Willys jeep and RAF deanland

[gav1969]

Hi all

Im restoring a 1943 gpw im going to be painting it in RAF blue.

Would any know what unit markings i could put on it for being based at RAF deanland in Sussex

Regards Gav

[Andy Saunders]

Well...322 Squadron (for example) were there around D-Day.

They must have had a Jeep or two and I'll bet they may well have had the Dutch 'triangle' emblem and (maybe) an inscription RAF/322 on the mud guard. But were RAF wartime Jeeps blue...or green? I have always had a feeling they were not blue until post-war?

322 Sqn are still operational in Netherlands. Why not ask what photos they have? Just a thought!

[gav1969]

Thanks Andy

I poped into Tangmere today to ask the question about the colour the chap i spoke to said jeeps were painted blue in the uk and green when they went to France after D-day, The follow me jeeps with the cheque paint scheem were post war unless some one knows different

Gav

[Larry]

Gav,

Please do not paint your Jeep blue - this was a pre and post war colour.

Although some RAF vehicles that were built pre-war and up to 1941, had an RAF blue coulour scheme in WW2, the RAF soon adopted matt camouflage colours from the Battle of Britain onwards for vehicles based in Southern England. In August 1941 the AMO order was finally issued to adopt Army matt colour schemes from then on (ignoring staff cars for the RAF senior top brass which were often polished).

Also as the Army got priority for 4x4 vehicles, the RAF got Jeeps at a slower rate and later in the war. A Jeep would have therefore stayed in US Olive drab or very occasionally been repainted in UK equivalent colours. Paint was at a premium so repainting US vehicles wasted resources. The only exception was painting matt black camouflage over the base coat, as was done by mobile units of 2nd TAF but not often in the UK.

So if your Jeep is to be marked as an RAF vehicle used in the UK US Olive drab with RAF markings is going to be the most accurate option.

[gav1969]

Thanks Larry

God this is getting more confusing each day lol i havent started the paint job yet which is why im doing research.

I wanted some thing different as when you go to shows nearly every single jeep is green i want some thing different which stands out from the crowd

gav

[Andy Saunders]

Yes, Larry's view confirmed what I had always believed and what a Jeep restorer friend told me years ago. At that time I had toyed with the idea of getting a jeep and wanted it in RAF blue....until he told me wartime RAF ones were never blue!! I did look into it quite a lot and made a few enquiries before interest and available £££'s waned and I never bought my jeep.

I think the RAF possibly carried on using them into the late 40s, or perhaps beyond, although I do wonder if they were mostly lease-lend and perhaps then mostly went back to the US? In which case, there possibly wouldn't have been many blue ones, anyway? I think (but I may be mistaken) that I have seen a shot of an RAF blue one at Gatow during the Berlin air lift.

You might try the RAF museum who may have some information (AMOs) etc on this specialised topic.

[Graham Boak]

You can always produce a airfield "Follow me" jeep in yellow - at least one was in yellow and black checks so that would stand out from the crowd. I think these were USAAF rather than RAF, however.

Some USN ones were a medium grey, perhaps USN Ocean Gray (not the RAF colour), and I suspect some USMC ones were in Forest Green - perhaps.

[gav1969]

That was going to be another option, i thought usn grey and doing it in PT109 colours jfk boat, or as a shore patrol jeep

[Larry]

Having thought a bit more about the subject I think that RAF Jeeps in the RAF in the UK were quite rare (contrary to every war film you see!) as they were 4x4 so had to go to the most needy. The 2nd TAF got Jeeps for certain but even late war photos show that 4x2 Fordson and 4x2 10cwt Tilleys were the most likely run abouts in the UK

[gav1969]

well this is why originly i thought about RAF blue but when some one mentioned they didnt have blue in war time i was going to complain to the makers of 633 squadron they use a blue jeep in that lol