thedawnpatrol Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 Hi Chaps I'm finally getting around to giving my 42 GPW a brithday, and want to repaint her as a Unitied States Army Air Force Jeep, but I have several questions. Fristly I want her to represent a vehicle used by the 384th Bomb Group based at Grafton Underwood, so what marking should i have on the bumpers ? also would the hood number have had 'U.S.A.A.F' above or the standard 'U.S.A.' ? would she have had the star on the hood ? Lastly, can anyone post any photos of jeeps in simular markings or indead any USAAF jeeps ? Thanks for your help Jules Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 The bumper would start with 8 for 8th Air Force, then a star, I think two or three inch ( can't be sure ) Following that would be the squadron number..... 544th Bombardment Squadron 545th Bombardment Squadron 546th Bombardment Squadron 547th Bombardment Squadron Then the individual vehicle number, for example..... 8 * 384BG 544 7 The rear bumperettes would usually be inverted. I've been told that this lowers the top edge making it more easy for guys in flight gear to use it as a step to climb into the Jeep. I've heard no other reasons for this change. The markings on the rear bumperettes follow the front. Left -------- Right 8 * --------- 544 384BG ------- 7 I've never seen any wartime Jeep with USAAF on the hood, only USA. All the Jeeps I've seen have various types of star. Amongst the many pages on the 100th BG website, there are a number of Jeeps to be seen, but you'll have to go searching - http://www.100thbg.com/index.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 I've also seen airbase Jeeps with a star on the canvas. This shot was taken before I inverted the bumperettes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.Rimmer Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 Hi Jules, I have several original photos of 384th vehicles,I will post some scans. I will also check the size of the star following the 8 as my Command Car still carries it's original markings applied during the war. Many Eighth Air Force vehicles also had a white edging applied to the wings. Pics to follow later today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MT606 Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 also it's not a hard n fast rule that bumperettes have to be inverted , I've seen just as many pics (on yank AF stations) with them pointing up and down..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedawnpatrol Posted April 14, 2011 Author Share Posted April 14, 2011 Thanks Guys that a great start, thanks Steve I don't know a lot about the USAAF, I've always stuck to RAF, but i wanted my jeep to represent the 384 BG because a few years ago we dug up the remains of a B17, 42 5852 called 'The Natural', she crashed on the way back from a raid. the site is very near to my home. I don't know the squadron ? Jules Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 B-17F-VE 42-5852 547th BS 384th BG SO-T crashed Chetwade 14th October 43 after Schweinfurt raid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.Rimmer Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 Jeep and Ford crash truck,384th BG Grafton Underwood. Note white edges to front wings and lower rear body on Jeep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.Rimmer Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 (edited) Jeep,525th BS,379th BG Kimbolton. Edited April 14, 2011 by M.Rimmer Correct error Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.Rimmer Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 Ok not a Jeep but maybe of interest,3/4 Dodge Weapons Carrier,unknown Eighth Air Force B-24 group,photo taken prior to May 1944. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedawnpatrol Posted April 14, 2011 Author Share Posted April 14, 2011 Great Thanks, And I suppose they would be striped of carbine holder, shovel and Axe ? even Jerry can ? J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 Often the spare wheel was removed too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.Rimmer Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 Another Kimbolton Jeep,again 525th BS. Note the white front edge to the wings,extra mirror and locally made doors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.Rimmer Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 Carbine and jerry can carriers if fitted from the factory would likely be left in-situ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.Rimmer Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 (edited) I just double checked the size of the original bumper markings on my Command Car,the letters and numbers are 4" high and the star following the 8 is 2 3/4". I would suggest 8* 384 BG 547 11 in that format would be correct,though you could use any vehicle number you like. Original stencils were made from zinc and never lay completely flat so the edge of the markings would probably show some spray drift. Edited April 14, 2011 by M.Rimmer Spelling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedawnpatrol Posted April 15, 2011 Author Share Posted April 15, 2011 Thanks M for all this, it has been really useful. I also noticed in your last photo the black out sheilds on the head lights another interesting feature. Started striping her down last night (the GPW !) ready for the transformation. will post photos when finished. Jules Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedawnpatrol Posted April 15, 2011 Author Share Posted April 15, 2011 Also I noticed in that last picture, the hood star, can just about be seen, it looks to have the ring around it ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 Also I noticed in that last picture, the hood star, can just about be seen, it looks to have the ring around it ? That subject has been bugging me, I wonder if early vehicles the star had no ring, but those supplied later did? I noticed in the same picture the triangle below windscreen. ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.Rimmer Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 The blackout shield is quite often seen on Eighth AF vehicles. The solid ring around the star appears on many Eighth vehicles but I have not seen a reference to any specific dates,ditto for the white edges to front wings and rear body corners. I have quite a large collection of un-published photos showing Eighth vehicles and I was thinking of perhaps putting together a book on the subject,but I need to do more research into the marking regulations. More pics to follow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 The 100th BG Jeep I first copied had a solid ring around the star and it was also an early Jeep with no blackout light, no jerry can bracket and six strap fastening for the canvas. I worked out the outside of the ring to be 20 inches and I think 4 inches thick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.Rimmer Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 Dodge WC-54 Ambulance line,379th BG. Note the white edge to front wings and the BO cover on the lights of the two vehicles in the middle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.Rimmer Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 Cletrac and Autocar,379th BG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.Rimmer Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 Original bonnet markings on my October 1943 WC-52 which was with the 854th BS Engineering section,491st BG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 No more Jeep pictures for reference? After all, that's what the original poster is wanting info on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.Rimmer Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 Another USAAF vehicle with a solid ring around the star,though this time it's a Ninth Air Force Cletrac(this is not one of my pics btw) Matt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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