Hello! I am currently restoring a Bedford QLW Tipper and getting to the stage of thinking about how to mark it up. They didn't come production until late 44 - early 45 and only about 1900 of them were made. I understand that most were issue to the Royal Engineers with the express purpose of being used for Forward Airfield Construction. I have found a unit badge for the Airfield Construction Groups but, to date, I have been able to find very little on their activities and I'm particularly interested in their role in North West Europe. i would be most grateful if someone can point me in the right direction to find out some more and, if at all possible, source some contemporary photos of units at work. Thanks in advance
Search for "tipper" at Kew brings up surnames. Search for "Bedford Lorry" brings up five returns, following may be useful. Reference: AIR 10/2789 Description: Bedford Maintenance Manual and Instruction Book for Lorry 3 Ton 4 x 4 QL Models QLB-QLC-QLD-QLR-QLT Date: 1944 Held by: The National Archives, Kew Former reference in its original department: AP No. 2006 Vol I Part II Legal status: Public Record(s) Closure status: Open Document, Open Description
A couple of sources I used for a project that I did was the book “RAF Airfield Construction Service” by Anthony Betts and there were a two articles in Flight Magazine from 1942 (which are available through their online archive).
Forward airfield construction data | The National Archives Reference: DSIR 23/16539 Description: Forward airfield construction data Date: 1947 Held by: The National Archives, Kew Former reference in its original department: ARC 10702 Legal status: Public Record(s) Precis of a lecture 'Forward airfield construction data' by Brigadier JSW Stone | The National Archives Reference: AIR 69/1929 Description: Precis of a lecture 'Forward airfield construction data' by Brigadier JSW Stone Note: Folder 36b Date: 1947 Nov 01 - 1947 Nov 30 Held by: Royal Air Force Museum, Department of Research and Information Services, not available at The National Archives Former reference in its original department: SC/37/9/Air MIght be of interest to you TD
I am afraid that there may be some misconceptions here. The QLW was a pretty rare vehicle. Just under 2000 were ordered but the final contract for 1000 was cancelled before any deliveries were made. Of the remainder half were air transportable and tropicalised. These were for the Far East. I can find more detailed figures if required. The RE Airfield Construction Group did not construct airfields. The actual operational parts of an airfield were the responsibility of the RAF. RE built access roads. The RE Airfield Construction Group consisted of a headquarters, two road construction companies and two pioneer companies. Again I can supply details of these. However the QLW was a good vehicle. Intended as an engineer section lorry it was a good all rounder. It could carry men, equipment and stores, it had a good winch capable of winching from back or front, it was a tipper and in air transportable form it could be partly dismantled to fit into a C47. Lucky owner. Mike
Mike, Many thanks for your input, I was struggling to understand the relationship between the RAF and the and the Royal Engineers in this respect. There did seem to be a lack of readily available information, hence my original question. You've cleared that up. My vehicle is air portable (it even states it as such on the data plate on the tipper body but, forgive the ignorance, how would I know if it had been tropicalised? - What should I look for as I haven't noticed anything different from any other QL. That said, the engine serial number dates to 1942 whilst the chassis number indicates 1945 - that suggests an engine swop or maybe it was originally fitted with a 1942 engine? I would be very interested in any further information that you have to help me build a picture. I have some anecdotal evidence that the 1st Polish Armoured Division Engineers used them right at the end of the war and afterwards for general engineering tasks in the Wilhelmshaven area - my uncle was in the 11th Engineers Company. I realise that I fell on my feet with this acquisition - I had the choice of this one or a QLT in much the same state but the tipper appealed more. thanks for your help!
