B
Braille- dave
Guest
1:72 RAF Mobile Signals Unit
The inspiration for this diorama came from a couple of sources.
Firstly, the RAF's story in WW2 has, understandably, largely been focused on the aeroplanes, aircrew and ground crew of the RAF's flying commands- but a substantial number of RAF personnel, never got anywhere near an aeroplane, but still drew combat pay, which of course intrigued me. Which then led to research into Servicing Commandos, Beach Squadrons, Mobile Signals Units, Supplies Columns and Mobile Radar Units.
Secondly, on t'internet I read a memoir of a RAF chap who had landed with his unit on Omaha Beach on the afternoon of 6 June, and that unit's experiences on the beach- that led to decorations for the unit's Medical Officer, Medical Orderlies and Padre (who shouldn't have landed with this unit), for their work helping the wounded, decorations for a sergeant who led an assault party of US Rangers, in their efforts to establish a route off the beach and recognition for other airmen, helping to get the beach clear for re-Inforcements. Nine airmen lost their lives that day, including one of the medical orderlies. They have a memorial in the corner of the Omaha Beach car park.
View attachment 123511
There are actually three units in this diorama- a type 'G' MSU (Mobile Signals Unit), a type 'Y' MSU and 309 MSSU (Mobile Signals Servicing Unit).
View attachment 123512
This is the type 'G' unit. Two Bedford MWRs with Type E mk2 house bodies, one fitted out as a receiver (RVT315) with two low-power H/F (high-frequency) receivers and the other with two transmitters (RVT314). The Fordson WOT3 in between was a generator vehicle (RVT346a) equipped with two 1260w Generators. [i've just noticed that I've managed to miss out the cables connecting all three vehicles]
It was one of these units that was the first allied unit to enter Paris- the MSU had raced forward and had set up on a racecouse in a Parisian suburb. The first astonished american unit was greeted by an RAF erk with the words 'Its alright- we've checked it out, you'll be safe enough'
View attachment 123513
This is the type Y unit. A Bedford MWR with a type E mk1 body and fitted out as a low-power dual M/F (Medium Frequency) and H/F Tx/ Rx (transmitter/receiver) vehicle- these had their own power supply because they were intended to operate independently in their role of listening into enemy transmissions.
View attachment 123514
And the 309 MSSU vehicle- these were type E mk2 bodies fitted out as Workshops (RVT316). These units were sent all over- the RAF not having enough time to train the radio operators as maintainers too, they trained a few signallers as maintainers and held them in highly mobile units, able to go where needed.
View attachment 123515
The figures were all Dan Taylor Modelworks engineers and ablutions sets, with slightly changed painting
View attachment 123516
The scenery was gaugemaster matting with woodland scenics trees and Javis foliage clumps and Model Scenery Supplies shrubs.
As a final thing the title was actually a quote from an operations book of 21 Base Defence Sector (the parent unit for some of these units), translated it actually means:
'High Frequency Channel 1 Receiver is unservicable- 309 MSSU has been dispatched'
The inspiration for this diorama came from a couple of sources.
Firstly, the RAF's story in WW2 has, understandably, largely been focused on the aeroplanes, aircrew and ground crew of the RAF's flying commands- but a substantial number of RAF personnel, never got anywhere near an aeroplane, but still drew combat pay, which of course intrigued me. Which then led to research into Servicing Commandos, Beach Squadrons, Mobile Signals Units, Supplies Columns and Mobile Radar Units.
Secondly, on t'internet I read a memoir of a RAF chap who had landed with his unit on Omaha Beach on the afternoon of 6 June, and that unit's experiences on the beach- that led to decorations for the unit's Medical Officer, Medical Orderlies and Padre (who shouldn't have landed with this unit), for their work helping the wounded, decorations for a sergeant who led an assault party of US Rangers, in their efforts to establish a route off the beach and recognition for other airmen, helping to get the beach clear for re-Inforcements. Nine airmen lost their lives that day, including one of the medical orderlies. They have a memorial in the corner of the Omaha Beach car park.
View attachment 123511
There are actually three units in this diorama- a type 'G' MSU (Mobile Signals Unit), a type 'Y' MSU and 309 MSSU (Mobile Signals Servicing Unit).
View attachment 123512
This is the type 'G' unit. Two Bedford MWRs with Type E mk2 house bodies, one fitted out as a receiver (RVT315) with two low-power H/F (high-frequency) receivers and the other with two transmitters (RVT314). The Fordson WOT3 in between was a generator vehicle (RVT346a) equipped with two 1260w Generators. [i've just noticed that I've managed to miss out the cables connecting all three vehicles]
It was one of these units that was the first allied unit to enter Paris- the MSU had raced forward and had set up on a racecouse in a Parisian suburb. The first astonished american unit was greeted by an RAF erk with the words 'Its alright- we've checked it out, you'll be safe enough'
View attachment 123513
This is the type Y unit. A Bedford MWR with a type E mk1 body and fitted out as a low-power dual M/F (Medium Frequency) and H/F Tx/ Rx (transmitter/receiver) vehicle- these had their own power supply because they were intended to operate independently in their role of listening into enemy transmissions.
View attachment 123514
And the 309 MSSU vehicle- these were type E mk2 bodies fitted out as Workshops (RVT316). These units were sent all over- the RAF not having enough time to train the radio operators as maintainers too, they trained a few signallers as maintainers and held them in highly mobile units, able to go where needed.
View attachment 123515
The figures were all Dan Taylor Modelworks engineers and ablutions sets, with slightly changed painting
View attachment 123516
The scenery was gaugemaster matting with woodland scenics trees and Javis foliage clumps and Model Scenery Supplies shrubs.
As a final thing the title was actually a quote from an operations book of 21 Base Defence Sector (the parent unit for some of these units), translated it actually means:
'High Frequency Channel 1 Receiver is unservicable- 309 MSSU has been dispatched'
