Craftily painted nonsense?

[Cavalol]

This (Raleigh) is being sold as ex-USAAF but something in my tiny brain is pinging a radar that tells me the bike isn't what is seems.
Any thoughts, please, as to whether it's genuine or not? Thanks in advance.

 

[Cycleops]

I think you are correct. Have a look at these real USAAF bikes:
http://www.theliberator.be/militarybicycles.htm

 

[carpenter]

I think you are correct. Have a look at these real USAAF bikes:
http://www.theliberator.be/militarybicycles.htm

Unlike the OP bike, I couldn't see any brakes/cables on the liberator examples.

 

[Cavalol]

I think you are correct. Have a look at these real USAAF bikes:
http://www.theliberator.be/militarybicycles.htm

Thanks, and what a brilliant web site that is.

 

[midlife]

USAAF was disbanded in 1947 I think, that bike is a bit more modern I would expect....

 

[Poacher]

Apart from anything else, US armed forces seemed reluctant to buy anything local; even food was imported from the states.
Would they have used Raleigh in preference to a good 'ol USA POS BSO? Doubtful in the extreme.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Yes, these were all Huffy's or Columbias. With coaster brakes, presumably. Heavy, durable single speed machines. Our War Department, now Department of Defense, issues bids and specifications for equipment such as this, and most equipment is bought from U.S. sources. Worksman bicycles would now fill this role. They make cycles much like these, BTW.

 

[ozboz]

It is plausible that this bike was painted to assimilate for the purpose of a period tv or film ,
But as said upthread no way the real deal ,

 

[rogerzilla]

Americans tend to bring everything over with them: cars, fire hydrants, the lot. I wouldn't be surprised if they don't drink our water.

 

[ozboz]

Apparently though they yanks were not to good at taking stuff back the states , when in Australia about a mile away were the remnants a of a US Army base , Camp Cable , built for a Division of troops to train for war in the Pacific , the story was as the first vehicles arrived at the Camp the last we’re just leaving the the Port of Brisbane , 45 km away and it was a solid line of traffic !
Anyway at the end of its use and the allies were on top it was closed , according to locals of the day the Yanks dug giant pits and buried all equipment etc that was left ,

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

Looks like a bog standard Raleigh roadster to me that someone decided to give a coat of NATO drab paint to. Fake, fake, fake in every way. I'd value it like any ratty old thing that I wanted as a hack bike. It is not a valuable historical artefact!