Jessie The Jeep

Writing a novel for Jack! Steve

Thanks Steve

I'm sure I read somewhere on an aviation forum that it is going to Paul Allen in the USA. Steve

Help needed for an article. I know the chassis number is on the plate on the left chassis leg, but where is the Willys body number located? Is it on a rivet on plate or stamped into the body itself? Steve

Can anyone provide any further information about the Bumperettes on my jeep. They are different from each other, one having a narrower tapered section. Both are the same overall width and height, but the one on the left has the angled areas not extending around the curved area as far. Is this a Willys/Ford/Hotchkiss difference or is there another explanation? Steve

I've just been spending again on some A6a Flying Boots and I'm working on an article as we speak. Steve

How about a free supermodel with every 100 posts? Other than that, and the odd virus, it's great here! Steve

MUNSTER - October 10th 1943 The mission to Munster was to attack the city which was the billet for virtually all of the railway workers in the area, which in turn would stop rail transportation in the Ruhr Valley. Five of the 100th planes aborted over the North Sea or approaching the coast of Holland. The first signs of trouble came when the P-47 escort turned for home and the replacement escort failed to show, having been delayed by ground fog at their home bases. By the time the escort did arrive, the 100th BG was gone, along with half of the 390th BG and one quarter of the 95th BG, having been overwhelmed by over two hundred Fw190's, Ju88's, Me110's, Me210's, Me410's and Do217's. The assault began at 14:53 as the formation flew towards the target at 23,000 feet, with Fw190's making head on attacks, closing to 50 to 75 yards before breaking away. During this attack, B-17 "M'lle Zig Zag" received a flak hit in the belly and fell away trailing smoke. All but one waist gunner bailed out. Soon after, "EL P’sstofo" was attacked by two Me410's firing rockets. The first salvo missed, but the second struck the left wing, igniting the main gas tank and No1 engine. Unable to extinguish the flames, the bail out bell was rung and the engineer salvoed the bombs. All ten crew escaped the aircraft and became POW's. At 15:15, "Shack Rat" exploded over Xanten, west of Haltern, and spiralled down to crash at Vynen. Only the co-pilot and left waist gunner survived, having been blown out of the aircraft. B-17 "Lena" claimed four Fw190's before being hit by flak, well past the Dutch-German border. With controls shot away and the right wing on fire, it went into a shallow dive. After releasing the bombs, the pilot gave the bail out order. Three crew were trapped in the spinning bomber when the wing blew off, giving them no chance of escape. "Forever Yours II" ignited over Munster. It slowly banked over and went into an uncontrollable dive, crashing near Amelsbeuren. The navigator and radio operator were killed. B-17 "Invadin Maiden" was shot down by a Fw190 after hitting the right inboard engine and wing. As the fighter passed under the B-17, his own engine was hit by the gunners forcing the German pilot to also bail out. Due to the fire, the B-17 exploded with six of the crew managing to bail out, though one later died of his wounds. The rest were killed in the crash including the ball turret gunner who is believed to have shot down the fighter. The B-17 crashed near Hohenhalte, about 9 miles west of Munster. As the German pilot floated down he saw another B-17 spiral down in flames. This was B-17 "Slightly Dangerous". It lost its right wing and exploded in mid-air. The B-17 had been shot down by a fighter. Seven of the crew managed to escape the falling bomber. Five minutes after passing the target, the German fighters swarmed in again. "Sexy Suzy Mother of Ten" was hit by something in the left wing with a massive bang, with flames spreading over the whole plane rapidly. The pilot called for the bail out and shortly after the aircraft went into a vertical dive and exploded. Only four of the crew escaped. Unknown to the crew, the plane had been in a collision with an enemy fighter. B-17 "Sweater Girl" was also involved in the same collision and spun down. Six of the crew escaped with the wreckage landing along with the two other aircraft at Ostberven eight miles north of Munster. "Aw-R-Go" was attacked by fighters shortly after the target, starting a fire in the radio room. The radio operator tried to fight the fire and was badly burned. He may have bailed out with his chute aflame. Eight crew escaped when the plane exploded and became POW's. As the remains of the group flew over Munster, B-17 "Stymie" was hit by flak, adding to the damage caused by fighters. The pilot took the plane down to try and hedge hop back to England, but in doing so, accidentally flew low over a German fighter base and was confronted by a swarm of German fighters. It was forced to belly land at Aalten Holland about six miles from the Dutch-German border. All ten crew became POW's. After bombing the target, the crew of "Pasadena Nena" found themselves all alone. They made for the protection of another formation 5 miles away. This group then came under attack and their own plane was hit in the No4 engine sending it into a spin. After a struggle, the pilots regained control below 1000 feet. The pilots assumed the crew had bailed out. The co-pilot manned the top turret for defense. Minutes later, a fighter sprayed the B-17, probably having seen the turret move. With both wings on fire, both pilots bailed out. The pilot escaped via the Dutch resistance and many others, finally making it back to England for Christmas Eve 1943. He was put under house arrest until released two days later having been identified as a member of the 100th BG. The co-pilot later died of 20mm canon wounds and the tail gunners body was also found in the wreckage. Only one Fortress now remained, B-17 "ROYAL FLUSH", piloted by Robert Rosenthal. While badly damaged and with the No1 engine out, it bombed the target and headed for home. The B-17 came under fighter attack with rounds hitting the No3 engine and oxygen system. A rocket also passed through the right wing just missing a gas tank. Three of the crew were wounded, but the crew also claimed three fighters destroyed. The aircraft was loosing height and so all moveable equipment was thrown overboard. The B-17 made it back to England on two engines and landed in rapidly gathering fog. They were the only 100th aircraft to return. With the loss of so many crews only two days before at Bremen, and another 12 aircraft at Munster, Thorpe Abbotts was a very sad and empty base, and yet, worse was to come the following March on the mission to Berlin. Munster - 10 Oct 43 8th Air Force Despatched 313 Heavy Bombers 100th Bomb Group Despatched 18 Aircraft of which 5 aircraft Aborted on the way to the target MIA 10-10-43 - A/C 42-3229 "Pasadena Nena" - XR-A - 7 POW, 2 KIA, 1EVA MIA 10-10-43 - A/C 42-3237 "Stymie" - LD-R - 10 POW MIA 10-10-43 - A/C 42-3433 "Lena" - LN-W - 7 POW, 3 KIA MIA 10-10-43 - A/C 42-30023 "Forever Yours II" - XR-M - 8 POW, 2 KIA MIA 10-10-43 - A/C 42-30047 "Sweater Girl" - LN-Q - 6 POW, 4 KIA MIA 10-10-43 - A/C 42-30087 "Shack Rat" - EP-M - 2 POW, 8 KIA MIA 10-10-43 - A/C 42-30090 "EL P’sstofo" - XR-B - 10 POW MIA 10-10-43 - A/C 42-30723 "Sexy Suzy Mother of Ten" - EP-D - 4 POW, 6 KIA MIA 10-10-43 - A/C 42-30725 "Aw-R-Go" - LN-Z - 8POW, 2 KIA MIA 10-10-43 - A/C 42-30734 "Slightly Dangerous" - EP-G - 7 POW, 3 KIA MIA 10-10-43 - A/C 42-30830 "M’lle Zig Zig" - LD-U - 10 POW, 1 KIA MIA 10-10-43 - A/C 42-30823 "Invadin Maiden" - LN-F - 5 POW, 5 KIA A/C 42-6087 "ROYAL FLUSH" LD-Z - The only 100th Bomb Group aircraft to return from the mission with two engines shot out Steve

