Hi all I am hoping that someone could help me identify the make and model of a bus for me. On the 7th February 1943 8 members of 51 Sqn / SHQ of RAF Snaith died when the bus they were travelling in collided with a wall in Knottingley, East Yorkshire I have the press reports on the day, and subsequent court case, but no mention of what type of bus they were passengers in. What info I do have is that two RAF 'motor-buses' were going from Pontefract to RAF Snaith following a recreational evening The bus had an emergency door to the rear, and was a 24 seater (not including driver). At the time of the crash it was actually carrying 41 passengers Any help would be fantastic Yours Bill
Bill, the normal RAF crew coach body seems to be generally listed as a 26-seater. According to Vanderveen, similar bodies were fitted to Fordson WOT1, Dodge VK62B and Austin K6. They had double rear doors. There has been a nice blog about the restoration of Dennis Poore's RAF Dodge-based race car transporter (I came across it as Poore was later owner of Norton-Villiers) http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/dodgehistory.htm
Bill a bit about civilian buses not sure it helps you though Faced with a requirement to meet the demands of war production and to replace war-damaged and life-expired vehicles, the Ministry of Supply authorised the construction of 'utility' buses from 1941. The only single-decker available was to be the Bedford OB, the chassis of which, as the OWB, differed only from the pre-war OB in respect of the military-style head and side lights and the lack of chromium trim. A prototype was built in 1941, which had an offside emergency door and upholstered seats for 29 passengers. Production vehicles differed in having a central rear emergency door and timber slatted seats for 32 passengers, the most which could be crammed in with minimum knee room to comply with Construction and Use Regulations. http://www.little-bus.com/bus-kits/bd4.html regards Clive
Bill I thought I remembered another thread you posted about this and here it is http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/26500-8-die-in-bus-crash-knottingley-07-feb-1943/?hl=%2Bsquadron+%2Bsnaith#entry323346 (still doesn't help though) Lesley
Good spot, Lesley. One of the witnesses refers to 'the RAF lorry' which suggests that it didn't look like a coach cab and there is also the reference to a separate cab. I'd be inclined to think that it points in the direction of the Austin K6 Crew Bus or the Fordson WOT1 Crew Coach.
The RAF were also using vehicles impressed from Yorkshire operators. This is a Leyland being used as an airfield crew tender but not likely to be mistaken for a lorry. Similarly this is a Dennis Lancet in use by the RAF but curiously still keeping its' civilian identity.