Hi there…
I’d like to know if there were USAAF aircraft stationed in Britain. If so then can someone please tell me what refuelling trucks did they use… Did they use the british trucks or did they ship over American ones… I’m currently working on a very simple diorama consisting of aircraft undergoing refuelling… I bought a RAF refuelling kit real cheap at 1/2 price… but I have no idea how to use it as i dont have RAF aircraft and my allowance is well over a month away!! I do have two P-47s and a B25 mitchell in USAAF colours… The trucks are of Bedford and Matador make. Please help …
Thanking you in advance,
Nandakumar
The USAAF had bases all over Great Britain with the 8th and 9th Air Forces. We borrowed heavily from the RAF, so using that Airfix RAF Refueling set of yours would be OK. Yo can paint it in the requisite RAF colors, or you can paint them in Olive Drab. Have fun with it. - Ed
Keyworth,
Thank you very much… your prompt reply has helped me greatly…
How’d you know it was Airfix???
Thanking you once again,
Cheers,
Nandakumar
I’ve built two of that particular kit for dioramas!
Glad I was able to help. Try this site for further assistance. Good luck with the diorama. Let us see it when you’re done.
http://www.armyairforces.com/
As far as I know, the USAAF had no B-25 units operating out of England, so your USAAF-marked B-25 model is probably not apropriate for an English airfield. Some units may have used them as “hacks” however, and the RAF did operate B-25’s out of England.
Jim (looking in mirror)
You can use your B-25 in a Med-based diorama, though, since the RAF and the USAAF both were based there, and the B-25 was the medium used by the US, along with the A-20.
I also have two Jugs of hasegawa make under the same box with decals for four aircraft… so i guess aircraft aint the problem…
Many thanks for the website and the additional info…
Thanking you guys once again…
Cheers,
Nandakumar
Hi JGUIGNARD
According to a reference (The Mighty Eighth in Colour by Roger Freeman):
“The 8th Airforces only long term B25 arrived in the UK in March 1943 when it was still planned to send combat groups of this type to the European theatre. The aircraft was subsequently used for communications work and was written off in France on 26th October 1944 after being hit by anti-aircraft artillery fire while on a courier mission”.
About a year ago I visited North Weald air field (ex WWII Fighter Command, now private) where there is the shell of a Mitchell bomber hiding in long grass and looking very sorry for itself. I have a photograph if you are interested.
Cheers
Bill Brignal
When you guys got “over here” you did use RAF trucks but only until your stuff arrived.
If your library has Roger Freeman’s “The Mighty Eigth War Manual” this will show you exactly what was used, infact any of his books are excellent reference.
Happy modelling
Angelo
Oh okay… but as long as they used it I guess i can go ahead… Thanks Angelo…
Cheers,
Nandakumar