Gary Richards, Biglorryblog's man for top Volvo and Mack stories down-under has sent me this selection... And in case you're wondering what the hell these are... They're palm nuts (well obviously I knew that). And they need trucks like this to harvest them...
An I imagine a bag load of palm nuts weighs quite a bit too. Anyway, Gary tells me: "Hi Brian, I thought you might like to see some more hard-working Volvos working in New Britain, Papua, New Guinea, harvesting a huge amount of palm nuts - for the production of palm oil."
"The first observation you will see in the vegetation and equipment bears little resemblance to what you see in 'old' Britain... No surprise there!"
The FMs are specially adapted for the application - to handle "jungle bashing" needed to recover the nut harvest i.e. the full frontal mesh guard, double bumpers, raised muffler and fuel tanks, etc."
Today, the island is a tranquil location, helping humanity by growing a renewable energy source...
And the palm nuts are at the top of the very tall tree the guy is leaning against! But the island it hasn't always been the quiet paradise it might appear... And click through here to see what Gary means!"
Gary continues: "As you can see with derelict WWII Allied aircraft that are still scattered in the jungle - complete with a 75mm cannon!! Enjoy!" Well you've found my achilles heel alright mate! Yes it looks like a North American B25 (aka Mitchell) with the 'solid' nose. As well as a big cannon up front some were also converted so that in place of the perspex nose used by the Bombardier they had eight, 50-cal machine guns instead... Talk about real firepower! One US Army Air Force squadron based in the Pacfic in particular became quite famous for their low-level strafing expertise in B25s - I think they were called the 'Air Apaches' (?). Aviation artist Robert Taylor did a nice painting of them if I recall which I've always fancied getting. Anyroadup for a movie pie quiz what film featured B25s flying out of an Island in the Med? Clue... There's a 'catch' in it.
Yep, definitely a B25...or I'm not Biglorryblog.
However, I'm not so sure about this one..it looks more like a Lockheed Hudson (or PV Ventura?) What does the aviation branch of the Biglorryblog anorak army think?
The movie was Catch-22.
I would say that the aircraft is definitely a Hudson or a PV1 Ventura, Brian. The RNZAF and RAAF operated both types during WW2, and there is very little visual difference between the two models, except that the PV Ventura is bigger and heavier. I know that the RAAF used Venturas in New Guinea but I'm not sure whether or not they used the earlier Hudsons there.
The Volvo`s have Shephard Transport Equipment tipping bodies on them,and if you look carefully at the cranes,they have no stabilizing legs fitted,something you wouldn`t get away with in Ausralia.Shephards do a lot of work for New Guinea,and also fit outs,Turntables,gaurds hydraulics etc for all the Brisbane dealers.
Greetings, great website.
Could you please put me in touch with
Gary Richards. I would like to chat a bit with him about the B-25 and Ventura photos ya put up.
gmlewis@mindspring.com
thanks in advance.
Kind Regards,
Gary
Hello,
The B-25 is a rare version known as the B-25H. That is a 75 mm howitzer that is in the nose, breech loaded for one shot at a time firing. They were especially designed for the anti-shipping role in the pacific. When the cannon fired the aircraft slowed down by about 25 knots! Thanks for the photo mate.
Good on ya from Cali