As factory fresh or sun bleached!! From the moment it leaves the factory, it will begin to change colour. Other than desert or RAF jeeps, did the British repaint jeeps a different green to the factory supplied Olive Drab, or did they just add the Mickey Mouse black to them? And if they did repaint them a different green, why bother wasting time and money? Steve

I've been spending again. Thanks to a tip off by Mr Digestive ( Tim ), a cardboard tube arrived in the post this morning with a Bail Out Oxygen bottle inside. The rubber tube is quite perished and was detached when it was purchased. I stripped the valve down as soon as it arrived, removed the remains of the perished rubber, carefully cleaned everything and re-assembled it all with a new rubber tube installed. I also made the 'Apple', the green wooden ball that was pulled to break the valve and start the oxygen flow. I'm on the look out now for a new tube and the fitting that would connect it to the oxygen mask. Steve

All working for me. Steve

Keep an eye out for me! Steve

I caught the downloader virus again this morning when following an email link to the 'Maintenance' Thread. It's still lurking about! Steve

I'm hoping to take my jeep to Thorpe Abbotts next year to recreate a wartime photo taken from the balcony of the control tower. I've been a member there since 1994 and visit as often as I can, which considering I live 300 miles away, is about once a year. Your jacket looks great. Here's my B-3 Jacket before the final airbrushing was done. http://www.usaafhq.freeserve.co.uk/a2/jackets/hte3.jpg[/img] Steve

