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  #61  
Old 29-07-19, 12:08
ted angus ted angus is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra View Post
More finds from the IWM archives:
Hi Hanno, the Sawbridgeworth photo is an Albion; The photo has been published many times with the wrong caption,
regards TED
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  #62  
Old 29-07-19, 15:57
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Default Albion mobile wireless van

Quote:
"ROYAL AIR FORCE ARMY CO-OPERATION COMMAND, 1940-1943
© IWM (CH 17402)
Object description
A North American Mustang of No. 2 Squadron RAF, takes off from Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, past a Commer Q2 mobile wireless van providing air to ground communications. To the left, a De Havilland Dragon Rapide communications aircraft is parked in on of the dispersals."
Quote:
Originally Posted by ted angus View Post
Hi Hanno, the Sawbridgeworth photo is an Albion; The photo has been published many times with the wrong caption
Hello Ted,

Thanks for pointing that out. I was happy I found another photo of a Commer (as per the caption), I should have checked the picture more carefully.

Can you tell us which exact model this is? I could only find this picture you posted on HMVF.

Thanks,
Hanno

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  #63  
Old 30-07-19, 10:37
ted angus ted angus is offline
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Default Albion A M 463

Its an Albion A.M.463 built for the Air Ministry from 1934 to 38. Most common versions were aircraft refueller, G.S. cargo and ambulance. Photos of the wireless body are quite rare. The pic I posted is a crop as the vehicle had a large container on top of the wireless body , possibly for carrying aerials.
regards TED
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  #64  
Old 31-07-19, 10:00
Chaz Chaz is offline
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Is there any known record of 40's Q chassis numbers and dates out there?
Also, what are the 15 Q3's in the Rootes wartime production list ?
I've got a Q2 and a Q3 (or the remains of) as a long term project and not quite sure yet which direction the rebuild will take.
I have done the usual Googleing and can't find much decent info on wartime Commers except this excellent thread ...

Cheers,

Charlie
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  #65  
Old 31-07-19, 14:02
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Default Albion A.M.463

Ted, thanks for the info! Talk about a rare truck...

I will amend the caption later.

Regards, Hanno

Quote:
Originally Posted by ted angus View Post
Its an Albion A.M.463 built for the Air Ministry from 1934 to 38. Most common versions were aircraft refueller, G.S. cargo and ambulance. Photos of the wireless body are quite rare. The pic I posted is a crop as the vehicle had a large container on top of the wireless body , possibly for carrying aerials.
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  #66  
Old 31-07-19, 14:06
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chaz View Post
Is there any known record of 40's Q chassis numbers and dates out there?
Also, what are the 15 Q3's in the Rootes wartime production list ?
I've got a Q2 and a Q3 (or the remains of) as a long term project and not quite sure yet which direction the rebuild will take.
I have done the usual Googleing and can't find much decent info on wartime Commers except this excellent thread ...
Hello Charlie,

Glad to hear you like this thread. Can’t answer your question for now, will do some more digging to see what comes up.

Meanwhile, I leave you with pictures of Mark Bannon’s Q2 8’ w.b. Tractor project - just to let you know you’re not alone working on saving these rare trucks.

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  #67  
Old 29-09-19, 22:10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering View Post
I do remember seeing a 1/76 scale modelling drawing of the truck in question.
Alex,

Could that drawing be this one?

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Some more information from modelling magazines or books:

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  #68  
Old 29-09-19, 22:53
Alex van de Wetering Alex van de Wetering is offline
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Hanno,

I think the drawing might have been the bottom left one (page 17)....from a Bellona publication(?)

Alex
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  #69  
Old 06-10-19, 23:14
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Les Freathy wrote on FB:

Quote:
Another image Hanno from the RAF data listings, sorry about the line through the middle apparently when these and others were surplussed it was customery to put the line through the illustrations i cant see why that had to be done surely just a explanation written the page would have been sufficient.

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  #70  
Old 10-10-19, 22:34
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Gave it a cut and polish
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  #71  
Old 11-10-19, 22:20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rod Salter View Post
Gave it a cut and polish
Thanks Rod!
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  #72  
Old 09-11-19, 13:14
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Default More pics

Found high quality versions of two known pictures of a Commer Q15 15-cwt and a Commer Q4 3-ton truck.

Make sure to check out Graham Newell's "Military Vehicle" album at https://www.flickr.com/photos/625327...7630353233450/

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Source: https://flic.kr/p/WF5LMc and https://flic.kr/p/HtcpsP
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  #73  
Old 16-11-19, 18:11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra View Post
I'm trying to gather some more information on the Commer Q2 15-cwt as used by the RAF during WW2. Here's what I found in Vanderveen's books (text) and the internet (pictures):
Les Freathy found a better picture of the Q2 Van in the first post. It is in use with a Polish RAF squadron as the near side wing has the Polish Air Force checkerboard marking. The offside wing sports the RAF Type A roundel.

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  #74  
Old 16-11-19, 22:59
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Default RAF markings

Speaking of RAF markings:

Ted Angus remarked that early vehicles had aluminum RAF letters screwed on the door. Once camouflage came in the RAF they were painted over, as seen on this Commer Q2 Tractor. These letters were done away with when the roundel was introduced.

