Northern Territory pics

[Mike K]

The CMP towing this Mosquito airframe at Coomalie . They towed this away to the sports ground and to celebrate VJ day, they made a bonfire and burnt this airframe.

A B24 making approach to Fenton airstrip.

[Lang]

Later, he was posted to a photo reconnaissance unit, No. 680 Squadron RAF, and flew 75 sorties in Mosquitos and Spitfires during the North African Campaign and the Allied invasion of Sicily. Other aircraft that Tingwell was qualified to fly included the Bristol Blenheim, Martin Baltimore, Bristol Beaufighter and Airspeed Oxford. He was promoted to flying officer in June 1943 and flight lieutenant in December 1944.[5]

Towards the end of the war, Tingwell was transferred back to Australia. He was posted to No. 5 Operational Training Unit RAAF as a flying instructor and then to No. 87 Squadron RAAF, flying photo reconnaissance Mosquitoes over the Dutch East Indies. On demobilisation in 1946, he was awarded the 1939–45 Star, Italy Star and Defence Medal. Tingwell remained a reservist into the 1950s.

[Mike K]

The Coomalie PRU Lockheed Lightning, the notes state , this was written off after a landing crash 1st Sep. 1944

Graphic image of Darwin on fire.

[Andrew H.]

In post #18 at top left, the front two trucks are Model A Fords.

[motto (RIP)]

Lang. No, not a tipper.
I have a TM 10-1677 manual that covers models 4403, 4408, 4409 and 4412. On the cover of this manual below the large CHEVROLET title where the truck designation would normally appear e.g. 1-1/2 Ton 4x2 Truck,there is a strip of paper glued on that is printed in red and headed 'SPECIAL NOTICE'. It goes on to say that 'The 160" Wheelbase, Chevrolet Trucks imported by the Commonwealth Government for essential civilian users are equipped with:-
HEAVY 10" x 5/16"FRAME REINFORCEMENTS, AUXILIARY SPRINGS, 7" WHEELS, 7-7.50 x 20 TYRES and have an allowable gross vehicle weight of 14,300 lbs
With a tare weight of 5,488 lbs for the stake side body truck this gives a payload of just under 4 ton for what was initially classified as a 1-1/2 ton truck.
I personally have not seen a 160" wb truck without the reinforcement and it appears that trucks conforming to these specifications were also used by the military.
I thought this was an Australian adaptation but stumbled across a '42 Chev in Washington State (Port Angeles)many years ago which had the same reinforcement. It was identical to an Aussie L/L truck but LHD
David

[Lang]

Thanks David.

Andrew, here is the photo text for the Fords. 1939?

Two 30cwt Ford trucks are hitched side by side in front of a Thorneycroft Hathi tractor and using the power from all three vehicles, the men of the Darwin Detachment succeeded in pulling along the drug (a low wheeled trolley) weighed down by a six inch piece. the success was short lived as soon after the rubber hose on one of the Fords burst and Captain V C Secombe, riding on the running board narrowly escaped scalding. The large number of men seen riding in the Hathi were needed to ensure additional traction on the poor surface of the East Point Road.

Lang

[lynx42]

Where are they now? I have spent many many hours trying to find one of the Thornycroft "Hathi" trucks. Australia had, from what I have been able to ascertain, 8 of these trucks which arrived in the early 1930's were still on the books after the end of WWII.

I would love to find one to restore, so WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Here are a few photos of the Hathi in action.

1209thorneycrofthathi.jpg

Lined up at the end of WWII.

an002683.jpg


THORNYCROFT.jpg

Wide enough for 4 to sit across the front seat.

large_000000 (1).jpg

A good photo of one in England on test in 1929.

21462400_10155758229194329_6007233554350225361_n.jpg

Please let me know of the smallest part you might know about.

Regards Rick.

[Lang]

Rick

Looks like the photo I put up was taken a few hours after the news clipping railway yard photo. 6 tons was obviously too much to pull so they needed the Fords to help.

It lets us properly date the AWM photo to 1932 not 1939.

Lang

[lynx42]

Originally Posted by Lang

Rick

Looks like the photo I put up was taken a few hours after the news clipping railway yard photo. 6 tons was obviously too much to pull so they needed the Fords to help.

It lets us properly date the AWM photo to 1932 not 1939.

Lang

Lang, I think a lot of it was the road surface.

21742831_10155775832679329_3621037626287205578_n (1).jpg

21742863_10155775832624329_4857405516259068615_n.jpg

21728235_10155775832629329_4413012710431185616_n.jpg

21761556_10155775832619329_5619630936646014991_n.jpg

Regards Rick.

[lynx42]

Another question..

I have searched all through the AWM126 books but cannot find any of the "C" prefix numbers.

Lang, Mike C and Mike K all seem to have access to these earlier ARN's but I do not know where to look.

The Hathi in my last post has "C-205" for a registration number.

Thanks Rick.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by lynx42

Another question..

I have searched all through the AWM126 books but cannot find any of the "C" prefix numbers.

Lang, Mike C and Mike K all seem to have access to these earlier ARN's but I do not know where to look.

The Hathi in my last post has "C-205" for a registration number.

Thanks Rick.

Hathi ARN numbers C201,202,203,204 were sold to Thornycroft Pty Ltd, C205,206,207,208 were sold to Used Motor Parts Dealers

Ken

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by lynx42

Another question..

I have searched all through the AWM126 books but cannot find any of the "C" prefix numbers.

Lang, Mike C and Mike K all seem to have access to these earlier ARN's but I do not know where to look.

The Hathi in my last post has "C-205" for a registration number.

Thanks Rick.

AWM 126 Book 5

[Mike Cecil]

Rick,

Look up '205' in the AMF registration books and you'll find that Hathi. The 'C' was the prefix on vehicles registered under the Uniform Commonwealth Registration scheme applicable to all Comm Govt departments and appeared on the number plates issued by the Department of Interior. Once metal plates were dispensed with for Army and Air Force in 1941 (because of the sheer volume of vehicles being acquired), the 'C' was dropped from the registration. At the time of transition, you sometimes see the 'C' painted on the bonnet as a prefix, but most simply had the number painted as per the ROs.

The AMF books (not the AIF books) held under AWM 126 list the number less the 'C' prefix.

The cab 12: I think it is a GS with the cab back/roof removed.

RAAF 201897 is a 1942 Chevrolet, Series 15, so a Canadian-supplied chassis/running gear (and cab?). The lorry was assembled in Melbourne (chassis number was 42M759)

The '333' unit sign on the CMP in post #1 is that of 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit. The digits are dark blue painted onto a 'sky blue' background. RAAF and US Army units coming under command of NT Force all carried unit signs issued by NT Force HQ - it is the only instance I have come across where RAAF and US Army carried Aust Army-issued unit signs.

TSS Zealandia was indeed sunk in Darwin Harbour. It was a Huddart-Parker Ltd pass/cargo ship taken over by the Commonwealth on 21 June 1940, and used as a troop transport until sunk in Darwin on 19 Feb 1942. First hit by a bomb down No.3 hatch, then raked with cannon and MG, the ship caught fire and stored ammunition started exploding. The ship was abandoned and settled by the stern, sinking until only the masts and top of the funnel were visible. The ship's military career spanned two wars: it has also been used for trooping in the First World War, carrying US troops across the Atlantic, then post-war, returning AIF troops to Australia.

Mike