You quickly reach the limits of my knowledge but: I doubt if there will be any evidence of tropicalisation. Workshops prepared a total of some 3000 'B' vehicles for service in the tropics. At some time there would have been a sticker indicating this. It was not nearly as complicated as articisation. Tropical service only required lubricants and grease suitable for high temperature and petroleum jelly and Bostick to damp proof instruments and electrical connections. These will not have survived. All QLW tippers delivered in December 1944, January and February 1945 were non air portable. After that all were air portable (except for two apparently). These were earmarked for the Far East and would be unlikely to be released until after VJ Day. (My opinion only). Given the time it took for vehicles to move down the supply chain it would be pushing things to get a vehicle built in March to the front line in NW Europe by late April. Non airportable versions could certainly have been issued before VE Day. HEADQUARTERS AIRFIELD CONSTRUCTION GROUP RE War Establishment IV/120/2. October 1943. An Airfield Construction Group was responsible for building roads to and on airfields. RAF construction units were responsible for constructing the runways. Lieutenant Colonel Major, Field Engineer Captain, Field Engineer Subaltern, Field Engineer Major, Pioneer Corps Adjutant, Captain Medical officer RAMC Quartermaster, Pioneer Corps Regimental Serjeant Major serjeant clerk 2 X corporal 9 X sapper 28 X driver 4 X private , Pioneer Corps officers mess cook ACC 2 X cook ACC Trades 2 X clerk 2 X clerk Pioneer Corps draughtsman (topographical) 10 X driver operator driver mechanic medical officers orderly 4 X motorcycle orderly 2 X storeman vehicle mechanic 2 X batman Pioneer Corp 4 X batman 2 X batman driver 8 X driver duty NCO sanitary dutyman water dutyman 5 X motorcycle 1 X car 4 seat 4 X 4 2 X car 5cwt 4 X 4 2 X 15cwt GS 1 X 15cwt Office 5 X 15cwt Wireless 5 X 3ton 1 X 1 ton trailer 3 X water trailer The headquarters administered two road construction companies as described above. Two pioneer companies were also included. A pioneer company was intended to supply labour. Each company had the following transport 2 X jeep 2 X trailer A ROAD CONSTRUCTION COMPANY RE War Establishment IV/12/4. October 1943. Headquarters Major, Officer Commanding Subaltern Company Serjeant Major company quartermaster serjeant staff serjeant military mechanist (mechanical) serjeant transport serjeant Tradesmen blacksmith clerk draughtsman, architectural driver mechanic engine fitter (internal combustion and pumps) 4 X engine fitter (mechanical equipment) pioneer as general dutyman pioneer as motorcycle orderlies sheet metal worker storeman, technical 2 X vehicle mechanic welder Non tradesmen 2 X batman driver 4 X driver of vehicle 3 X transport NCO water dutyman Attached officers mess cook ACC corporal cook ACC 4 X cook ACC Transport 2 X motorcycle 1 X car 5cwt 4 X 4 1 X car 4 seater 4 X 4 1 X 15cwt GS 1 X 15cwt Office 1 X 15cwt water 1 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS 1 X 6 X 4 machinery RE 24 KW 2 X Section each Captain Subaltern serjeant Tradesmen blacksmith bricklayer 2 X carpenter and joiner 2 X concretor driver mechanic 3 X driver, road roller 5 X engine hand mason painter and decorator plumber and pipefitter 5 X pioneer as general dutyman pioneer as motorcycle orderlies quarryman surveyor (engineering) Non tradesmen batman batman driver 13 X driver of vehicle 3 X transport NCO Transport 1 X motorcycle 1 X car 5cwt 4 X 4 1 X 15cwt GS 1 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS 6 X 3ton 4 X 4 tipping 1 X water trailer Plant section Captain Subaltern serjeant Tradesmen clerk 5 X driver mechanic 3 X engine fitter (internal combustion and pumps) 4 X engine fitter (mechanical equipment) 10 X engine hand 36 X excavator operator Non tradesmen 2 X batman 36 X driver of vehicle 3 X transport NCO Transport 2 X motorcycle 2 X 15cwt GS 10 X 4 X 4 Medium tractor 10 X 18ton Carrimore trailers Note: The plant held by the plant section does not appear on the War Establishment table but is listed on the AF. G1098. This is the list of stores and equipment which a unit may hold. 8 X crawler tractor 4 X 8 cu yd scraper 2 X motor grader 2 X towed grader 3 X 6ton roller 3 X sheepsfoot roller 4 X RB excavator 8 X dumper 2 X ditcher 2 X rooter 2 X mole plough 1 X water cart 2 X road sprayer, bitumen 2 X road sprayer, emulsion 1 X concrete mixer 1 X compressor trailer The total of drivers includes Two drivers per tipping lorry Two drivers per medium tractor Drivers for eight dumpers Mike.
That's fantastic Mike! Many thanks for sharing that, Its given me lots to think about. You don't happen to know where I might find any contemporary photos, do you?
