AMO E63/1930 (29 January 1931)

MT Vehicles

AMWO 290/1920 (25 March 1920)

1. In future distinguishing flags in miniature will be flown by air or other officers commanding when travelling on duty in service motor cars, and, at their discretion, on other occasions when the circumstances are appropriate.

2. The flags are to be flown from a flagstaff mounted on the offside front wing to the rear of the wing lamp.  Waterproof covers will be provided for use with the flags.

3. The following items are hereby introduced for the use of air officers commanding and are available at "B" Maintenance Unit: -

   Store ref	Nomenclature	Detail	Class of Stores
   	Flags, Officers, Miniature	For use on staff cars
   4B/555	Marshal of the Royal Air Force		B
   4B/556	Air Chef Marshal		B
   4B/557	Air Marshal		B
   4B/558	Air Vice Marshal		B
   4B/559	Air Commodore		B
   4B/560	Staffs, flag	For use with Flags, Officers', Miniature, on staff cars.
   4B/561	covers, waterproof	For use with Flags, Officers', Miniature, on staff cars.	B

    

4. Miniature flags for the use of other officers commanding will be introduced at a later date.

5. KR & ACI and AP 1086 will be amended in due course.

Markings of MT Vehicles

To avoid the possbi1ity of aeroplane tanks being tilled with the incorrect grade of fuel at stations where more than one grade of fuel is stored and used, each mobile tanker is to be used exclusively for one grade of fuel.  All mobile tankers are to be painted on each side with a white circle (approximately 18 in. in diameter) inscribed with the short designation of the grade of fuel carried, e.g. "224", "236" or "100 Oct".

Maintenance of Aerodromes - Marking the Position of Tractors and Other Machinery

1. At home stations all Works Directorate tractors and machinery likely to be employed on landing grounds are to be painted bright orange.  At stations abroad they are to be painted a distinctive colour, to be decided by the AOC, in vivid contrast to the prevalent colouring of the landing grounds.

2. In the event of other service or contractor-owned tractors and machinery being employed on landing grounds where the landing of aircraft is permitted, if the machinery is not already painted as in para 1, the prime mover is to have a white cover placed over the bonnet.

3. A double disc signal as shown in the accompanying sketch is to be carried by all prime movers coming within the scope of paras 1 and 2.  The signal is to be supported on a mast fitted to the vehicle.  Where possible, the mast is to be sufficiently high to be seen by pilots from any part of the aerodrome.  Where this is not possible, the signal is to be carried at the maximum height compatible with safety.  All signals are to be painted the appropriate colour as detailed in para. 1.

    

4. Normally, tractors and other machinery are not employed on landing grounds during flying operations but it is not always practicable to avoid their use an such occasions, especially under present conditions. Moreover, it, should be specially noted that in some instances the rise and fall of the ground are so considerable that even when the signal is carried at the maximum height possible, it cannot be seen from all points of the landing ground.  When, therefore, aircraft are taking off or landing, pilots should exercise special care on landing grounds with undulating surfaces.

5. The signals will be provided by the Works Directorate; but it is the responsibility of the station commander to ensure that the provisions of this order are complied with and, if any difficulty is experienced to report the circumstances to the superintending engineer of the area concerned.

6. The above provisions relate to signals to be displayed an vehicles, but Station commanders are reminded also of the necessity for the display of the appropriate ground signal in the signal areas on the aerodrome. (See Appendix I (iv) of AMO A214/38.)
    

(This AMO cancelled AMOs A436/37, A202/38, A296/38 and A360/38)

Identification of RAF Mechanical Transport

1. In order that the military traffic control companies and the civil, RAF. and military police can easily identify RAF vehicles and thus facilitate movement control, it has been decided that all RAF vehicles, Works Directorate vehicles, and contractors' and Petroleum Board vehicles wholly employed on duties with the Royal Air Force, shall, forthwith, be marked with the RAF roundel.

2. The diversity of types of vehicles now in use precludes a standard positioning and fitting of the roundel, but the following general principles are to be applied: -

   1. The roundel to be 9 in. diameter.

   2. The roundel to be displayed in one of the following ways: -

      1. Where vehicles have suitable wings, to be painted on the off-side front wing so as to be visible to traffic control, i.e. NOT on top of the wing.

