U.S. staff car prang Brisbane

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Reverse Lend-Lease supply, I'd say.

Yes , reverse Lend-Lease was large and it included much logistics - food, accommodation , machinery, electronics, uniforms , vehicles and more. I believe that the reverse Lend-Lease cost was high enough to wipe out the actual real Lend-Lease debt.

[Mike Cecil]

The final balance was Australia supplied about 75% of the final LL balance.

Motor vehicles comprised a small percentage of the final balance, as most supplied were returned to the Commonwealth in 1944 and 1945, for credit against the RLL account at a rate depending upon condition, but always less than the original price. As far as I have found out, the last vehicles returned appear to be those of the US Navy in Perth which were transferred back to the Commonwealth in December 1945.

The vehicle registration prefixes are interesting, with two systems operating (comments based on records of 1,231 vehicles).

The USN seem to have been the most organised, with the following prefixes being closely adhered to:
USN-S- for cars,
USN-U- for utility vehicles up to 1 ton
USN-T- for lorries and trucks 30cwt +

The US Army appear far less uniform in the prefix application.
USA-U- was the most common by far (1,041 vehicles of 1,148), and it was applied to just about everything supplied, from light tourers to tractors and cranes.
USA-RC- seems to be lorries and trucks 30cwt + (130 records)
USA-AP-seems to be light vehicles, mostly utilities and sedan cars (44 records)

Mike


An Australian ambulance supplied under RLL in a parade in Sydney. Reg is USA-U74079.

Ambulance U-74079.jpg

[Mike K]

Good info and nice pic.

You can ring and book a staff car but we a need a time machine

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/Sear...aspx?B=6674214

[Mike K]

Another U reg, and the 1941 Ford is a very light colour, could be white ! Proves that not all military vehicles were O.D. or Khaki. A Yank M.P. is standing in the group.

[Mike K]

Another accident report. Another Brisbane prang involving what I think is a rare Dodge WC41 1/2 Ton Emergency Repair truck. These WC41 models may have a extended wheelbase similar to the Ambulance , the basic 1/2 Ton WC models are 116" and the Ambulance is 123" . In any case the WC41 chassis was strengthened to allow for the heavier body. Appears that only around 900 were built.


The NAA file has details like: witness statements and the police report.

A chap in Brisbane restored one of these unusual trucks:

https://forums.g503.com/viewtopic.php?t=282758

Reading through the file. The U.S. authorities instigated a Supreme Court action in QLD over this incident, they hired a law firm. The taxi driver claimed over 1200 pounds compensation. The Police report indicates that the Police opinion was: the Chev. taxi was travelling on the wrong side of the road ( RH side )

[Mike K]

A nasty Jeep accident with two deaths. Holy Cow ! The Jeep had nine people onboard.

12 cwt Plymouth GS Van fatality. The other M.V. involved is a 1939 Chevy by the look of it.

[Mike K]

Malaya crash involving a RAAF C60X with a fatality. Mid 1950s, the car is a Hillman, probably a Minx