Just found this picture last night - the caption reads "Poclain crane mounted on RAF FWD [Crosley Q] demonstrating ditch digging in France" . I note that the Crosley has twin rear wheels but assume that it is a 1944/45 picture. I presume that this vehicle, of which I have never seen a photograph before, is the "Lorry mounted excavator" included in each of the two Airfield Construction Squadrons of 2TAF (as shown in the Trux section of this forum) Incidentally the webpage, here, suggests that Crosleys called their 3T 4x4 the FWD not the Q. Does anyone have anymore information on this unusual vehicle or the poclain "crane" ?
Noel, seen this picture before, POCLAIN is a French company credited with inventing the HYD crane /exavator Looked at my 1944 list of RAF plant nothing of their's on that... My guess this is nothing to do with the RAF other than the Crossley could well be ex RAF - my guess early 1950s France totally civilian regards TED
Ted Thanks for putting me right - it seems that the first hydraulic excavators/cranes were manufactured in the early 1950s. So do you, or anyone else,know what it was that the Airfield Construction Squadrons were equiped with as "Lorry Mounted Excavator"? Thanks Noel
