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Re: Did the LW had "Follow me" black and white painted vehicles?
ED,
The jeeps were used for taxying purposes (I guess). I remember landing one night and we were aware via RT that the airfield (SBKP) would close due to fog. Whe landed and by the time we were taxying fog closed in....the Cargo 747 behind us managed to land as well, but it was unable to taxy and had to follow a "Follow me" Mitsubish L-200 in front of it up to the APRON.
I have seen several 8th Air Force jeeps with such checkberboards (white and black) on them...helping P-47 and B-17. I am not quite sure if those vehicles were only used to guide machines from the aprons or hangars up to the take-off (active) runways. I believe so, with the background of my experience; however have not read more details about it, the purpose and "official use" of those vehicles.
I asked about the LW using similar vehicles because I have seen only ONE shot of a Mercedes 170 with some kind of "Anhänger" behind it and white and black bands (similear to those 8th AF vehicles)....hence my question. I remember reading Nick Beale's site (and books) about the Ar 234 of Sonderkommando Sommer being taxied up to the take-off point by vehicles (if memory does not fail me). I wonder if such vehicles were "Follow me" or just what they had at hand by that time (in which colour was available).
Adriano
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