      2. To be positioned on the off-side of the front of the vehicle and half-way between the top of the bonnet and the ground.

      The roundel, with suitable bracket, will be manufactured under local arrangements. Scrap metal should be utilised whenever possible.

   3. No vocabulary item will be supplied.

   4. All letters "RAF" now placed upon windscreens are to be removed.

Use of Distinguishing rags on RAF Staff Cars

1. 1. It has been decided that the use of distinguishing flags in miniature on service motor cars will be limited to: -

   1. the Chief of the Air Staff, at all times;

   2. service members of the Air Council and Inspectors-General of the Royal Air Force, only when visiting RAF units;

   3. air officers in command of commands and groups, at all times.

2. The flags are to be flown from a flagstaff mounted at the top of the near side front wing, with the exception that, in the case of the Chief of the Air Staff, the flag will be flown in a central position above the radiator.

3. The use of distinguishing flags in miniature by officers other than those referred to in para 1 above is forbidden.

(AMO A284/38 cancelled.)

Marine Craft

AMO A1093/1941 (26 December 1941)

Distinctive Marking of Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft

1. Distinctive painting and additional numbering is required to be carried out on the following types of marine craft when employed solely on air/sea rescue duties: -

   1. 64 ft high speed launches

   2. 63 ft high speed launches

   3. 60 ft ASR pinnaces

   4. 41 ft 6 in seaplane tenders

   5. 40 ft seaplane tenders

   6. 38 ft seaplane tender

   7. 37 ft. 6 in seaplane tenders.

2. The decks, wheelhouses and cabin roofs on the above-mentioned craft ere to be given three coats of yellow paint, Stores Ref. 33A/374, and all craft are to bear identification numbers in accordance with appendix I to this order.
   All deck numbering is to be carried out with three coats of black paint, Stores Ref. 33A/346, the figures being outlined with a one-inch margin painted with three coats of white paint, Stores Ref. 33A/370. Hull numbers are to he painted with three coats of yellow paint, Stores Ref. 33A/374, without white margin, the existing numbers being scraped off and the surface being made good with black paint.

3. When continuity of the figures would otherwise be interrupted by deck fittings, e.g., lifebuoy, vents, etc., such fittings are to he so painted as to preserve continuity.

4. Demands for paint are to be submitted to the appropriate maintenance unit, this order being quoted as the authority.

5. The relevant air publications will be amended in due course.

APPENDIX I

SITING, ETC, OF IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS

Type of craft	site	Height of figure		Width of figure		Width of stroke		Overall width of marking		Remarks
		ft	in	ft	in	ft	in	ft	in
(i) 84 ft. high speed launch.	Engine room hatch.	2	9	1	9		6	5	2	Numbers to run athwartships. (See appendix II, fig. 1.)
	Foredeck	4	9	3	0		10	9	3
(ii) 63 ft. high speed launch.	Foredeck	7	0	4	0		12	11	0	Number to run athwartships.  Base line of figures to lie between the two after ventilators, equally spaced about the centre line.
(iii) 60 ft. air/sea rescue pinnace	After stretcher compartment cabin roof.	3	0	2	3		7	-		Numbers to run athwarthhips.
	Fore raised cabin roof	3	0	1	9		6	-		On either side of forecastle hatch.
	Bows, port and starboard, 1 ft. abaft the roundel	3	9	2	6		9	-
(iv) 41 ft. 6 in.	Cabin roof.	3	1	2	10		8	10	3	Figures to before and aft on centre line. (See  Appendix II, fig. 3.) See Appendix II, fig. 2.
	Bows, port and starboard, 1 ft. abaft the roundel.	2	6	1	9		6	-
(v) 40 ft. and (vi) 38 ft. seaplane tenders	Bows, port and starboard, 1 ft. abaft the roundel.	2	6	1	9		6	-		See Appendix II, fig. 2.
(vii) 37 ft. 6 in. seaplane tender.	Cabin roof.	2	1	1	9		6	7	3	Figures to before and aft on centre line. (See  Appendix II, fig. 3.) See Appendix II, fig. 2.
	Bows, port and starboard, 1 ft. abaft the roundel.	2	6	1	9		6	-

 

APPENDIX II

 

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Equipment

AMO A619/1941 (7 August 1941)