property air force / usn square cans

Manufacturers, production numbers, configurations, etc.
bombtech
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square cans

Post by bombtech » Tue Jun 24, 2008 6:28 pm

After seeing a wide variance in the stated capacity of these cans. I finally did some farm yard science and filled one of these with well water, it held right at 9 US gallons. I also talked with a B-24 gunner of the Pacific campaign. He does not remember any of these cans for either fuel or oils. Not much help in this, one of many unsolved jerry can mysteries, and the hunt for truth in history continues...
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Re: property air force / usn square cans

Post by Rustman » Sat Jan 18, 2020 3:49 am

I know this is an old thread, but it's also the most valuable on these cans. So instead of starting a new one I'd like to continue this one.

Does anyone know what they actually were use for? Definitively with some sort of photographic or period descriptive evidence? The theory that they were for in flight refueling seems to only be supported by the movie Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo. Although G503 member Steve Greenburg does have a Navy version that is marked for engine fuel. viewtopic.php?t=299564

Also I recently acquired 3 USAC ones made by TSCO. Pretty confident that is the lesser used abbreviation for US Army Air Corps. Cans appear to have been originally galvanized, but I'll know more when I look inside. Note the lid type. The four ears have slots. I would assume with the aviation tie in that these cans could be "safety wired" from the lid to the handle for transport.
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Re: property air force / usn square cans

Post by Rustman » Sat Jan 18, 2020 12:26 pm

A few more pictures of the three I just bought:
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1970 Kaiser Jeep DJ-5A Left Hand Drive
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Re: property air force / usn square cans

Post by Rajeee » Tue Jan 21, 2020 7:20 am

Nice collection. !

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Re: property air force / usn square cans

Post by '42 Peep's Motorpool » Wed May 13, 2020 6:48 pm

Hi all,

Great cans, these were originally shipped in lightweight crates made of wood with something like masonite sides.

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Re: property air force / usn square cans

Post by Rustman » Fri May 15, 2020 2:09 am

Thanks. Someone on the Jerry Can Forum on Facebook has some crates. I was able to get photographs so I can recreate a couple myself.

Matt
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phantomfixer
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Re: property air force / usn square cans

Post by phantomfixer » Sun Jul 25, 2021 4:45 pm

There is a pic of a liason acft being refueled with one if these square cans, utilizing an early brass screw on DDfiller...will do some digging to see if I can find it...
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Re: property air force / usn square cans

Post by Rustman » Sun Jul 25, 2021 8:34 pm

phantomfixer wrote:
Sun Jul 25, 2021 4:45 pm
There is a pic of a liason acft being refueled with one if these square cans, utilizing an early brass screw on DDfiller...will do some digging to see if I can find it...
That would be great! The photo I'm thinking of with a Liaison bird and an early screw on filler is one of the round cans. Circa 1941.

Matthew
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Re: property air force / usn square cans

Post by phantomfixer » Mon Jul 26, 2021 4:01 am

you could be right Matt....it's been a few years since that photo surfaced...
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Re: property air force / usn square cans

Post by W. Winget » Mon Jul 26, 2021 6:17 am

Reference the slots in the cap, My bet woud be a contents tag like which octane fuel was within, or motor oil, etc. tag laced in the ears.
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Re: property air force / usn square cans

Post by zepher11 » Mon Jul 26, 2021 6:20 am

I found a photo of fueling a recon plane with a round can:
Command Car 118.jpg
Round Can, Can
Zeph

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Re: property air force / usn square cans

Post by Rustman » Tue Jul 27, 2021 9:51 am

Zeph,

That's the one I'm thinking of. I have one of those cans in the collection as well. The other I sold to Earnie Baals to go on his VC.

Matt
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194* G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Composite Body
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Ernie Baals
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Re: property air force / usn square cans

Post by Ernie Baals » Fri Sep 17, 2021 12:34 pm

And it is very happily tied to the running board with the early long brass spout!!!
Thanks again Matt
i have been trying to find one of these cans on the east coast for years!!
Ernie
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