I've got a follow up article still to come for the raid to Munster on Oct 10th 1943. Steve

BREMEN - October 8th 1943 October 8th was the dawn of the origins of the 100th Bomb Groups nickname, "The Bloody Hundredth". The name evolved as a result of several missions where the 100th BG suffered spectacular losses. It even brought about rumours that the Luftwaffe were hunting down B-17's with the 'Square D' group marking on the tail. This of course wasn't true as it was impractical and dangerous for the Luftwaffe to search out a single group out of several hundred other bombers. While the losses for the 100th BG over their combat history were no different to that of other groups in combat for a similar time, the 100th stood out for its high losses on single missions. Here's a small scale model of Station 139 - Thorpe Abbotts http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b304/vultee35/Re-enactors/thorpe_abbotts/ta9.jpg[/img] The first of these high loss missions was to Bremen. Approaching the target, the crews estimated approximately 300 flak guns firing. It was about this time that B-17 "Marie Helena" came under attack from a red-nose Fw190. The 190 was hit by a stream of bullets from the B-17's gunners which must have killed the pilot, causing it to collide with the bomber. Both went down in flames. Just after bomb release, "Piccadilly Lily" was hit by flak, damaging the navigators compartment and starting a fire in the No3 engine. The Fort went into a dive and exploded. Four 'chutes were seen, 'though five escaped. Cpt Barker, 351st Sq Operations Officer, was along as an observer and was one of those killed. Maj Cleven, 350th Sq CO was lost in "Our Baby", but maganged to bail out. Flak took out an oil line, seizing the No2 engine and severed fuel lines. Controls to No3 engine were severed and the lower cylinder was shot away on the No4 engine. Many control cables were also severed making movement in the rear fuselage difficult. As the plane dropped from the formation, fighters set alight an engine forcing the bail out. All eleven crew bailed out. http://www.pix8.net/pro/pic/18574IOCU8/582626.jpg[/img] B-17 "Phartzac" ignited somewhere south east of Bremen. Two bombs had failed to release and flak had hit them causing an explosion. The navigator bailed out but his chute was already on fire. Only the bombardier and one waist gunner survived, 'though the waist gunner remained unconscious for ten days after bailing out. "Salvo Sal" was hit shortly after reaching the objective. Shortly after bomb release flak knocked the Fort out of the formation. It continued to fly on for some time before crashing near the Zuider Zee in western Holland. The left waist gunner bled to death from a 20mm shell about 30 minutes before bail out. The other nine crew bailed out, one evading capture with the aid of the Dutch underground. "War Eagle" was attacked by fighters shortly after bomb release. Nine crew bailed out. The tenth was killed by a 20mm hit between the shoulder blades. B-17 #'840' was hit by flak causing it to plunge to earth. The engineer who bailed out, complained of a back injury after landing. The bombardier who landed with him, pleaded for a doctor but they weren't understood by the German civilians. The sergeant lost consciousness and died before the German officer in charge took the bombardier away with the rest of the crew. "Just-A-Snappin" was severly mauled by the fighters and flak. Thirty seconds before bomb release, flak tore through the nose compartment, slicing through the bombardiers clothing, scorching the skin but it didn't draw blood. While he thought he'd been wounded, he kept calm and stayed at his bomb sight. Just after bomb release, flak took out the No4 engine. The same burst shreaded the control wires to one aileron and one elevator was also shreaded. The plane was thrown out of control into a spinning dive. They lost 3000 feet before regaining control. While still loosing altitude and over 200 miles from home, they assessed the damage. While there was a risk of fire, there were plenty of places to force land below, but decided to head for home. Several of the crew were hit, one by a 20mm shell in the abdomen, but he continued to man his gun until he destroyed the Me210 that shot him, after which he made his way to the radio room for first aid. The ball turret gunner was wounded in the face, hands and legs. He stayed at his turret until sure the attacks were over before climbing into the radio room for treatment. While lying on two flak jackets, on the radio room floor, as the crew crossed the Holland coast, a piece of flak as big as a fist came up through the radio room floor. It hit the bottom of the flak suits bouncing him into the air but without further injury! http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b304/vultee35/Re-enactors/thorpe_abbotts/ta4.jpg[/img] The tail turret gunner was also hit by a 20mm shell and flak splinters, one of which missed his spine by a quarter of an inch. The plane was limping back home at 120mph when they saw another lone Fortress ahead of them get bounced and shot down by three fighters. The fighters then turned on a second lone B-17 which also fell to their guns. Then they turned on "Just-A-Snappin", but the gunners were ready. The top turret gunner shot the prop off the first fighter, and the second also fell in flames shortly after, 'though the crew wasn't aware of who got the kill. The third fighter turned for home. They were down to 8000 feet when they crossed the coast. The radio operator, despite smashed equipment, clicked off SOS by touching two wires together. The engine which caught fire was extinguished by side slipping the plane to blow cold air over it. It cost altitude but brought piece of mind. They were now at 3990 feet. Both dingies and three life jackets were shot to pieces, so ditching was not an option. Those who weren't wounded now started gutting the B-17 to save weight. Due to weight reduction, they actually gained 300 feet. They were now low on fuel. No sooner were they over the English coast when they saw a airfield, RAF Ludham. With fuel almost gone, and the tailwheel refusing to lower, they knew this would be a one shot chance at a crash landing. As soon as the plane touched the ground, the brake lines snapped and they had no control over the direction of the speeding bomber, which was heading straight for a large tree on the airfield boundary. The tree hit between the No2 engine and pilots compartment with the plane still doing 50mph. The force swung the plane in a half circle before coming to a stop. They were home. The plane was only fit for salvage. The wrecking crews counted over 800 holes before giving up. Two of the wounded crew died. Nine other 100th BG Fortresses came back with varying degrees of damage. In all the Group lost 72 crewmen with another 13 more in hospital. The barracks had many empty beds which was poor for moral. Two days later, the 100th was in for more punishment making the Bremen mission look like a 'Milk Run'. http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b304/vultee35/Re-enactors/thorpe_abbotts/ta13.jpg[/img] Bremen - 8 Oct 1943 8th Air Force Despatched 344 Heavy Bombers 100th Bomb Group Despatched 22 Aircraft MIA 8-10-43 - A/C #42-3233 "Our Baby" LN-R - 11 POW inc Maj Cleven 350th CO MIA 8-10-43 - A/C #42-30840 (no name) LN-O - 5 POW, 5 KIA MIA 8-10-43 - A/C #42-3386 "Marie Helena" EP-H - 10 KIA MIA 8-10-43 - A/C #42-5864 "Piccadilly Lily" EP-A - 5 POW, 6 KIA MIA 8-10-43 - A/C #42-30154 "War Eagle" XR-H - 9 POW, 1 KIA MIA 8-10-43 - A/C #42-30358 "Phartzac" LN-X - 2 POW, 8 KIA MIA 8-10-43 -A/C #42 30318 "Salvo Sal" LN-S - 8 POW, 1 KIA, 1EVD Salvaged - A/C #42-3393 "Just-A-Snappin" LD-Y - 2 WIA, 2 KIA, 1 SWIA - Crash landed at Ludham A/F, Norfolk Steve

