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History First Belly Tanker?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Ray C's son, Oct 22, 2010.

  1. Ray C's son
    Joined: Dec 27, 2009
    Posts: 410

    Ray C's son
    Member

    I was going thru some pictures today that my Dad had sent home to either my Granddad or my aunt from Europe during the war. This one was amongst them, and it was the first time I'd ever seen it. My aunt had it and it ended up with my Mom when she died. I've seen this before, he has another picture of it without his buddies in it and from a different angle. I'm still looking for that one. I've thought about this thing my whole life, it really made an impression on me but I always treated his pictures with some kind of weird reverence and have looked at them only twice in my life. They were never locked up but I must have known, even as a little kid, they were going to be special to me later on.

    Anyway, my Dad was a wheeled vehicle mechanic, T-4, and his outfit's (and a whole bunch of other outfits) primary job was to keep the vehicles running in the Red Ball Express. The Red Ball Express was Patton's 3rd Army's supply line during their run across Europe. He drove a tow truck and would fix the break downs on the road or haul them in if they couldn't fix it. No combat but saw lots of aftermath. He has quite a few pics of fields in France were they drug the shot up vehicles to get them out of the roads.

    This pic was taken in England, before D-Day. I don't know what it's powered by but judging from the gas tank on top I'd bet it's Indian Chief or Scout powered. It probably steered with the rear wheel. I can't ask because Dad's gone. I did ask him if he ever got to drive it and he said he didn't because they shipped out shortly after they finished it.

    I actually have no idea if it's the first belly tank but I've always wondered about the two guys that dreamed it up and built it, did one or both go on to the lakes and the salt? Anyway, I think this belongs here and it's for sure just cool as hell.
     

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    Last edited: Oct 24, 2010
    Hendee likes this.
  2. tjsr19
    Joined: Jul 9, 2008
    Posts: 130

    tjsr19
    Member
    from Lincoln NE

    really cool. it looks like your dad flipped a motorcycle front end for the rear wheel.
     
  3. Ray C's son
    Joined: Dec 27, 2009
    Posts: 410

    Ray C's son
    Member

    He didn't build it, his buddies that are sitting in it did.

    I think the rear wheel is a tail wheel off a fighter plane.

    Kevin
     
  4. 117harv
    Joined: Nov 12, 2009
    Posts: 6,589

    117harv
    Member

    Thats bitchen, it needs to be a poster.
     

  5. loudpedal
    Joined: Mar 23, 2004
    Posts: 2,201

    loudpedal
    Member
    from SLC Utah

  6. toddc
    Joined: Nov 25, 2007
    Posts: 976

    toddc
    Member

    That's cool as hell!


    I agree with LOUDPEDAL, belly TANK. Not tanker.
     
  7. The fellow in the back kind of looks like Jimmy Stewart. Someone should be able to identify that gas tank as Indian or not, and the airplane tank. I'd say it looks like it's front wheel drive and steered by the tailwheel.

    If you wanted to, you might be able to identify the guys, too.

    Thanks for sharing this.

    Kurt
     
  8. The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) "Sport Aviation" and Smithsonian's "Air & Space" magazines would undoubtedly be interested in the picture and would be a good start to finding more information.
     
  9. ... and land speed racing, of course.
     
  10. The Hop Walla
    Joined: Aug 19, 2007
    Posts: 427

    The Hop Walla
    Member
    from Dallas

    Check out what appears to be an exhaust just behind the cockpit. I'd love to see inside the bay.

    dka
     
  11. ... and what looks to be a headlight bucket as an intake scoop.
     
  12. Mindover
    Joined: Jan 18, 2009
    Posts: 1,644

    Mindover
    Member
    from England

    I wonder if its still here! Nice photo and an interesting story, thanks for sharing both.
     
  13. Ray C's son
    Joined: Dec 27, 2009
    Posts: 410

    Ray C's son
    Member

    Thanks, guys.

    I know another picture exists from a different angle but I haven't found it yet. When I do I'll post it.

    It would be great if it was still around, maybe a barn find for you, Mindover. I don't know where they were stationed in England.

    I'm kind of hoping there's Hambr's that have seen pictures taken by other GI's. I just don't have the kind of time it's going to take research it.
     
    Last edited: Oct 24, 2010
  14. Screamin J Pito
    Joined: Oct 16, 2010
    Posts: 92

    Screamin J Pito
    Member

    Very cool! Hopefully somebody can find more info and pictures.
     
  15. RichFox
    Joined: Dec 3, 2006
    Posts: 10,020

    RichFox
    Member Emeritus

    All the guys who said "Belly Tanker" was lame were just trying to do you a favor. Try using that to someone running a belly tank on the salt. A KC135 is a Tanker. A lakester is a Tank.
     
  16. Ray C's son
    Joined: Dec 27, 2009
    Posts: 410

    Ray C's son
    Member

    Ok, fair enough, tank it is. I wasn't trying to be cocky, more like funny.

    Obviously, I don't know much about it. Not too many events out this way.

    Thanks, Kevin.
     
    Last edited: Oct 24, 2010
  17. He shares a very cool old picture, it gets few comments, and a couple of corrections-- that's what's lame.
     
  18. Larry T
    Joined: Nov 24, 2004
    Posts: 7,875

    Larry T
    Member

    The two inline caps on the gas tank sure makes it look like an Indian. The tailwheel looks like a Harley springer that's been shortened and turned around backwards. I hope it wasn't an XA, but they were probably as easy to "aquire" as any other front end considering the time and place. Motorcycle windshield too.
    Cool deal.
    Larry T
     
  19. Rockabillybob
    Joined: Oct 16, 2009
    Posts: 18

    Rockabillybob
    Member

    Indian tank for sure !, Where's C'falls Ohio,,,,Cedar falls ?
     
  20. Ray C's son
    Joined: Dec 27, 2009
    Posts: 410

    Ray C's son
    Member

     
  21. RichFox
    Joined: Dec 3, 2006
    Posts: 10,020

    RichFox
    Member Emeritus

    Two different issues here. What is your point?
     
  22. <object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZRMtf_aZNiU?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZRMtf_aZNiU?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>
     
  23. Watch this one at about 3:13 and see another use for "belly tanks"

    <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pqgP26cyorQ?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pqgP26cyorQ?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>
     

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