USAFIA

[goanna]

I found a few interesting images of US military vehicles that were shipped over to Australia during WW2. 

United States Army Forces In Australia: an official description for the US forces, it was adopted in early 1942. Under the Lend-Lease agreement, the US supplied Australia with much military equipment, but around 3/4 of this large debt was wiped out due to the equipment that Australia supplied to the US forces as Reverse Lend-Lease i.e military vehicles, accommodation camps, food, uniforms, military radios, even machinery , milling machines and lathes . 

 

The State Library of Queensland hosts a large collection of pics like this one: 

IMAGE
Showgirls riding in the back of United States Army jeeps as part of a parade for a Rodeo, Brisbane, 1943
Brisbane John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland; 2005

 

Of interest is the US unit , based in Brisbane, that repaired and test flew captured Japanese aircraft.

IMAGE
Rebuilt Zero aeroplane at Eagle Farm, Queensland, 1943
Brisbane John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland; 2005

Edited Monday at 11:13 AM by goanna

[goanna]

A Right Hand Drive 1941 Pontiac staff car supplied to the US Army in Queensland .  With driver ! These Pontiacs (and Chevrolet) chassis were also assembled with a unique GM-H built roadster cab, these 'utes' were fitted with a austerity wooden/masonite utility body.  

Edited 19 hours ago by goanna

[Enigma]

1 hour ago, goanna said:

A Right Hand Drive 1941 Pontiac staff car supplied to the US Army in Queensland .  With driver ! These Pontiacs (and Chevrolet) chassis were also assembled with a unique GM-H built roadster cab, they were fitted with a austerity wooden/masonite utility body.  

Are any of these still around?

[goanna]

This is a Chevrolet survivor , I owned a Pontiac utility for a short time, I sold it onto a friend . These masonite utes were built in low numbers, probably less that 500. There are very few of these around today, less than ten. 

Edited 53 minutes ago by goanna

[Enigma]

Nice, good to see some still survive.

[goanna]

From memory this Jeep scene was in Townsville , Queensland. The population of these small towns more than doubled with the sudden arrival of a large number of Americans. 

 

A group of local Brisbane girls who drove the US officers around. The cars are 1941 Oldsmobile staff cars. 

 

Many more colour pics: https://collections.slq.qld.gov.au/viewer/IE1107312

 

The GPA could be a post-war scene but the SLQ description has a wartime date.  

Edited 7 hours ago by goanna

[goanna]

General Douglas MacArthur was inspecting the U.S. Army's 1st Cavalry Division shortly before the division was sent to New Guinea in January, 1944. The two stars on the front of the Packard vehicle indicate that it was assigned to a Major General and the four star flag on the front bonnet show that MacArthur was a passenger.

 

Melbourne scene with a RHD 1941 Studebaker staff car with US markings. 

Edited 7 hours ago by goanna

[goanna]

1941/42 Ford 12 cwt utility..based on the sedan chassis , these were issued to the USAFIA > the other main user appears to be the RAAF . 

Again not many have survived , but there are a few out there, this one was offered at a auction a few years ago. 

Edited 2 hours ago by goanna

[goanna]

41 Ford in US Service 

 

Comment from Mike C 

The final balance was Australia supplied about 75% of the final LL balance.

Motor vehicles comprised a small percentage of the final balance, as most supplied were returned to the Commonwealth in 1944 and 1945, for credit against the RLL account at a rate depending upon condition, but always less than the original price. As far as I have found out, the last vehicles returned appear to be those of the US Navy in Perth which were transferred back to the Commonwealth in December 1945.

The vehicle registration prefixes are interesting, with two systems operating (comments based on records of 1,231 vehicles).

The USN seem to have been the most organised, with the following prefixes being closely adhered to:
USN-S- for cars,
USN-U- for utility vehicles up to 1 ton
USN-T- for lorries and trucks 30cwt +

The US Army appear far less uniform in the prefix application.
USA-U- was the most common by far (1,041 vehicles of 1,148), and it was applied to just about everything supplied, from light tourers to tractors and cranes.
USA-RC- seems to be lorries and trucks 30cwt + (130 records)
USA-AP-seems to be light vehicles, mostly utilities and sedan cars (44 records)

Mike

 

Edited 2 hours ago by goanna