PIONEER AND EXPLORER TWO OF THE BEST OF BRITISH RECOVERY TRACTORS PART TWO

Since moving to the new site at RAF Lyneham from Bordon, 48 RB 50 is currently in the REME reserve collection backstage, while 39 YZ 41 (named ‘Swampy’) is the current star of the show; the road registration of ‘Swampy’ is believed to be USU 210. Incredibly, this Pioneer SV2/S survived in service in Belize, still employed by the British Army until 1980. It was brought back in 1984 and fortunately, the Army administration decided to allow its restoration by 43rd District Workshops at Aldershot, which culminated in the Pioneer joining the museum collection in 1987. REME are also thought to have tank transporter tractor, 71 YY 92, in their inventory, although records suggest that at some point in its life, this ex-tank transporter tractor allegedly, was owned by Terry Hounsell and was bought out of the Army sales in an exceptionally good state, being rallied for a while in its un-restored, but very smart condition, carrying the name ‘Thrust’. However, the sand-coloured example at Bordon was marked-up with its wartime number H 4611623 and had REME exhibition boards describing it as having been