Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

The "SURGICAL UNIT", pictured in the advertisement below left me under the impression to be created under artistic license (freedom). But then the following photograph caught my eyes. Click to enlarge a bit.


source: unknown

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Thanks for posting Guscha.

Randy, with the greatest of pleasure.

By fortunate coincidence I came accross the caption. -> Wikipedia:

"Flying Bomb- V1 Bomb Damage in London, England, UK, 1944
Women of the American Ambulance Great Britain wash an ambulance car of the surgical unit to pass the time between call-outs at their depot, somewhere in London."

Vehicles
All the AAGB's vehicles were painted grey with a red strip and an emblem featuring the British and American flags. Depending on the purpose several types of vehicle were operated by the AAGB.
Ambulances attended bombing incidents and transferred casualties to local hospitals and first aid posts. The vehicles were also used to transfer patients (often over great distance) requiring specialist treatment...

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British Path?, a former producer of newsreels and documentaries stores some videosequences.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GIDZh88QJcE" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

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Thank you for the pictures Guscha! I found the 1st picture interesting in that the right headlight was removed and only showing a wire. Then looking at the others photos, the siren was placed in that bucket while the left was the focused beam of most war vehicles.

I guess Hollywood did not do this in later movies, they mounted the siren on or near the front bumper.

Also interesting is the black object mounted on the bumper bracket in picture #1, was this a fog lamp or other light? The other photos are no large enough to show this.

Thanks again.

Great historical photos!

I guess the Packard ad department just imagined that the ambulance and drivers and rescue crews were all men, instead of all women. As an ad guy I know it's much easier to imagine than to research the facts.

Just imagine if you were an actual ambulance attendant and you saw this ad. No wonder women are ticked off. edit After watching news video, I would say No wonder the 'gulls' are ticked off.

Quote:
Barry (Deskdriver), my first idea was an infrared lamp, which came in fashion in WWII.



image source: imdb.com

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But on closer examiniation a second idea suggested itself. A like Ambulance - please see pic below.

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Joe (JoeSantana), good eye!

Sometimes it needs just a characteristic detail that bridges the gap between today and bygone days. A detail like a small red strip...
A couple of weeks ago I visited the -> Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. There I found a -> Fordson van, painted grey with a red belly band. When seeing this the penny dropped.


source: wikipedia

After the war one the many -> AAGB cars, an -> E83W crossed the ocean and made it to Canada.

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