Strata blue M38A1

[Samm38a1]

When I restored (frame off) my 1953 M38A1. I painted it late WWll semi gloss OD. I marked it as a USAF SAC jeep in rememberance of my Dad. I know what my Dad would have said, 15th AF vehicles were blue.

So anyone have pics of a strata blue M38A1? I want to show the family what it would look like. I'm putting it to the vote. It is our Dairy Queen assulat vehicle and they have to have a say.

I can get my OD fix in my 42 GPW.


Steve Mayville

[Rich Saylor]

Check out the strata blue M37 on this site:

http://www.garbee.net/~cabell/photos35.htm

[Samm38a1]

Thanks Rich. That is helpful. I did not mention that my A1 was and AF jeep. I found the Strata blue over OD.

Steve

[kb1zq]

I know this is not an M-38A1, or USAF makings; however it is USAF Strata Blue...





If the M-38 was not a Canadian M38 I would have done USAF markings... 33rd Combat Comm Sq/3rd Combat Comm Gp

Hope this helps...

[Mike W.]

That looks very similar to a blue M38 I drove in the Navy 72-74 while stationed at NAS Treasure Island in the Bay area, had yellow Navy markings but I always wondered if it had been AF first.

[loopbackzero]

This was my dad's Civil Air Patrol jeep back in the 70s. Not USAF markings, but USAF paint. Pretty dirty too.

[Wes K]

[faabala]

[Packrat]

Great pictures of Air Force jeeps.
They do bring up a question for me though, Did most USAF jeeps have the markings on the hoods (as most of the pictures show) rather than below the each door as published in T.O. 36-1-3 Painting And Markings Of USAF Vehicles?
I have my Strata Blue A1 about ready for the markings and would like to hear from others as to which is more correct.
Thanks,
Packrat

[kb1zq]

To my knowledge and experience, jeeps would have markings on the hood as there were no doors so to speak...

[Samm38a1]

Thank you all for the photos of AF and CAP jeeps. As I mentioned above mine was USAF. It was then assigned to CAP before being sold at auction so it is fitting that I cover the OD with strata blue.

Packrat:

I got a portal press publication on USAF markings T.O.36-1-3

They did not mark hood numbers on jeeps. The markings were
U.S. AIR FORCE (below the door) (2 inch )
Registration Number: 50K 22 (2 inch)
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY ( 1 inch letters)

Bumpers

Command: SAC (Strategic Air Command)
Base: MAFB ( MARCH AIR FORCE BASE) Motor Pool: A-2

NO STARS ON VEHICLES IN THE CONTINENTAL US
I have not figured out how the registration number is obtained except it is outlined in Air Force regulation 77-6. Where ever that is.


I hope I am as much help as you guys were to me.

Steve Mayville

[Samm38a1]

I have to back up.

Clearly they did mark on the hood. As evidenced by the photos. According to the T.O. 36-1-3 an A1 was to be marked below the door and the numbering system is different. If the 20XXXXXX was used it must have been rare like the pic that Wes sent.

Steve

[Wes K]

The USAF transition from Army Air Corp to USAF was a slow one that started in 1948 with the death of the War Department and the birth of the DOD. The strata blue M38's and A1's didn't show up until after the Korean War. The numbers went from Army hood numbers to Army under the door sill numbers to the 2 + 4 USAF registration thing that started in the mid 50's.
Take a look at my photo site:
http://usafjeeps.mypicgallery.com/


The old army hood number and OD


The initial transition having both the old army hood number and new USAF Official Business Only & army hood number under the doorsill.


The second transition with the new USAF 2 + 4 registration number and USAF on the hood again but the remains of the under the doorsill numbers are still there.


Finally the 1960's with the 2 digit year + vehicle purpose code + registration number on the hood.

Not shown are a few with the numbers moved aft to the sides of the cowl and at the very aft end of the hood.

[Larry May]

I am in the process of restoring a 1952 M38A1 and have found that the base paint on the body tub is blue. Beneath all brackets, and sheetmetal part that bolts to the tub that goes around the gas tank spout is blue. Under the undercoat is blue, up behind the dash is blue.

The back side of the dash is blue. Yet the back side of all brackets (where they contact the body) are OD. The fenders and grill are OD under the blue. It will be interesting when I pull the old tires off the wheels as to what color the inner portion of the wheel is?


I have not idea if somewhere along the line the body tub was replaced?? However, the tub is pretty beat up.

I am restoring this jeep to AF blue

Larry