Blue hood markings on a 1944 MB?

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Lee Bishop
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Blue hood markings on a 1944 MB?

Post by Lee Bishop » Mon Jul 18, 2022 9:03 pm

I'm seriously pondering putting blue hood markings on my 1944 MB.
The idea is to match the hood markings for the Jeep Bill Mauldin was issued by 5th Army.
Now, I know that Jeep was a GPW and probably a 43 one, but my question is if factory blue hood numbers were put on MBs as late as the summer of 44?
Owner, 1944 Willys MB #366014
Former US Army Captain and REMF :mrgreen:


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Gary C V
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Re: Blue hood markings on a 1944 MB?

Post by Gary C V » Tue Jul 19, 2022 8:30 pm

Hi Lee,

Mate are you referring to this Jeep? if yes , it's a Willys.
As for the use of blue drab #'s from the factory , my understanding is that the blue drab was used well into 45.
Hope this helps.
Cheers
Gary
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pgcf
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Re: Blue hood markings on a 1944 MB?

Post by pgcf » Wed Jul 20, 2022 8:32 am

Lee,

Gary is correct regarding factory numbers. You have pictures of Mauldin's jeep so that is all the proof you need, do what you want.

The white numbers were added in theatre per Army regulations. Obviously not every jeep got the update.

Cheers,
Peter

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Lee Bishop
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Re: Blue hood markings on a 1944 MB?

Post by Lee Bishop » Thu Jul 21, 2022 7:28 am

pgcf wrote:
Wed Jul 20, 2022 8:32 am
You have pictures of Mauldin's jeep so that is all the proof you need, do what you want.
Yeah, but for sure that Jeep was earlier than mine (August 44), as those photos were likely taken before mine was built. I was just checking if later 44 Jeeps had blue hood markings, and all the reference books I have didn't seem to clarify the point.
I just wanted to do something that was historically plausible.
Owner, 1944 Willys MB #366014
Former US Army Captain and REMF :mrgreen:

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Re: Blue hood markings on a 1944 MB?

Post by pgcf » Thu Jul 21, 2022 7:35 am

I get it, the blue drab numbers were applied at the factory for all of 1944.

That should give you the info you want.

Lloyd and I covered this in his books. I know you have them since you did the illustrations...HA!

Peter

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Lee Bishop
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Re: Blue hood markings on a 1944 MB?

Post by Lee Bishop » Thu Jul 21, 2022 8:08 am

Peter, thanks for the info. I had assumed they had the blue markings by late 44, but I never apply assumptions to reality.
pgcf wrote:
Thu Jul 21, 2022 7:35 am
Lloyd and I covered this in his books. I know you have them since you did the illustrations...HA!
It's funny you'd mention this. I did try to look it up, but there are 5 books and you know how much info that is to thumb through. I couldn't find a mention of it either way as I didn't spend as much time looking through all those books as I should, I guess.
Yeah, I do have a set of the books, part of my compensation for doing those drawings. In retrospect, I should have asked for two sets and just sat on one of them as someone recently offered me almost a thousand bucks for my set.
All mine are signed by Lloyd he was surprised I wanted them personalized as he said they'd be easier to resell otherwise. I told him I had no intention of ever selling them as I knew he'd sell out soon enough and they'd be worth their weight in gold later. I never sell good reference books.
Owner, 1944 Willys MB #366014
Former US Army Captain and REMF :mrgreen:

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Re: Blue hood markings on a 1944 MB?

Post by sjalbert » Thu Jul 21, 2022 8:49 am

Lee Bishop wrote:
Thu Jul 21, 2022 8:08 am
... I never sell good reference books.
Amen
Seth
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Re: Blue hood markings on a 1944 MB?

Post by pgcf » Thu Jul 21, 2022 6:26 pm

Lee,

It's in Volume 1 where the changes are broken out by serial number.

Cheers,
Peter

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Lee Bishop
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Re: Blue hood markings on a 1944 MB?

Post by Lee Bishop » Fri Jul 22, 2022 8:45 am

pgcf wrote:
Thu Jul 21, 2022 6:26 pm
It's in Volume 1 where the changes are broken out by serial number.
Thanks, I'll give it a look!
Owner, 1944 Willys MB #366014
Former US Army Captain and REMF :mrgreen:


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