Lancaster with Underslung Armoured Car

The pictures show the M29 Weasel rigged under a Douglas C-54 Skymaster. This was the only aircraft that carried and dropped an underslung Weasel. The C-54 had previous experience with carrying the M22 Locust Tank in this fashion, and even though the Locust was designed to be carried by the C-54, I don’t think it was very practical. The Weasel was easier to rig underneath the aircraft due to the lack of a turret. Broken down into parts, the Weasel still wouldn’t fit inside a C-47, but several were dropped from Fairchild C-82 Packets and many were landed by gliders. The underslung fast-drop snow vehicle was a concept from the 1930’s, and by the time someone actually got around to trying it the vehicles had grown in weight so much that their options were quite limited.

A request was made to Air Chief Marshall Harris for Lancasters, but he believed they were better utilized dropping bombs instead of tracked vehicles.

The Weasel was originally called the T-24, I’m not sure when the name was changed to M29. The M29C was the amphibious version, although the M29 would float enough to ford streams and calm waters.

Looks almost Douglas like such as DC4 DC6?

I agree, something like a C-54/DC-4; doesn’t look like a tail-dragger so that will rule-out many.

With regard to the ‘armoured car’ the M29 Weasel was never armoured.

It’s not a Halifax either, as whatever it is is low wing.

There’s an air-drop jeep at Duxford and I’ve spoken to a gentleman who dropped them at Great Sampford.

Adrian

re;

jeeps were airlifted in Burma under a Halifax. The picture is around somewhere.

Hard to tell what it is but not a Lancaster in those pics.. Looks almost Douglas like such as DC4 DC6?