Seat Back Pouches an Authorized Mod?

1941 - 1945, MB, GPW modifications, sugestions, and ideas, official MWO's and unofficial WWII field mods NO EBAY or COMMERCIAL SALES.
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Gordon_M
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Re: Seat Back Pouches an Authorized Mod?

Post by Gordon_M » Mon Jan 25, 2016 8:57 am

Seat back pocket? Only WW2 one I could document was the one on the DUKW.
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Chance
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Re: Seat Back Pouches an Authorized Mod?

Post by Chance » Thu Jan 28, 2016 3:08 pm

Interesting to hear about the DUKW having one! Like the other ideas too - all good. Lots to think about.
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Re: Seat Back Pouches an Authorized Mod?

Post by NormD » Wed Feb 24, 2016 9:43 am

A few years back I had an article published in the MVPA --- ARMY MOTORS magazine, issue 115. The title, "THE US MECHANIZED CAVALRY OF WWII", it deals primarily with the field modifications used by cavalry troopers, specifically the 106th Cavalry Group. There are many pictures to backup their modifications. The article shares a little of my background and how I got involved with the 106th. Hope you find it interesting.

I'm attaching one of the photos from the article, showing the fender step pedestal mount used by the cavalry. Notice the 2 German POW's on the hood of the jeep.

With regards to the seat-back pouches, a few years ago Lt Bob Moore, of the 106th Cav Group asked me if I would like a German Cavalry Officer's saddle bag that he had captured during the war to hang in my "bantam"* for display. How could I refuse such a request. It hangs off the back of the passenger seat in my jeep. I use it for storage and as a conversation piece, the story alone is worth its weight in gold. Sorry I don't have a suitable photo. I will get one.

* For an explanation of why I used the term "Bantam" for Bob's reference to my jeep, see ARMY MOTORS issue 114, "THE US WW2 CAVALRY 'BANTAM' "


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WW2.MG.Side.jpg
WW2.MG.Side.jpg (147.01 KiB) Viewed 2665 times
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Re: Seat Back Pouches an Authorized Mod?

Post by Fabrizio » Wed Feb 24, 2016 9:51 am

Here in Paris, at the Army museum, there is General Leclerc's Jeep, and it has two seat canvas back pouches.
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NormD
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Re: Seat Back Pouches an Authorized Mod?

Post by NormD » Wed Feb 24, 2016 11:20 am

Hi Fabrizio,

The Generals always get what they want. Great piece of input to the conversation.

NormD
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Re: Seat Back Pouches an Authorized Mod?

Post by Fabrizio » Wed Feb 24, 2016 1:16 pm

Oops, my mistake, the Jeep is Jean de Lattre de Tassigny's one.
I thought I had seen pouches, but that's even stranger: what's that??

Here are some pictures from the web:
Image

Image
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Re: Seat Back Pouches an Authorized Mod?

Post by Chuck Lutz » Wed Feb 24, 2016 2:23 pm

The front seats look like something they picked up during the landings on the beach at St. Tropez for use on the General's jeep. Not original G503 front seat frames anyway.
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Re: Seat Back Pouches an Authorized Mod?

Post by Joe Gopan » Wed Feb 24, 2016 2:45 pm

The seat frames appeared to be modified for hand rails to be used for passing in review.
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Re: Seat Back Pouches an Authorized Mod?

Post by Chance » Thu Feb 25, 2016 6:48 am

All great info! Norm, that pic in particular, love it every time I see it. The bed roll (?) on the front wing reminds me of the pic of your jeep you shared. I'm toying with the idea of putting some footman loops on the fenders, just I am a nervous Nellie about drilling holes into my jeep. And THAT reminds me Norm, love the bustle basket. I put bicycle tube over the hooks that go over the back tub, and I used solid OD straps to pull the basket downward to the rear pull handles on each side. Trying to locate WW2 ground sheets, flysheet, small wall tent possibly, vehicle tarpaulin. Sorry this is off topic.

I don't know how I can access back issues of Army Motors, if that's possible. Those are weird looking seats, agree. More comfortable?

Norm definitely interested in the pic.
Chance
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1943 - January | Willys MB-T | Serial No. 21488

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Re: Seat Back Pouches an Authorized Mod?

Post by Chance » Thu Feb 25, 2016 1:44 pm

Off topic on my own topic, Norm's basket all painted and mounted:

Image
Image
Image
Chance
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Re: Seat Back Pouches an Authorized Mod?

Post by Chuck Lutz » Fri Feb 26, 2016 2:26 pm

Look at the position of the pass seat bottom compared to an original seat....it is maybe four inches or more HIGHER. They didn't just add some handles to the top edge of those front seats....either they completely took them apart and rebuilt the frames or they adapted some chairs to the jeep.

Either that or they stole the jeep Roosevelt was riding in when he visited North Africa?
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Re: Seat Back Pouches an Authorized Mod?

Post by Fabrizio » Sat Feb 27, 2016 12:12 pm

Also look at the metal sheet added between the front frame rails: the general used it to stand higher when talking to his men.
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