*This message was transferred with a trial version of CommuniGate(tm) Pro*
John, List
There's commonplace evidence that "Caution Left Hand Drive" (CLHD) was
painted on Left hand Drive vehicles in the UK during WW2... this much I know
and have repainted my GPW as such....
However I'm trying to find evidence of when the practice of painting
"Caution Right Hand Drive" (CRHD) began on Right Hand Drive vehicles made
during WW2.
Whilst Denis says this was done in Canada during WW2, this would not have
been done in England. Would it have been done in France, Germany, Belgium,
Italy, Netherlands... etc ? Or was the practice not adopted until after the
German
Surrender ?
I have only one photo of an RAF Vehicle in Germany in 1956 - the gentleman
from whom I got the photo recalls that CRHD was stencilled on the rear Left
Quarter in English and on the rear Right Quarter in German.... clearly
indicating the practice in this instance was adopted specifically for
operations in Germany.
The Vehicle in my photo belonged to 889 Signals Unit (originally formed at
RAF Chicksands in Bedfordshire) - their task was to operate within 1/2 mile
of the Russian front line/border and listen to any communications traffic
coming from our Russian friends. All vehicles in their post WW2 guise were
painted RAF Blue with Black front wings. No attempt was made to camoflage
their vehicles or equipment whilst carrying out their listening duties, nor
did they carry arms with which to defend themselves incase of attack (they
had already been written off if an attack commenced). Another task 889 SU
carried out was to provide Positional Fixes for special reconnaisance
flights
within the area. However the most important task the vehicle was used for
was for covert night time operations - this involved a configuration change
from wirless truck into shagging wagon... the Wireless equipment was
removed, a double bed installed... then the vehicle was parked up in a
strategic location behind a local bar and....
I digress...
If anyone does turn up wartime evidence of the use of Caution Right Hand
Drive Stencilling on British Vehicles, I'd be really interested to hear from
them.
Regards
Tim
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Thu Mar 02 2000 - 22:30:27 PST