British AB Radio Jeep markings and paint!?

[Emil]

Hello Guys!

Did find this markings in the right rear corner... It´s a 6 backwards i think and a 6 on the right side! And it´s on the sand paint...





Do someone know what this 6 is?


Best regards

Emil Bruce
Sweden

[Halsey]

If you don't mind my asking, what are you using to sand away the paint?

I too am looking for markings on my jeep, and would like to know the best way to go about finding them...

Good luck!


Chris

[simon king]

Emil -

There are a number of books on British Army markings. If you can, try to get the "Warpaint" series by Dick Taylor (Vols 1-4 from Mushroom Model Publications). The other "standard" if you can find it, is "British Military Markings 1939-1945" by Peter Hodges and Michael D Taylor (pub Cannon Publications December 1994)

WW2 British Army unit markings comprised 3 key elements

-Divisional Sign
-Arm of service square (shows whether unit is infantry, artillery, recce, anti-tank,medical etc etc)
-Unit code (generally 2 digit number giving the role of the unit within the division, superimposed on the arm of service square)

By looking at all three elements you could determine the unit.

Generally the Divisional sign was painted on the nearside (LHS looking forward) front and rear and the unit code/arm of service square was painted on the offside (RHS looking forward) front and rear.

For airborne units, the Divisional sign would be a light blue Pegasus (winged horse) on a maroon/claret background. (Light blue and maroon/claret were the horse racing colours of General Browning) The unit code was painted in white.

I think that what you are seeing therefore is the arm of service square with the unit code superimposed upon it. Hodges and Taylor give us the unit codes for Airborne forces (specifically the 1st Airborne Division) Those ending in a 6 are

56 on a red square = 2nd Para Battalion
46 on a red/blue horizontal square = 1st and 2nd Air Landing Anti-tank Batteries, Royal Artillery

66 on a brown square was used by the 12th Devons (gliderborne air landing batallion) in the 6th Airborne Division

In his book, "World War 2 Military vehicle Markings" (Patrick Stephens Linited 1901) Terry Wise list additional numbers - included is

76 on black + second of two Field Ambulance units
46 on red/blue = Air Landing Light Regiment Royal Artillery (presumably 75mm Pack Howitzers - but note confict with information above!)

There is still much to learn and resolve

Hope this helps

[Emil]

Hello!

Thanks Simon for all that nice information!!!
I think the numbers on the back are 66 and the background are brown.
I did also find those markings on the dash:




Chris: I have used a knife... and some wet sand paper...
Many Thanks!
Best regards

Emil

[simon king]

Emil,

I've found out today that every British Army unit had an identifying number. For instance if you look at Farley 1 and 2, there are pictures of jeeps being shipped somewhere. On the back of each jeep is stencilled 34828. 34828 is apparently the code for 1 Airborne Div Workshop so this might tie up . On the other hand, it might just be a number to indicate the destination or the ship upon which the jeeps were to be loaded.

In the same vein, 36404 represents "120 DR Sec (Lt Car)", - now I don't specifically know what DR stands for in this context but it might be something to do with Dispatch Riders or could relate to the preparation/delivery and/or recovery/repair of jeeps and similar vehicles. Goodness only knows what PGI stands for - "passed general inspection" or something perhaps. The number might even pre-date the jeep's conversion for airborne use. The number may of course not be a code relating to a particular unit at all - but again "jeep" and "light car" seem to tie up.......

My thanks to Dick Taylor, author of the Warpaint volumes, for this information

[Halsey]

Neat stuff!

I hope I can find some interesting markings when I finally get to wet sanding everything....Really does tell a story of the history of the jeep!!!

Thanks for posting!!

Chris

[Emil]

Hello Simon!

I have the first Farley book, will have to buy the seccond on also!!!
I have seen those numbers on the back of those Jeeps also... Did think it are the same but diffrent numbers on mine!
But i haven´t seen any numbers on the rear panel.
Many Thanks for your information!!!
There will be very nice to make this Jeep back to how it did look at in service at the British Airborne.
More pictures here:

http://s149.photobucket.com/albums/s52/ ... ne%20Jeep/

Best regards
'
Emil

[bobgourami]

If the number on the rear corner is 56 it looks like your Jeep is probably from the same unit as the ones I posted on this thread:

http://www.g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=108&t=191495

2nd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment c. 1953 Ismailia, Egypt

[Emil]

Hello!

Many Thanks for that nice pictures!!! Looks like it could be my Jeep exept the numbers...
But i still think it should be 66 with a brown background.
The yellow tan paint have possible been in British Palestina...??? found on the net....

The brigade was withdrawn from Germany at the end of May 1945 and was sent, together with the rest of 6th Airborne Division, to British Palestine to provide internal security. Following the arrival of the 1st Parachute Brigade, however, the 6th Airlanding Brigade was no longer needed there and was returned to normal infantry duties, renamed the 31st Independent Infantry Brigade.

I will paint the Jeep olive drab... but where do i put the markings then?
Was the pegasus and the 66 on plates or would they been painted on too the Jeep?
Thanks!!!
Best regards

Emil