Vehicle ID Request

[PaKlo]

I checked again the original photo and hood number is most probably USN 16014 or 18014.

[Bill Murray]

Thank you again, PaKlo for your most welcome comments and contributions.

We are now a step further I think. I found an old catalogue of Navy Bureau of Yards and Docks vehicles in my library and even though it was from 1950, it did contain a photo of the 1942 Ford G8T so they were used by both the Army and the Navy. The photo shows a vehicle supplied as chassis and cab, not chassis and cowl with windscreen that our truck was but it is still very close.

I could not find your photos on the Web yet so I could not get the good resolution of your last photo but it definitely shows a US Navy registration number. Now, I have to figure out what the 'US" California plate means.

I will continue to look for more information.

Bill

[PaKlo]

Here are the links to original photos on LIFE archive (some photos are mirrored!):

http://images.google.com/hosted/life...3d19630fb.html
http://images.google.com/hosted/life...54c94b7ca.html
http://images.google.com/hosted/life...e9188bdad.html
http://images.google.com/hosted/life...5a24ea579.html

Another US Navy trucks from the same base shows civil registration plate again and U.S. NAVY marking on the rear edge of body (probably the same position was used for the Bomb Service Trucks, my friend's Ford GTBC has the same solution) :
http://images.google.com/hosted/life...81cf98f36.html
http://images.google.com/hosted/life...d8eeba3ae.html
http://images.google.com/hosted/life...3385b45b4.html

[Niels V]

Here is another pic of one of these Fords

[Bill Murray]

Thank you very much PaKlo and Niels!!

Niels photo is in the Navy archives and indicates that the vehicle was used in the Galapagos Islands off of Ecuador servicing aircraft that were protection for the shipping lanes to the Panama Canal. Very interesting!!!

I still think that PaKlo's photos were taken in California but it is now obvious that they were to be found elsewhere also.

I am about to put the photos up on some Ford truck enthusiast forums and see if they can help.

Bill

[Ivan Podgornov]

Hi!
Is it the same construction as used on Chevrolet M6 or just similar ?
It's may be you have some reference with details and dimensions ?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

A list of U. S. military vehicles by supply catalog designation compiled from S.N.L. No.G-1 contains the following Bomb Service Trucks:

• G085, Bomb Service truck:
  • M1 Yellow truck & coach AC-25 (1942)
  • M1 1½-Ton, 4×4, Ford 19-Y
  • M1 Diamond T, 201 3S
  • M6 1½-Ton, 4×4, Chevrolet
• G109 M1 Bomb service Truck, Ford, model 19F
• G110 M1 Bomb service truck, Diamond T model 201-BS
• G115 M6 Bomb service truck, Chevrolet
• G508 M27/27B1 Bomb service, GMC CCKW, truck, 2½-Ton, 6×6
• G622, Truck, 1½ Ton, 4×4, Ford USN-GTB
  • GTBS Truck Bomb Service 1T 4×4 w Single Rear Tires
  • GTBC Truck Bomb Service 1 1-2T 4×4 w Rear Dual Tire

Truck, Bomb Service, M1 (Ford):
image.jpg
http://www.fordclub.eu/graphics/gall...mb-service.jpg

Truck, 1½ Ton, 4×4, Ford USN-GTB:
ford_gtbc_bomb_service_2.jpg ford_gtbc_bomb_service_1.jpg