Hi Jim,
Interested in your blue paint idea. Was this done at the factory? Was this
discontinued before we went over seas?
The reason I ask, is from the many photos I have reviewed from European theater
the vehicles appear to have white reg numbers. Also, my 42 has 4 inch white reg
numbers on the hood, invasions stare in the hood complete with orange chemical
detection paint, and a bar code on the driver's side rear corner.
Dj
jim gilmore wrote:
> OKM.... wrote:
> >.........This query concerns the color of the vehicle registration numbers
> >in 1941 and
> >the first quarter of 1942. YES, I do know what the regulations say. Prior to
> >April, 1942 the registration numbers were to be in white, and changed to blue
> >drab in April...........
>
> I am unsure of what regulations you are referring to here. I have done
> quite a bit of research at the National Archives in the Q.M. paint files
> and have only found the Blue Drab to have been used in the time period you
> specified. ALL Ford military vehicles in this time period (including the
> GP/GPW) used the Blue Drab paint.
>
> When the specifications for the first 1/4 ton 4x4 (JEEP) contracts
> were let out (circa 1940), the paint spec's called for the registration
> numbers to be white. However, this was changed to Blue Drab before the
> prototypes were built.
> Blue Drab paint was specified to prevent observation of the
> registration numbers by enemy aerial reconnaissance. At a distance, the
> Blue Drab had the same light reflective qualities as the Lusterless Olive
> Drab paint (spec. ES-474) used on the tactical combat vehicles. This caused
> the Blue Drab numbers to appear the same as the body color in the black and
> white films used in this period of time. Thusly, the enemy could not
> identify units by their vehicles as the numbers did not appear in the
> aerial photos.
> There were two types of Blue Drab paint used. The color was exactly the
> same for both. The later Blue Drab was developed because the earlier would
> fade to a lighter shade with in a month or two outside in the sunlight.
> This would then allow the number to be "seen" by the black and white film
> and would appear to "look" white.
>
> > ....The regulation specifies that the numbers were to be applied
> >by the factory...........
>
> This was done using a standard type and style of stencil.
>
> > .....My question is: did the factory begin applying blue drab
> >numbers immediately, was there a delay in implementation, or had they
> >actually been applying the numbers in blue before the date of the change to
> >the regulation?........
>
> Blue Drab was used on most vehicles produced during the war. ALL Ford
> GP and most GPW's used it as did Willys, Bantam, Studebaker, GMC, Dodge,
> trucks, tanks, armored cars, half tracks, scout cars etc. in this time period.
>
> > ....Has anyone recovered original registration numbers from a
> >pre-April '42 vehicle (of any type)? Were they in white or blue drab?........
>
> I have recovered the Blue Drab numbers on several of my Ford GP's and
> have seen original existing Blue Drab numbers on other GP's and GPW's along
> with Ford G-8-T trucks, weasels, dodges and several tanks.
>
> BTW..............all of these numbers were "solid" and did not have the
> web breaks that were on the stencils. The paint spec's called for the
> breaks to be painted in with a brush. Some of the stencils used by the
> factories were of the "peel and stick" gummed back type that did not have
> the breaks.
>
> Jim
>
> NOTE NEW ADDRESS----NOTE NEW ADDRESS---NOTE NEW ADDRESS------AS OF
> JANUARY 4, 2001---------
>
> Jim Gilmore
> 13 Broadway 3rd floor
> Jim Thorpe, PA. 18229
>
> 570-325-5216 phone
>
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Dec 07 2001 - 00:36:25 PST