Navy jeep at Espiritu Santo. 1940's

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gpwmke
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Navy jeep at Espiritu Santo. 1940's

Post by gpwmke » Sun May 24, 2020 10:54 am

Espiritu Santo is a city in Vanuatu, formerly known as the New Hebrides islands. During WW2 this was the site of a huge operating/logistics base south of the Solomon Islands and was the staging area for the Guadalcanal campaign along with a base at Noumea. The Espiritu Santo site on Wikipedia has a tab marked History, when you open it a scroll down there are at least 3 pictures the third one being the pic of a Navy jeep at a gate check in point. (I am no computer guy so don't know how to do the picture, but you can navigate to the pic pretty easily.
Jeep appears to be Navy grey and is a 42 the way it appears. Can't see a script on it but the reflectors are laid out in the early configuration and there is no trailer socket on the rear panel. Appears to show the early style canvas top since there is no provision for the extra gas can carrier and there is no black out drive light mounted on the fender. If you track down the picture, I hope you enjoy it.


Arnold43GPW
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Re: Navy jeep at Espiritu Santo. 1940's

Post by Arnold43GPW » Sun Aug 09, 2020 5:37 pm

My Great Uncle was at Espiritu Santo (New Herbrides) after the Battle of Saipan on R&R in 1944.
1943 Ford GPW #104421 “ The Spirit of 43’ “ My PTO Jeep

1945 Ford GPW #266293 “ Smitty “ My ETO Jeep

sjalbert
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Re: Navy jeep at Espiritu Santo. 1940's

Post by sjalbert » Mon Aug 10, 2020 4:51 am

You're a young'un Arnold.

My father was a B-17 waist gunner with the 11th Bomb Group, 42nd Bomb Squadron in 1942-43 flying missions off of Espiritu Santo up the "Slot" including support of the Guadalcanal campaign. My 1944 Willys is marked for his unit.
Seth
******
1944 MB 349858, 20620361
1942 MBT 10968 viewtopic.php?f=18&t=149552
1942 MBT 15799, USA 0217497 viewtopic.php?f=18&t=225199
MVPA # 8587
Com / Inst. SMEL
CFII - ASEL
KI5LYB

Collecting Willys Engine Info. Please send me Engine #, Casting Date & Machining Date if known


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