Sorry no photos. The information that I have was collected some 20 years ago when I was Trux Models. The QLW was in the Trux range. I can offer you the WD census numbers for air portable QLWs. 452 examples: L6166993 to L6167444. There was a suggestion (cant remember where) that some QLWs used components from undelivered QLBs. May explain the engine. Mike
One more snippet. Contract price for QLW was £550. 0s. 10d. This would be without wheels and tyres which were supplied by WD. Mike
Mike (Trux) You state this: The RE Airfield Construction Group did not construct airfields. The actual operational parts of an airfield were the responsibility of the RAF. RE built access roads. Are you sure about this? I have copied parts of several Airfd Constr Gp war diaries in the NA, and they all give the impression that they do construct the airfields. See the attached report. I also attach two pages from the 23 Airfd Constr Gp. See 15 June: "Airfield B.5 completed passed fit for flying". Dave
Dave, I have to admit the possibility of error in such a large subject and with an aging brain. However I think Normandy was different. The RAF Airfield Construction Wing was more specialised but not very different to the RE Group. RAF AIRFIELD CONSTRUCTION WING. An RAF Airfield Construction Wing was responsible for the construction of airfield runways etc. Royal Engineer Airfield Construction units were responsible for roads etc. The Airfield Construction Wing consisted of Two Airfield Construction Squadron each of Six Construction Flight One Plant Flight Total vehicles per squadron 16 X motorcycle 2 X 15cwt van 30 X 3ton tender 39 X tipper lorry 1 X 3ton machinery tender 1 X welding trailer 4 X water tender 2 X petrol tender 1 X generator 10 X 6ton tractor 10 X 18ton trailer 1 X road sweeper Total mechanical equipment per squadron 10 X crawler tractor 1 X 9yd scraper 2 X 6yd scraper 2 X 3.5yd scraper 2 X motor grader 3 X 10 ton roller 1 X 6ton roller 1 X 2.5yd roller 1 X wheeled roller 1 X sheepsfoot roller 2 X excavator 1 X lorry mounted excavator 6 X dumper 1 X D4 tractor 1 X trenching plough 1 X rooter 1 X road sprayer, bitumen 2 X concrete mixer 1 X power mixer 1 X compressor trailer 6 X pumps plus assorted equipment for grass areas including ploughs rollers drainers harrows grass cutters A Quarrying Flight might be added to supply the large amounts of hard core, sand and gravel required. 3 X crawler tractor 2 X excavator 8 X tipper 3 X 3ton tender 1 X generator 1 X water tender 4 X 25 ton tractor/traile 1 x jeep 2 X air hoists 4 X air compressor 1 X rooter 4 X drill 3 X crushing plant 4 X conveyor plus a light railway with one mile of track 1 X 240hp light locomotive 32 X tipper wagon A well boring section might be attached to supply water required in construction work 1 X jeep 2 X 3ton tender 2 X 10 ton tractor/trailer 1 X welding tender 1 X 15cwt van 1 X water tender 2 X boring rigs 4 X pump 8,700 foot of pipe Mike
Good morning Gents, I have followed this thread with interest as all things " ground based" re the RAF in WW2 and all things RE are of great interest to me. Over 16,000 men were involved in building, repairing and maintaining airfields on the NW continent after D Day; Some were simply refuelling & rearming strips whilst others were 3 sqn airfields built from scratch on farmland, to the repair of existing airfields of liberated nation or German origin. Two thirds of the manpower involved is recorded as being from the RAF ACB. There is an RAF historical journal that tells the story of one of 5 RAF ACB wings that went ashore post D Day. The journal also contians other interesting overview articles. https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/research/RAF-Historical-Society-Journals/Journal-51.pdf My conclusion is that both the RE and RAF units built complete ALGs and both assisted each other on some. Also on 2 occasions RAF moved into blocked routes to open them for the allied advance. and units of the RAF ACB moved embodied into the Guards Arm Div to secure Eindoven airfield for use by casualty evacuation aircraft and close support ground attack aircraft. turning to the Bedford QLW tipper; I have several shots of them in service in Korea, but no operation shots taken during WW2, all the shots I have of either RASC or RE tippers in operational use show Dennis or Canadian Dodge 4x2 examples. As an aside post hostilities a number of QLW tippers were transferred to the National Fire Service and fitted with Harvey Frost cranes for service as Rcy vehicles, an ideal choice of chassis being winch equipped. Many wre later fitted with enhanced bodies and served for many years and served with Local authority fire brigades post denationalization in 1948 and later with the various regional or county councils that oversaw the individual brigades. They were registered in the Home Office LCC block GYR. TED. ps if the link doesn't work simply search RAF historical society journal number 51
Thanks Ted, I know that there was a great deal of flexibility and adaptability in NW Europe. The link works fine. Mike
Ted Thanks for the clarification/confirmation and for the link, which was interesting reading. Set up before D-Day as a private venture??!!! I found the attached on internet, which gives a little more info on RAF Airfield Construction Wings. Dave
An apology and a lesson learnt. Before the days of PC and Google one borrowed books from the public library. I have the following notes from such a book, title long forgotten. In the planning for the campaign in NW Europe: The RAF agreed to supply personnel and equipment for airfield construction. RE would remain responsible for constructing and maintaining roads to airfields. The RAF assumed responsibility for local AA and infantry defense of airfields. Royal Signals were to be responsible for providing line communications for the Tactical Air Force. All true but considerable over simplifications. Sorry. Mike
Folks, Many thanks for all of the information that you have jointly submitted. I have found it really interesting and I feel that I know a lot more than I did previously. Thanks again for your insights and thoughts
My father a D Day Veteran was in 681 Road Coy, 25 Airfield Construction, seconded to the Canadians. They built the B4 airfield at Beny sur Mer and dad was actively involved in the building of the runway made of corrugated iron and had to make a quick exit when a damaged Canadian Spitfire, shot at by the Germans, had to make an emergency landing. They were told to run for cover and unfortunately his best friend was killed by the plane landing and is buried at Bayeux. So the RE Airfield Construction teams did construct airfields in my dads case anyway.