fotos come from the estate of a Canadian Medical Orderly who was posted there. In the Squadron history the following is mentioned "No. 110 Squadron RCAF arrived in the UK February 1940 as an Army Cooperation squadron. It was renumbered as 400 Squadron at Odiham Hants., England , March 1, 1941.

Mike ..
Makes sense..The three uniformed members pictured are Leading Aircraft's Men..L.A.C.'s..(The little prop halfway between the shoulder and elbow..)
All Canadian RCAF Squadrons were allotted 400 series squadron numbers in this renumbering of Squadrons,..
Here is a little more info..

No. 110 Squadron

Nickname: City of Toronto

Authorized as No. 10 (Army Co-operation) Squadron (Auxiliary) at Toronto, Ontario on 5 October 1932, the unit commenced flying training in October 1934 when it received four Moth aircraft. Affiliation with Toronto was recognized on 15 April 1935 when the title "City of Toronto" was officially incorporated into its designation, and on 15 November 1937 the unit was renumbered No. 110 Squadron. Mobilized on 10 September 1939, it was assigned to the Canadian Active Service Force for overseas duty with the 1st Division; moved to Rockcliffe (Ottawa), Ontario, where it trained on Lysander aircraft; it left for England in February 1940. The unit anticipated early action, but with the fall of France it was relegated to further training. The squadron was renumbered No. 400 Squadron at Odiham, Hampshire on 1 March 1941.

[Larry Hayward]

Nice photo of what I think is an Albion AM463, especially as I am interested in RAF camo.

No doubt the vehicle was produced in RAF blue but hastily cammed up with green and brown or two shades of green (hard to tell), as was the case for RAF vehicles on bases in Southern England in summer of 1940.

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Larry Hayward

Nice photo of what I think is an Albion AM463, especially as I am interested in RAF camo.

No doubt the vehicle was produced in RAF blue but hastily cammed up with green and brown or two shades of green (hard to tell), as was the case for RAF vehicles on bases in Southern England in summer of 1940.

Larry..
The RAF on the door of the truck and the RAF on the motorcycle license tell the vehicle story,but the motorcycle driver has the old style shoulder flash of the Royal Canadian Air Force..
Can't tell on the other two lads in uniform but are probably Canadian's also..

See the link..
http://www.ww2wings.com/wings/canada...calflash.shtml

Here is the RAF shoulder flash..
http://www.ww2wings.com/wings/britai...derflash.shtml
The CANADA can be clearly seen above the "G.U.11"..G.U.Eleven" aircraft..
(Our old hanger line joke for any seagull that happened by.."Oh there goes another squadron of G.U.Elevens.."!!!

[ted angus]

I would say that the ambulance and motorcycle photos are post january 1941, Up until that date RAF vehicles in UK were registered via the RAF Depot Uxbridge with Middlesex County Council. Both vehicles bear an "RAF 2345" format registration. Re the camo ; by jan 1941 few non camo vehicles remained. Although the first AMO detailing colours is dated august 1941 it is clear AMOs were preceded, often by several months, by signaled (telex) instructions or Directing Letters. I have found an AMO dated June 1941 clarifying the situation re cam finishes on impressed vehicles. also files unearthed at TNA Kew contain letters acknowledging units are procuring paint and undertaking such work at a local level. Furthermore I have found a document dated feb 1941 with contains the text " The RAF are following the Army in its choice of colours". I would strongly suggest because the dark tone in the photographs is very dark then it is Nobels Dark Tarmac Green No4 and the light colour is Khaki Green No 3 .( Nobels Dark Tarmac Green is known to be an extremely dark greyish colour )
Larry, for your camo interest I found a photo of the 4 sqn road convoy leaving Odiham in sept 1939 for the docks to embark for France and every vehicle was in camo. Also in the 8 feb 1940 edition of FLIGHT there is a picture of an Albion refuller in Camo but still carrying its twin circular orange or yellow airfield discs. see attached

[Noel Burgess]

The last photo appears to be one of these - wich is stated to be a mobile dark room trailer.
Noel