Fire Engines Photos

Cheers Paul, thanks for helping me out with afew WW2 vehicles.The site seems to be missing out on this very important part in British fire service history and thats why I decided to send in afew pictures.This photo of yours shows a 1942 Fordson WOT 1 Foam Tender.This'War Office Type 1'foam tender was supplied new to the R.A.F.in 1942.Hundreds were built during the Second World War by the Ford Motor Company, with three variations of the design.They were designed for a crew of two and featured a Ford V8 side-valve 30-bhp engine, and crash gearbox.In 1946, the Ministry of Civil Aviation purchased this appliance and placed it at Lydd Airfield in Kent.In 1977 it was given to the R.A.F.Fire Service School at Catterick, whose staff completely renovated it.It was on display at Manston Airfield in Kent, but I don't know whether its still there, or whether its now gone into private ownership, but its beleaved that there are only three of these appliances in existence today.

Added by Pete Matten on 13 April 2008.

Thanks Pete, as you can see it was like brand new when photographed.i would be interested to know where it is now.

Added by Paul Warnock on 14 April 2008.

Hi Paul, In answer to your question whether this fine vehicle is still around the answer is yes. It is kept im prisene condition at the MOD fire training school at Manston in Kent. Not sure if it is still running as it was when I last saw it in 1982 as a member of the support staff at Catterick. If you go the MOD fire service web site there is a link to the museum & all the other old trucks they have. There are a few other trucks there which also came from Catterick. Enjoy Stephen.

Added by Stephen Taylor on 09 August 2008.

This WOT1 is still at The Spitfire Museum Manston - unfortunately the building was built around in so there it stays - I know that Brummy Yates at RAF Catterick was the main drive in the restoration and he actually drove it from Catterick to Leeming "Off Road" cos MOD wouldn`t insure it -it was accompanied by a TACR2 Mk10 and DP2 THE WOT1 and DP had to pull out the other two a few times. Also before it was donated back to the RAF it was in service at Blackbushe AIrport - their first fire tender I think

Added by Joe B on 20 February 2009.

Yes Brummy was involved however the main driving force was Graham Bones and later Dave Brown both instructors.
It was still looking good in the Spitfire Museum in 2008 and is kept tidy by the instructors and students at the Manston Fire School

Added by John Goupillot on 05 September 2009.

This type of vehicle was in use at raf millom cumbria in1953,4.I think I know who drove it away on the unit closing. I also drove it but never used it as a fire tender.

Added by Alec Telford on 27 January 2010.

In 1984-85 ,for my sins ,I was NCO i/c the WOTI, which meant I was responsible for the maintenance of it. Which really means I got some basic trainee firemen to clean and polish it. About 1986 it was taken to RAF Sealand and the civilian apprentices Stripped it down to the bare chassis and completely rebuilt it.In 1989 it went to Manstone. I believe that one of the conditions when it was donated to the Fire School at Catterick was that it must be always available to be viewed by the public, hence the reason why it is in the Spitfire museum. It Can come in and out of that musuem but with difficulty, incidently ,( Graham Bones may be able to confirm this ) it was donated to the RAF Fire Service and not the MOD or any one else.
Brummie Yates

Added by John (Brummie ) Yates on 01 April 2010.

There was a WOT1 in service at RAF Manby in 1954 among other tenders.
At RAF Westonzoyland in 1952 we had 1945 Moniter foam tender It was in 1954/55 at Strubby that we were supplied with a Mk 5 Happy days

Added by Brian Goode on 28 August 2011.

We had a W.O.T 1 at RAF Millom in Cumberland in 1954 along with a Coventry climax trailer pump. The WOT 1 was a pig to start, but it did go once the 6volt system was assisted by a 12volt.

Added by Alec Telford on 29 August 2011.

Visited the Spitfire Museum last weekend 8th July 1012. This vehicle is still on show there and looks brilliant.

Added by Ian Lisseman on 10 July 2012.

We had a Woti at Waddington in the late 1950s and which attended a Vulcan landing mishap! That was an interesting event. The event was attended by a short wheelbase Landrover (Crash One) and a Gas Truck. Our Mk 6 was not available at the time of the incident owing to the only qualified driver being off duty. Happy days.

Added by Jeff O'Dell on 01 January 2014.

I drove this tender from driffield to carnaby in 1949. it was a canvas roof hell of a jod to get around the traffic lights in Dri9ffield. it was part of the crash crew at carnaby on cicuites and bumps. the other was a rescuejeep austin ambulance and a austin foam tender. I was posted to Raf Deversoir and guess what crsh crew with a proper cab roof

Added by Gerald Lilley on 18 April 2014.

I think the WOT 1 we had at Waddington had a hard top and a foam monitor at the rear and on one occasion whilst replenishing it with water during an incident on the airfield(we had to go back to the Fire Section to repenish. No DPs in those days) the gear lever came out from the floor mounting and cause some consternation to the driver! However he quickly stuck it back in the hole and carried on !!!

Added by [email protected] on 18 April 2014.

As a serving Snco (Flight Sergeant) at the RAF Fire School Catterick between 1984-88 I became custodian of this Wot1 and was responsible for its total restoration ! I along with the late CFO Defence Fire Services Graham Leighton Graham and I spent many a long evening stripping the engine, replacing piston, rings, bearings and completed the re-build by replacing all the engine gaskets and seals ! Once the mechanics were mastered arrangements were made with 2 MT (Motor Transport) RAF Stafford to transport Wot1 to RAF Sealand for its paint job ! The photo above was taken at Teeside Fire Engine Rally and was taken to the venue by Gordon (Smudge) Smith ! Also Wot1 was also displayed at Masham Steam Rally where she took first prize in the vintage emergency vehicle section ! I have a couple of pics of that visit if anyone would like a copy ! Please email ! Wot1 was as far as I am aware donated to the RAF Fire Service and as far as I can remember a covenant was issued to state that intention !

Added by Kev Mason on 18 April 2014.

This looks like a old watti ford the one I drove in 1949-0 at Raf Driffield but the water tank was just behind the cab , result it was vert hard to steer on sharpccorner .In deversoir ME the one I drove was dard top cab, any help with same G Lilley

Added by Gerald Lilley on 07 December 2015.

The WOT 1 is on display at the Yorkshire Air Museum.

Dated 5th July 2025

Added by David Turgoose on 06 July 2025.

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