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  #75  
Old 17-11-19, 15:17
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Two photos from my collection.
Keith
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RAF COMMER SAVE.jpg   commer german use.jpg  
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  #76  
Old 17-11-19, 15:29
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Keith Brooker View Post
Two photos from my collection.
Thanks Keith!
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  #77  
Old 27-11-19, 09:12
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another picture of Commer Q4
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77394061_2393484067447759_7342418094851096576_n.jpg  
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  #78  
Old 27-11-19, 21:35
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Thanks Radek, also for sending me this picture. Had seen it before but somehow not posted it here. This Ministry of Food variant is a rare one, it may even be a one off? The Bedford-based one is better known.

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  #79  
Old 28-11-19, 22:49
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra View Post
This Ministry of Food variant is a rare one, it may even be a one off?
Richard Allebone sent me a screenshot, a quick search yielded the original of another Commer Q2 flying food truck. This is another vehicle, note “Jamaica’s Women War Material and Comforts Committee” on the side. It was supplied to UNNRA so this is a postwar picture.

Read more about how Caribbean women supported Britain’s war effort in a variety of ways at http://westindiacommittee.org/caribb.../women-in-war/

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Source: https://search.archives.un.org/unrra...-flying-squads
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  #80  
Old 30-11-19, 11:29
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Over on HMVF in the excellent thread Guy vix-ants - queens messengers "Runflat" posted two files identifying all the Commer chassis supplied as "Welfare Vans". A total of fifteen Commers were supplied as Welfare Van (pictured here) and Canteen.

I have attached the details of the particular example posted above, as well as the files by "Runflat". Commer Q2 "CUN 351" was transferred to UNRRA where it was registred as "UNRRA-Y9".

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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra View Post
Richard Allebone sent me a screenshot, a quick search yielded the original of another Commer Q2 flying food truck. This is another vehicle, note “Jamaica’s Women War Material and Comforts Committee” on the side. It was supplied to UNNRA so this is a postwar picture.
Click image for larger version

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Attached Files
File Type: pdf 1587887602_MinistryofFoodQMCdonors.pdf (277.0 KB, 4 views)
File Type: pdf 1005848710_MinistryofFoodQMCfleet.pdf (299.0 KB, 6 views)
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  #81  
Old 30-11-19, 11:36
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The file with the listing of Ministry of Food & Queen's Messengers vehicles lists the Commer Welfare Van donated by Jamaica Mutual Life Association Society as CUN 353:

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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra View Post
Thanks Radek, also for sending me this picture. Had seen it before but somehow not posted it here. This Ministry of Food variant is a rare one, it may even be a one off? The Bedford based is better known.
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  #82  
Old 30-11-19, 18:42
Alan McGuinness Alan McGuinness is offline
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Glad you appreciate the lists.

Here are some more Commer photos from the IWM archive, though you may need to squint a bit.

A1863
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CH12890
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CH14815
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  #83  
Old 30-11-19, 18:49
Alan McGuinness Alan McGuinness is offline
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And some more:

CM2230
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CM2232
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CM5402
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H17175
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ME(RAF)5659
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  #84  
Old 30-11-19, 20:39
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Default Mr Runflat, I presume

Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan McGuinness View Post
Glad you appreciate the lists.

Here are some more Commer photos from the IWM archive, though you may need to squint a bit.
Alan, I cannot thank you enough for compiling the lists, it is great to add an identity to the vehicles found in the various pictures!

Of the IWM photos, I particularly like:

CH14815: A crew of No 58 Squadron in front of their Halifax Mk II Series IA at Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides, 22-26 February 1945.
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Source: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ject/205219002


A1863: Nissen huts at a naval base, with Supermarine Walrus amphibious aircraft off shore. 1940
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Source: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ject/205136207
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  #85  
Old 17-12-19, 19:45
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Default Commer pre-heating van

Another pre-heating van:

“Ground staff prepare a No. 233 Squadron Hudson for flight in freezing conditions at Thorney Island, 19 January 1942. The 'hot air van' has been brought in to warm up the engines and de-ice the cockpit windscreen.”

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Source: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ject/205218949
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  #86  
Old 09-02-20, 16:30
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Default Commer pre-heating van

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra View Post
Another pre-heating van:
And one more, towing a runway control van:

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  #87  
Old 09-02-20, 16:30
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A row of RAF Crossley Q tractors, all sorts of interesting vehicles in the background like a Commer Q2 Van.

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  #88  
Old 23-02-20, 14:15
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Default Baths Dept Laundry Van

Post-war conversion on Commer Q2 chassis into a laundry van.

The Dunlop Trak Grip 10.50-16 tyres are a give-away this is a former military vehicle.

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  #89  
Old 24-02-20, 00:21
Larry Hayward Larry Hayward is offline
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Default Post 89

Ted, regarding your post 89, what distinguishing features of that Sawbridgeworth 'Commer' convince you its an Albion A.M.463?

Regards

Larry
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  #90  
Old 03-03-20, 12:08
ted angus ted angus is offline
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Sorry for the late reply. The vehicle in the IWM photo has a quarter light in the cab, Commers don't have quarter lights. The strip of vents in the side of the bonnet - although only partially visible is too high in it's dimension, the position of the step/running board is wrong for a Commer, the contour or the front wing is wrong So definitely not a Commer. Also the body is the pre-war pattern fitted to Albions. regards TED
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Albioncomparison.jpg   Albion or Commer.jpg   Commer comparison.jpg  

Last edited by ted angus; 03-03-20 at 12:12. Reason: correction.
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