British Markings, desert, 8th Army

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pfnaak
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British Markings, desert, 8th Army

Post by pfnaak » Tue Nov 21, 2017 3:21 am

Since yesterday I own a sand coloured MB (no° 254813; DOD approx. July 1943). It has absolutely no markings on it, but the paint job is well done (ok, its to glossy) and I do not want to change the colour at the moment, even if it has probably never been to North Africa. I unfortunately do not know, which unit or at least which army it has been sent to or what theater it served in.

[So I would be glad on any hint for further investigations!]

As far as I now, the US Army didn't use sand coloured Willys, nevertheless I found a picture of one (but that's probably used by the French, as to the arabic numbers on the back).

So I thought about adding british markings, e.g. the 7th Armoured Divsion (Desert Rats). But I could not find a good exmaple of a Willys til now. Has anyone a good example or a hint where to look for?

Pfnaak
Attachments
Color Photos of Tunisia and Libya in the North African Campaign of World War II, 1943 (24) SMALL.jpg
Color Photos of Tunisia and Libya in the North African Campaign of World War II, 1943 (24) SMALL.jpg (118.57 KiB) Viewed 890 times
Willys1.jpg
Willys1.jpg (97.57 KiB) Viewed 891 times
1943 MB 254813 (DOD 9th August 1943, educated guess), engine MB 278234 (former: MB 573953)


GI.
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Re: British Markings, desert, 8th Army

Post by GI. » Tue Nov 21, 2017 5:37 am

Did someone fill in the seam on the hood ? might just be the pic. odd looking back bumper, nice looking jeep.
You can do a search on WW-2 desert rat jeep's and find hundreds of pic's.
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pfnaak
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Re: British Markings, desert, 8th Army

Post by pfnaak » Tue Nov 21, 2017 7:37 am

No, the seam is still there, it's just the pic. The odd looking bumper should be original, what you see are just "mud skirts" (or what are these things called in English?).

There are indeed a lot of pics of desert colour Willys in tne internet, but only a few have markings, most of them are SAS or LRDG Jeeps.
1943 MB 254813 (DOD 9th August 1943, educated guess), engine MB 278234 (former: MB 573953)

GI.
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Re: British Markings, desert, 8th Army

Post by GI. » Tue Nov 21, 2017 10:30 am

It really look's like some one spent a lot of time making it look as good as it does, I agree, the paint on it look's good, but when you get ready to go back to a military jeep of WW-2 that paint job would be the 1st thing to go. it is a beautiful jeep, I like it. :wink:
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pfnaak
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Re: British Markings, desert, 8th Army

Post by pfnaak » Tue Nov 21, 2017 10:53 am

By the way: The bracket for the end/grip of the axe (besides the Front fender) is missing. Has it probably been ripped of or was there a variant with a short axe?
1943 MB 254813 (DOD 9th August 1943, educated guess), engine MB 278234 (former: MB 573953)

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Re: British Markings, desert, 8th Army

Post by Silly's MB » Thu Nov 23, 2017 5:03 am

The paint job looks good but it takes it away from the originality of the vehicle. Too many black fittings when the whole vehicle would of had an overspray. Nice Jeep though.
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Sherman and Jeep.jpg
Sherman and Jeep.jpg (138.1 KiB) Viewed 797 times
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1942 August Willys MB
Complete MVMTS 100% sourced in the ETO

Empty vessels make the most noise .......

pfnaak
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Re: British Markings, desert, 8th Army

Post by pfnaak » Thu Nov 23, 2017 7:12 am

Thanks for the pic! But I would be interested in pics from the front or rear too, so dont' stop :D

You're right, the black chassis is too much for a sprayjob in some Egyptian backyard. Nevertheless: Nothing was impossible. Even the glossy sand colour, because they used whatever was available. But I have lots of time for remoddeling it and at the moment the paint is to good to get rid of it. And I even like it.

First I am going attach some gadgets which are missing (fire extinguisher, lubrication chart, etc.). Unfortunately the pintle is missing (some law restriction for oldtimers) so I have to get a new one too...
1943 MB 254813 (DOD 9th August 1943, educated guess), engine MB 278234 (former: MB 573953)

70th Division
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Re: British Markings, desert, 8th Army

Post by 70th Division » Fri Nov 24, 2017 5:44 pm

Hello,

Great jeep there !!!!
Just to let you know, that WW2 tan jeep, with the star, and the one in front of it, are indeed U.S. Army Jeeps in North Africa.
That was the paint scheme that unit used, Life Magazine photos have several more of those jeeps and other trucks painted like that.

It may have been US Army Air Force, I just don't remember, but they were 100 % , US Army vehicles painted with that particular paint scheme,
at that area of the theater of operations.

Good luck with your restoration !!!!!

Best Regards,

Ray

pfnaak
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Re: British Markings, desert, 8th Army

Post by pfnaak » Sat Nov 25, 2017 1:59 am

Thanks for the information. I would have bet that These were Free French troops, Algerian Spahis or so.
1943 MB 254813 (DOD 9th August 1943, educated guess), engine MB 278234 (former: MB 573953)

pfnaak
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Re: British Markings, desert, 8th Army

Post by pfnaak » Sat Nov 25, 2017 2:04 am

Thanks for the information. I would have bet that these were Free French troops, Algerian Spahis or so.

I meanwhile contacted the British 7th Infantry Brigade directly for some more information. Yes, that's right, INFANTRY, they lost their tanks short time ago, a unit with such a history in tank warfare!
1943 MB 254813 (DOD 9th August 1943, educated guess), engine MB 278234 (former: MB 573953)

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Re: British Markings, desert, 8th Army

Post by 70th Division » Thu Dec 14, 2017 2:31 pm

Hello,

Here is another picture of a tan/black camo US Army jeep in service in Tunisia, North Africa during WW2.
US Army Air Force.
Note the Blue and White Star on hood .

This would make a nice looking jeep restoration, that would be 100% accurate, but rarely seen.

Color Photos of Tunisia and Libya in the North African Campaign of World War II, 1943 (22).jpg
Color Photos of Tunisia and Libya in the North African Campaign of World War II, 1943 (22).jpg (226.28 KiB) Viewed 672 times



Best Regards,

Ray


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