Did not see a forum for this specifically. so will stick it in here. This is my 1942 FORD GPW Jeep. It was produced for the War effort. and survived unlike many. I restored it and presented it to my Dad on the June 6th, 2006, D Day anniversary. He made the landing on Omaha beach on June 9th, 1944, with the Reconnaissance Co. of the 66th Armored Regiment of the 2nd Armored Division, known as HELL ON WHEELS. Dad was an RCN Co. Scout; he led the Co. and Regiment from Omaha beach to Berlin Germany. He lost his first jeep in France, in the area around Carentan, to artillery fire. It served him through the Battle of the Bulge and on with a few set backs, getting the radiator shot out by MG 42 machine gun fire. and on another getting the hood and engine shot with MG 42 fire. But he said the jeep always started and was ready to go every time he was. This is him driving off Omaha beach.

 

Thanks for sharing! That's one of the most beautifully restored military Jeeps I've ever seen. Your Dad looks happy and proud of your efforts. Well done.

 

It is pretty much all F marked Ford parts and is dressed as his WW2 jeep was, even down to the Browning on the passenger step. As an RCN scout they probed the enemy line in front of the advancing Regiment., most of the time miles behind enemy lines. He carried a 1928 Thompson SMG. and had the browning as his only protection, as he went about his work of looking for enemy emplacements and checking bridges. on the Regiments route. Not a healthy job to have.

 

I spoke with a neighbor in Escondido 35 or so years ago. He was attached to 3rd Army, and was in a recon outfit. They had a "Priest tank" and a jeep. Amongst other details of his service, he noted it was awfully hard to get the guys in the jeep to take the point, especially if one had hit an anti tank mine on a previous mission.....

 

LOL it was not usually a decision you got to make. Dad said the Capt. would tell him where he was to go and how far. and he would take off. He would run one to two miles on point in front of the Regiment. when on road march. When he would make contact, or draw fire he would swing around if possible and return to the unit. Or stop and engage and wait for the rest of RCN Co. to catch up. RCN Co. consisted of halftracks and Armored Cars and light tanks. They could put up a good fight when all together. The jeep had one advantage over some of the other vehicles, it could turn around in the road. and you mentioned the mines. The jeep could pass over some anti-tank mines because it was to light to set them off. where other units would set them off. Anti-personnel mines were bad on jeeps. But a jeep offered little protection other than speed and its small size.