British Airborne Modifications

[Russ G]

That's a nice jeep and a nice website!

Doesn't having the spare tyre where it is make it run too hot?

Russ

[horsa]

I'm in central Texas and don't have any problems with the tire on front, even in the summer. Since its a slat, I have the extra shields to force draw air through the radiator properly.

[Glen]

Found this picture:

http://bcoy1cpb.pacdat.net/images/new-4.jpg

[Chaz]

Nice picture
Could you send me a high resolution copy please?? The bigger, the better. chaz@goatpark.f9.co.uk I've been searching for a decent clear photo of the rear of an airborne jeep and a decent picture of an airborne jeep with the steps not cut off and this photo might be both. The A frame doesn't look right though. What's the horizontal piece below the crossmember ??
Got to go, late for work already...

Chaz

[Viking27]

Dear Horsa,

Outstanding job in rebuilding your jeep! If the Gee would be giving medals for jeep restoration...I think at least a Silver star should be awarded to you!

Regards

[horsa]

Hey Chaz,

I've finally been able to borrow a working digital camera with a flash. If you still need high resolution shots of some parts or details, let me kow specifically what to shoot and I'll get them done.

Also was confused about what area you were asking about with the cross member and a horizontal piece?

The main difference on my rear "A" frame is we built the angle of it to bolt up where the bumperettes where located. I've been told this was one WWII method but the preferred method was to punch out the frame/cross member rivets/bolts and hook it up there. That way it had the full strength of the frame.

David

[horsa]

Hi Glen,

The photo you posted has a folding stretch bracket on the rear along with the tow "A" frame. Its another modification series that was used on airborne ambulance and cable laying jeeps I think.

The ambulance mods also added rifle clips like those holding my bren gun but they located one on each corner of the back of the driber and passenger seat frame. The handles of a stretch then rested in these clips and didn't obstruct the front people in the vehicle. The rear of the stretch hooked onto the larger fold out bracket like on the photo you posted when its raised up.

David

[Chaz]

Hi David, I was looking for wartime photo's in my quest to help decide if my MB was airborne or not and the picture on the link Glen provided shows an airborne jeep with the drivers step still attached and an odd frame at the rear (with part of it below the crossmember) which at the time I didn't recognise. With a wee bit more thought and some strong coffee I realised the frame is the stretcher rack, still not quite sure what the shovel is doing though.....
Probably also due to my low coffee levels at the time, I thought that the picture was Glens, it's actually on Colin Stevens site.

Interesting that you mention the Aframe sometimes being mounted through the bumperette holes. The two things that make me doubt my MB was airborne are 1/ the steps still attached and 2/ the crossmember rivets are still in place. I'm no longer worried about the steps, because I've recently seen several wartime photo's which show the steps in place. But I'm still not 100% sure about the rivets being in place. I did find one photo of an airborne jeep with bumperetes still fitted (and therefore presumably the rivets still in place) in Farleys book, but one photo isn't enough to convince me

I am still trying to work out the correct design of the gun clip mounting brackets. So far I've discovered some original ones riveted to square bases which looks right and would make sense for the clips mounted on the wing and in front of the windscreen, but I'm still not sure of the bracket for the side of the body. Common sense tells me that this bracket would just be an L shaped piece of the same material that the flat square base is made of, but I need to find a decent wartime picture to be certain. The other thing is the two styles of bracket mounted in front of the screen. 1/ the verticle clips on flat bases. 2/ the odd looking bracket with the clips pointing forward and slightly upwards. This bracket looks very useless, you would think that some heavy braking would cause your rifle to land on the bonnet...
My theory for today is that the brackets came as a pair, one flat base for the wing and one L bracket for the body side. Now because they wanted to mount some clips in front of the screen and having to use what they had got, they had to use some of the less usefull L bracket clips in front of the screen and just bent the bracket a bit so that the clip pointed slightly upwards???? I would welcome any better suggestions.....
Late for work again,
Regards,

Chaz

[horsa]

Hey Chaz,

The steps or running boards only had to be removed if the jeep was being loaded in a Horsa Mark I glider. They never knew in the earlier in the war so often removed them all. Later when the Horsa Mark II was a main production glider, they often left the parts on. With this later Horsa glider, they could drive in through the back on ramps and then pushed the aircraft frame back together.

Best book showing a mixture of photos is the 6th Airborne Division Illustrated history called "Go To It". You'll find all sorts of odd airborne jeep photos there.

On the rifle clips, why not make them initially without mounting bases? You could sell or provide the bases seperately since they bolt on and you'd never know where people planned to use them anyway.

Some of the fixed frame pedal bikes also had a rifle clip or two. I've seen one somewhere that had a leather cross over strap or loop that made sure the rifle didn't come flying out. Might be the option you indicated needed a solution for and then your clips could be the same main design.

I drive fast over rough terrain and have never had my Bren bounce out of the clips on my jeep where it hangs on the side. The clips are pretty strong spring steel and you have to really press the stock into the rear clip.

David

[Chaz]

Aye David, the plan is to just sell the clip without bracket at first and then also supply the various brackets once I'm 100% certain about the design.
Thanks for the tip about 6th Airborne Division Illustrated history book, searched the web and ordered a copy last night
Regards,

Chaz

[Bill K]

Help with the final stages please.

1. Any ideas how I can make or purchase some Pegasus decal plates.
2. I’m about to paint on the hood numbers. Should I use Blue drab or white? The vehicle has been restored to motor pool class.
3. I need a rear axle lamp assy. Any for sale?
4. Has anyone got some close up photo’s of the gun clip installations, Bren etc that they could share?

Thanks

Bill

[Jacco]

You should contact Rob van Meel for that airborne Jeep book of him.
That's the book David was talking about....I do not have contact info here with me. (not home..) If interested in this book ...send me a PM or email. Cheers,