Trying to find what unit numbers to add on my 43’ GPW

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Arnold43GPW
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Trying to find what unit numbers to add on my 43’ GPW

Post by Arnold43GPW » Thu Nov 11, 2021 10:18 pm

I’d love to Honor my Great Uncle who served in the 27th Infantry Division, 102nd Medical Battalion as a Medic. He landed on the beaches of Makin Atoll, Eniwetok, and Saipan.. how would I go about finding the correct numbers? I’ve looked for pictures everywhere and have had no luck.. thank you all!


Arnold
1943 Ford GPW #104421 “ The Spirit of 43’ “ My PTO Jeep

1945 Ford GPW #266293 “ Smitty “ My ETO Jeep


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Re: Trying to find what unit numbers to add on my 43’ GPW

Post by doctordirt » Fri Nov 12, 2021 4:38 am

Arnold,
I would assume it would look like this:

27-I -102 MED * A-20

That would read as "27th Infantry 102nd Medical Battalion. Company A, Vehicle 20.

If you know what company he was in you would substitute that letter for "A" company.
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Re: Trying to find what unit numbers to add on my 43’ GPW

Post by The Fireman » Fri Nov 12, 2021 8:57 am

Arnold,

My father was in the Pacific with the 111 th Infantry. I have two photos of him in a jeep in Hawaii prior to shipping out to Kwajalein and Peleliu.
I had previously posted the photos of him in the jeep and the photos were in Army Motors many years ago. I don't know where the photos are now, but they were posted on the Gee at one time.

Anyway, the bottom line for the jeep markings were a Pentagon with a dot in the middle on the passenger side of the front bumper, on the drivers side of the bumper was a capital D-5. The USA numbers are visible in what appears to be blue drab. The tire pressure stencil of 35 lbs can be seen on the interior of the drivers side fender. No stars or other markings are visible in the photo.

Hope this helps,

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Re: Trying to find what unit numbers to add on my 43’ GPW

Post by DogDoc » Fri Nov 12, 2021 12:00 pm

A red cross in a white circle on the hood instead of a white star would be a nice touch for a medical battalion. I would research that a little though for the Pacific theater. Japanese soldiers tended to target red crosses.
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Re: Trying to find what unit numbers to add on my 43’ GPW

Post by Arnold43GPW » Fri Nov 12, 2021 11:09 pm

You all are awesome! Thank you for responding to my post! I’m dying to finally find a Jeep with 27th Infantry Division markings!

The 27th was in Hawaii from March, 1942-Nov. 1943..
1943 Ford GPW #104421 “ The Spirit of 43’ “ My PTO Jeep

1945 Ford GPW #266293 “ Smitty “ My ETO Jeep

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Re: Trying to find what unit numbers to add on my 43’ GPW

Post by The Fireman » Sun Nov 14, 2021 9:55 am

Arnold 43 GPW,

I found this site that has the jeep I did in my father's memory. The site is from the individual who bought the jeep back in 98. The jeep has the unit markings of the 111 th Infantry as I had previously posted. The markings are the same as in the photos that are packed away someplace.

I hope this will help you,

The Fireman

https://www.angelfire.com/fl/milcol/jeep.html
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Re: Trying to find what unit numbers to add on my 43’ GPW

Post by dpcd67 » Wed Nov 17, 2021 5:45 pm

AR 850-5 will teach you how to make any unit markings you want. It's also in the AAW volume one book.
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Re: Trying to find what unit numbers to add on my 43’ GPW

Post by Arnold43GPW » Wed Nov 17, 2021 10:12 pm

Thank you! Just ordered that book. I’d love to see pictures of Medic Jeeps in the PTO..
1943 Ford GPW #104421 “ The Spirit of 43’ “ My PTO Jeep

1945 Ford GPW #266293 “ Smitty “ My ETO Jeep

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Re: Trying to find what unit numbers to add on my 43’ GPW

Post by The Fireman » Mon Nov 22, 2021 3:37 pm

Arnold,

You may have already found this link.

https://www.med-dept.com/articles/the-w ... -division/

If not, this may be of some general help,

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Re: Trying to find what unit numbers to add on my 43’ GPW

Post by Arnold43GPW » Mon Nov 29, 2021 12:17 am

Thank you!
1943 Ford GPW #104421 “ The Spirit of 43’ “ My PTO Jeep

1945 Ford GPW #266293 “ Smitty “ My ETO Jeep

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Re: Trying to find what unit numbers to add on my 43’ GPW

Post by pgcf » Mon Apr 04, 2022 6:57 am

The AR 850-5 applied more to the ETO. They were much more minimalist in the Pacific. They appear to have used it as a suggestion not a rule.

In the book "Jeeps Over the Pacific" on p.130 there is a picture of a ambulance jeep from your Great Uncle's unit.

I would get this book to get a better idea if you are making a "tribute" jeep.

There are no stars on the sides and U.S. ARMY is painted over the rear wheel well (this was a common practice in '44-'45). It looks like the USA number was repainted as well. I don't see any red crosses either.

I would follow the Fireman's lead with the markings on the Slat Grille earlier in this thread. There are examples of this style the same book.

Hope this helps,
Peter

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Re: Trying to find what unit numbers to add on my 43’ GPW

Post by Arnold43GPW » Mon Apr 18, 2022 5:53 pm

Thank you for the help. I’ve seen one picture of an ambulance Jeep on Saipan, and the marking on the bumper doesn’t say 27th ID Or 102nd Medical Battalion..
1943 Ford GPW #104421 “ The Spirit of 43’ “ My PTO Jeep

1945 Ford GPW #266293 “ Smitty “ My ETO Jeep

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Re: Trying to find what unit numbers to add on my 43’ GPW

Post by Arnold43GPW » Wed Jun 15, 2022 10:53 pm

Still looking, thank you all for the support..
1943 Ford GPW #104421 “ The Spirit of 43’ “ My PTO Jeep

1945 Ford GPW #266293 “ Smitty “ My ETO Jeep

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Re: Trying to find what unit numbers to add on my 43’ GPW

Post by Arnold43GPW » Mon Dec 19, 2022 11:41 am

bump
1943 Ford GPW #104421 “ The Spirit of 43’ “ My PTO Jeep

1945 Ford GPW #266293 “ Smitty “ My ETO Jeep

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Re: Trying to find what unit numbers to add on my 43’ GPW

Post by Austinmf » Tue Feb 21, 2023 8:51 am

Bump again

I have a 1943 gpw. 104342

Trying to find a unit for it. Think it was made in Kentucky.

My grandfather was in the ETO but no idea what unit. Joseph Carl Pinter was his name. He supposedly got to the battle of the bulge right after it was over.

Any help or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.


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