With this virus flaoting around, are we all 'HMVF Positive' now? Steve

I just got it again, checking this thread. Steve

I recently sent Jack a PM saying that I got a virus warning from Norton when I visited the home page. It identified the virus as 'Downloader', which Norton removed. It didn't happen every visit, but this was the only site where I got the warning. Steve

I don't know who owns the WOT2. I'll mail some of the Yorkshire guys and see if they know the owner. Steve

Here we go, click the link for the PDF. Let me know if this works for you. MAINTENANCE LOG Steve

I can probably do it as a PDF. Give me a few minutes. Steve

There are a few Bedfords and Morris trucks amongst the NE and Yorkshire MVT, so it's possible they will be there. At Goathland, there's going to be a guy who runs an army field kitchen who usually has a Bedford MWD with him. There's also some US and UK staff cars in the Northern groups. There will be jeeps everywhere, and last year there were a few in schemes different to the usual OD, notably an RAF blue jeep and a US Navy Grey jeep, plus a couple in the Mickey Mouse camo. I'll be taking lots of pictures, an hope to produce a photo essay of the event, which will be posted on the NE MVT and Yorkshire MVT websites ( http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/nemvt/nemvt.htm - http://www.wheelsandwings.co.uk/ ). Steve

You only need a free pass if you want to ride on the train. There's nothing to stop you turning up for the day or weekend and visiting the town and various stations by car. There is plenty to see at all the stations along the line, but the most activity is at Pickering Town and Station. There are a good selection of vehicles, most at Pickering. Steve

I've just got a text file on the computer. It lists the date, tasks performed, current milage and any other notes and observations. Steve