Fire Engines Photos

A Fordson 1945 monitor appliance.
The reg number shown is the original number,later changed to 01AG94,in 1951 went to Farnborough Airfield and re-registered LYN 48,transferred to Weston Super Mare in 1957,in 1976 moved to a scrapyard,in 1988 bought for preservation.
The door markings were originally done as West Malling.
This is the only one of it's type in the world.

There is another picture on this site, picture 8369

Added by Bob on 12 July 2009.

Bob, Thanks for the information. Didn't realise its scarcity. Looks lot different from picture 8639!
Took another photo of rear which I will upload soon. Graham

Added by Graham on 12 July 2009.

I think it's a Fordon WOT1 - the RAF Fire Service had one preserved (in red) at RAF Catterick back in 1980. I don't know what happened to it.

Added by Roger greenaway on 04 August 2009.

In 1956 this type of vehicle was in use at RAF Butterworth in Malaya two engines one to run the vehicle one to run the pump ( if you could get it to start) it ran faster in third gear 40mph than in top 34 mph twin 60lb co2 bottles on each side both engines were V type hope this helps I was a fireman from 1955 to 58 and it was our reserve vehicle when we got our mk5

Added by John Walker on 02 March 2010.

Would I be correct in saying that this is the type of vehicle in the Airfix Crash Rescue kit?
Andrew.


Added by Andrew Wright on 02 March 2010.

The bodywork is the same as the Airfix kit,but this is a Fordson and the kit is an Austin K6.
The Austin version was only used by civil airfields.
The Fordson was used by the RAF and civil airfields.

Added by Bristol Bob on 03 March 2010.

This is a 1945 monitor (45monitor it was called.)

Added by Bobe on 03 March 2010.

Does anybody know where the vehicle lives or who the owner is?. Many thanks

Added by Gordon Smith on 08 September 2010.

I believe the vehicle lives at Debach airfield.

Added by Bristol Bob on 08 September 2010.

For Bristol Bob, thanks for the info, where is Debach Airfield?

Added by Gordon Smith on 09 September 2010.

Hi Gordon, it is near Woodbridge in Suffolk, never been there myself though.

Added by Bristol Bob on 09 September 2010.

Thanks for the info Bristol bob

Added by Gordon Smith on 09 September 2010.

As Bob says the 1945 monitor is the only one left; it was on the run at Weston with an Austin K2 ambulance in 1964 -66 when I was stationed at RAF Locking a mile up the road. RAF Locking operated Varsity aircraft from Weston, we also had RAF cover at Weston a ACRT a DP 1 and a MK 5.
Re the red WOT1 that used to be at Catterick it is now in the BoB museum adjacent to RAF Manston, the second WOT1 (restored by Tony Corbin) is in the hands of Steve Shirley who ownes most of the vehicles in the Manston fire Museum and there is a 3rd one with the Lancaster Just Jane at the East Kirkby museum in Lincs.

Added by Ted Angus on 09 September 2010.

the 45 monitor hels 100 gallons of compound and 4-500 gal of water. All controls were on a dias at the rear were the monitor gun was to open the water tank and the compound tank. The pump was made I think by sun engineering same as the pump in the Mk 5 you had to open the monitor valve or a sode line valne prior to engaging the pump or you would break the paxalin blades within the the pump. Hope this is useful

Added by John Walker on 09 September 2010.

John, Airfoam were the makers of the 45 monitor, I have a period advert but I don't know how to put it on here ??

Added by Ted Angus on 10 September 2010.

Drove 45 monitors at Sutton on Hull Fire School 1956.
1956/7 RAF Weston Zoyland 1957/8 RAF Wyton
That was if they would start up 2 Ford V8 side valve
30mph top speed and a swivel passenger seat.


Added by Norman Fowles on 02 July 2012.

Drove a 45 monitor to a crash at castle Bromwich in 1953 the v8 engine was certainly underpowered was faster in third gear than in forth

Added by Ken Grosvenor on 09 May 2014.

The 45 was in use at Moreton in Marsh Where I had my first posting in 52 (last of the conscripts) it was sister-ship to another Fordson W.O, T, 1. open cab with water tank lengthwise as opposed to 45.

Added by Clive Lancaster.=ex RAF Fireman 1952=1975 on 18 December 2014.

ps anyone intrested? prior to leaving RAF Saxa Vord on posting I did see a oringinal RAF mk 5 in a farmers field if aynone is intrested.

Added by John Walker on 18 December 2014.

My dad Brian Rochester was at RAF BOVINGDON From 1954-1959 this is a picture of him on the back of the WOT 1.
he used to tell me stories about how the used to burn Lancasters and Spitfires for fire practice.

Added by Ian Rochester on 03 January 2022.

This is now in the care of the RAF Museum of Firefighting.

Added by Bristol Bob on 05 January 2022.

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