Forty and Century restoration

[1650bullet]

We've researched the world war 2 stuff, No evidence whatsoever this ever happened, much more saying "No Chance"!

When I say "We", the other Charles will come in now he has done 99.9% of the work.

Im sure there is something on SOS that states this did happen. See if i can find it.

[charlesp]

Never mind, Charles. That's a story that'll keep on running because people want it to be true.

I keep being told about how they've got 'em 'in the museum on the beaches'. Of course the French have a museum at every crossroads where more than three men fired rifles, and it's a lifetime's work to visit them all. But there are no SDs at Arromanches, and that's where they would be. Still worth a visit to see the Mulberry harbour sections.

[Charles uk]

Was it 1942 when they started manufacturing them?

[charlesp]

Yes, they started up again in 1942, first with the SN series which was a simplified version of the ON, then the SD series which as far as I can make out was a further simplification (ie cheaper!)

[david doyle]

Re burying surplus stores in sittu in lieu of transporting them. Around here the US army buried 100s of heavy vehicles, construction equipment and W.H.Y upon completition of the Alaskan Highway. I got the impression it was not a practice anyone was keen too brag about. The practice was not missed by the locals as they dug alot of good stuff up, much of it still at work on ranches. If there were crated outboards on the beaches I would find it hard to believe some did not get bulldozed out of the way in favor of clearing room for more pressing supplies once everyone was sure German armour was going to continue committing daylight suicide on the the roads.

[Oyster 49]

The same happened at the end of the Vietnam war. When Saigon was finally evacuated, all the carriers ran out of deck room, so various hueys etc. were off-loaded into the drink!

[PatLNR]

After the Forty boys, the "big" Century with new paint.

[charlesp]

I have to wonder what on earth the first waves of troops onto the beaches would have wanted with crates of Seagulls.

Reinforcements, ammunition, artillery, medical stuff, vehicles, armour, yes of course.

But tiny little Seagulls? What possible use would they have?

Later on, with rivers and canals and flooded terrain to negotiate, then maybe. But that wouyldn't leave them buried on the beaches would it?

Thinking about it I really really wouldn't want to be afloat ander fire with a Seagull as my source of power...

[PatLNR]

About French D Day museums, I never see a Seagull in these museums and never see a Seagull on the pictures of D Day.....

[charlesp]

Pat you are where I should be today. I cancelled my trip because of ongoing grief with my children (grown up) so my wife decided to take her two daughters to Naples instead.

I so needed a few days of proper restaurants, my waistline wouldn't have appreciated it of course. We will be over there in a few weeks, don't know exactly where, but this time we're taking the killer attack dog with us. Probably inland, probably around Fougeres.

[Oyster 49]

There would have been no use for a small outboard on the landing beaches. They were used by bridge building units further inland. All the bridge building unit kit would have come ashore in the days after D-Day as the allies started to establish themselves.

[charlesp]

Exactly, Oyster.

So no need, and no opportunity, to bury them on the beaches!

[Niander101]

Yes Obviously the Seagulls would have come on the trucks with the pontoon building equipment...just common sense and it was all very well organised and planned...had to be...So wonder where this rumor of buried crates comes from then?

[charlesp]

I put it down to the same sort of source that keeps on suggesting that Lancaster Bombers, or Spitfires, or Harley-Davidsons are buried at the end of the runway at *********.

Or even in Burma.

[Donald A]

Has anyone had a go with soda blasting - some very impressive you tube videos, and it does not seem to damage anything. If so, the next question would be how do you make one/get one for DIY use for small money? I seem to remember H-A commenting on this.
Donald A