jeep profile

[Les Freathy]

I will probably be shot at dawn for this but what the heck, i know a thousand articles by a thousand writers are around but with this vehicle there is always something different be it type or even a fresh photo. We can always play guess the unit or location, two RAF far east ones and one of the RAF Regiment in Palestine 1946
Les

[Les Freathy]

2nd

[Les Freathy]

3rd

[cliff]

OK in the first photo the guy is either an RAF thief or an Aussie due to the slouch hat

The following two photos came from the American Memory web site.

The firsr neg # 8e01237v shows an early jeep with 'Willys' embossed above the grill bars and the second neg # 8e01234v shows an early bar grill rather then the pressed grill type.

[cliff]

Pic 2

[Les Freathy]

Nice photos cliff i must take alook at that site sometime
A few more Jeeps
1. Trials for airdropping the Jeep from a bomb bay, did they actually achieve this

[Les Freathy]

2. Whats going on ere then

[Les Freathy]

3. Typical battle taxi pose with Chevrolet 4x4 in the background

[Tim Berry]

Cliff, your first attached image is a Willys MA jeep. The second image is a Ford GP. Both these vehicles were the predecessors to the Willys MB and Ford GPW.

Great photos

[cliff]

Thanks Tim. I really don't know much about jeeps but knew those two were early ones.

Here's another two from the same source.

Pic 1

one being loaded or unloaded by net from a ship.

[cliff]

Pic 2 an ambulance jeep

[Nick Balmer]

Hello,

At first sight the jeep on the lower left hand corner of this IWM picture looks normal.

Look again..

The rear bench seat has been swapped with the front passenger seat. The Jerry can holder has been replaced with a shelf carrying what looks like the type of batteries used in Sherman tanks for the 19 set radios.

A aerial holder has been fixed to the rear off side corner of the jeep like those used on early war British tanks.

Regards

Nick Balmer

[Les Freathy]

Heres an interesting thought built by REME a flame throwing jeep.
A frightning project, any volunteers to be operator
Les

[Ian Fawbert]

Cliff, good find mate! You came up with the goods on early jeeps here!

The first one you have posted is a Willys MA- one of the so called prototype jeeps, quite rare and desireable!

second one is a ford gp- also a prototype- well pre standardisation!

3rd one is a bantam BRC, not sure if its a 40 or a 60.

and the 4th is a willys mb, slatgrill. Quite an early one i'd say by what appears to be a short windscreen.

Nicks then come in with another early ford gpw- note solid style of steering wheel, ford style tool box lids and indents, no blackout light, no gerry can etc.

Overall a nice collection their! Thanks for the pics too Les, where have they come from? do you have more?

Ian.

[Les Freathy]

Thought this photo might amuse some of you jeep owners, not much chance of getting stuck in the rally field with those tyres
Les

[Noel Burgess]

Apparently this was done for real – Jeeps were parachuted to the SAS in Europe, the first time this was done was 17 June 1944. This method was said to work “well enough” though in some operations only 50% of vehicles delivered were usable.

Originally the jeep drops used eight 28’ parachutes - this was later changed to four 60’ chutes. The jeeps were loaded into protective cradles consisting of a sub frame on which the jeep sat, with steel suspension cables adjacent to each wheel; these were attached in pairs to a transverse beam from which the whole ensemble wad suspended from the longitudinal beam in the (Halifax) bomb bay. The jeep’s suspension was protected by two transverse crash pans intended to deform & flatten on impact. Other preparation for “flight” was minimal – windshield folded flat, machine guns & steering wheel stowed inside.

On at least one occasion 6pdr anti tank guns were also parachuted in.

Taken from – “Fire from the Forrest (the SAS Brigade in France, 1944)" by Roger Ford

[Les Freathy]

Couple of British military police jeeps in Germany in the late 1940s i believe

[james007]

Here's a shot of a Army jeep trying to be a plane.

James

[Les Freathy]

Been sometime since this thread appeared so heres a shot of a British converted stretcher ambulance
Les

[david moore]

James
The "flying jeep" that you posted is an early MA I believe, in Canadian service - with Ontario civvy plates- 1941 I would guess. On the original print can you decipher the Canadian army number - something like 41-1-xxxx. Also the unit name probably abbreviated?