Armed Forces Day in Blackpool

Bolton 66 passing some of the military vehicles that were on display on the Tower Headland

Saturday 25th June 2016 saw the National Armed Forces Day being commemorated in Blackpool, and as part of the tribute to the armed forces there were a variety of military vehicles on display around the town. A varied selection of military vehicles were on display on the Tower Headland, consisting of a US Army WW2 M8 Greyhound armoured car, a British Army Alvis Sabre light tank, a 1943 British Army Bedford OY mobile X-Ray unit, a Russian GAZ-66 4x4 truck mounted with a ZPU-2 14.5mm anti-aircraft gun and a Russian BRDM-2 amphibious armoured patrol car. In St John's Square a replica RAF Supermarine Spitfire was on display along with a Bedford QL refuelling tanker, these were joined mid-morning by the M8 Greyhound armoured car from the Tower Headland. Blackpool Heritage Tour trams in use during the day were Bolton 66 and Railcoach 680.

A US Army WW2 M8 Greyhound 6x6 armoured car

A British Army Alvis Sabre reconnaissance light tank

A 1943 British Army Bedford OY mobile X-Ray laboratory

A Russian BRDM-2 amphibious armoured patrol car

A Russian GAZ-66 4x4 military truck, which saw service with Soviet forces for many years

A Russian GAZ-66 4x4 military truck with a ZPU-2 14.5mm anti-aircraft gun mounted on the rear

The replica RAF Spitfire that was on display in St John's Square