The Shreveport Times reported on a forest fires on august 12, 1947, and included a photo of a forestry commission jeep.
Old Images Research Archives
1953 Photo of a Forestry Jeep, Possibly in South Dakota
Speaking of Forestry Jeeps, this photo of a Forest Service CJ-3A with a Fire pump was taken August 15, 1953. The image resides in the Black Hills National Forest Historical Collection.
https://explore.digitalsd.org/digital/collection/BHNF/id/6549
1955 Photo of a Leb’s Restaurant Delivery Jeep
UPDATE: Thanks to Mark for forwarding this additional info about Leb’s: http://sites.gsu.edu/historyofourstreets/category/lebs-restaurant/
This May 25, 1955, photo shows a CJ-3B with a Worman hardtop that’s splashed with Leb’s advertising. I can’t tell what the hood advertising states. The photo was taken outside the Bell Telephone Company in Atlanta, Georgia.
https://digitalcollections.library.gsu.edu/digital/collection/lane/id/1427
1943 Article on FDR and Jeeps
This article shows FDR in jeeps. It was published in the Minneapolis Star Tribune February 02, 1943.
1955 Photo of Tornado Damaged Jeep … Udall, Kansas
This may have been a CJ-3A. It lost a battle to a Kansas Tornado. The photo was taken on May 25, 1955, and is a part of the National Archives of Kansas.
Photo of Seabee MB on Gaudacanal(?)
Gayland shared this photo of a Seabee MB NCB 6 (later changed to an MCB in 1949). He added, “I don’t know the location but suspect it is Guadalcanal. MCB6 was the first Seabee unit in combat when it joined the Marines on that island. Seabee equipment, at least in the Pacific theater, was painted the same color Marine equipment. Haze Gray shows up a little too well in the jungle.”
1948 Photo From Sweden
The good looking MB in this photo has a nice top. What kind of structure is that? A Cabin?
The Swedish translates to English as: “Staff trip to Storvallen 1948. From left: Uno Branden, Britta, Ingrid Hellström, Einar Montén and Astrid Walster.”
1942 Photo ‘Demonstrating’ the Walkie Talkie
This April 03, 1942, photo shows Corporal Joseph Vober and Cecelia Marchio ‘demonstrating’ the new wacky-talkie that is installed in a jeep.
I didn’t learn much about either person pictured in the photo. Cecelia married, becoming Cecelia Maselic (Ceclia’s brother Daniel was a Marine in WWII and Korea). I believe Joseph Vober would go on to marry Evelyn Lau.
1965 Photo of CJ-2A From Sweden
As best as I can translate, the Swedes in this CJ-2A are celebrating National (or World) Children’s Day. Maybe the signs provide more information.
1946 Jeep Trip From Hawaii to the Midwest
This photo captures three friends traveling from Hawaii to the midwest via Minnesota. Akira Tanaka, sitting in the driver’s seat, helped establish the military intelligence company that was part of Camp Savage in Minnesota.This was published in the September 16, 1946, issue of The Minneapolis Star.
I tried to learn more about these three, but didn’t have much luck. There was an Akira Tanaka that went to work for General Motors and built himself a home that was featured in a 1955 article in the Detroit Press. So, it’s possible that he graduated from College in Michigan, then went to work for GM. If that’s the case, he developed several automotive patents for the company.
1944 January Drive in a Ford GP
The January 30, 1944, Sunday issue of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune made John Henkels and his son front page news for the purchase of their 1941 Ford GP from Wilensky’s auto parts. What a cold drive back to Fulda, Minnesota, that must have been!
1945-1946 Ads for Army Surplus Jeeps in Minneapolis
This ad appeared within the classified ad section of the October 04, 1946, issue of the Minneapolis Star. It was posted by American Motor Sales, which was located at 1220 West Broadway. Whether the company actually had Ford GPs for sale isn’t clear; most likely, it was just standard MBs or GPWs.
A few days later, the Downtown Chevrolet Company advertised in the October 09, 1946, issue of the Minneapolis Star that they had 100 surplus jeeps available for customers:
Subsequently, an ad was placed by Twin City Motors, which also claimed to have jeeps (either GPWs or FORD GPs or both):
So, how did these companies obtain the jeeps? As we saw yesterday, there were some bidding opportunities that allowed Hyman Berg and others the opportunity to purchase multiple prototype jeeps. So, perhaps these Minneapolis-based companies also scored some prototypes that way?
What we do know is that the government was selling jeeps to veterans (previous stories highlight sale in Hawaii and California). And, those jeeps sold pretty quickly.
For example, in late 1945, the government’s War Asset group put 10,000 jeeps up for purchase by veterans. Those 10,000 jeeps were promptly sold (November 30, 1945, the Star Tribune):
A month later, an article from the Dec 08, 1945, issue of the Minneapolis Star, announced that another batch of 10,000 jeeps had been made available as of December 1945:
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Wilensky Auto Parts’ Ford GPs
UPDATE: The press photo at bottom appeared in the January 24, 1944, issue of the Minneapolis Morning Tribune (seen below). It seems that Harvey Wilensky must have also won a bid for jeeps about the same time as Hyman Berg did.
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Originally Posted November 16, 2013: This photo shows a lineup of surplus Ford GPs for sale. The selling price: $750 at Wilensky Auto Parts in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
1944 Article on the Burma Jeep Trains
The article shares information on why the GI’s had to use jeeps on the tracks and the dangers they faced. The photo is from a later newspaper.
From the Tucson Daily Citizen, October 23, 1944:
1944 Photo Angelo Tempesta Sleeping on Jeep on eBay
This photo shows jeep driver Angelo Temesta sleeping on the hood of his jeep.
View all the information on ebay
“For sale is an Original WW2 US Army Press Photograph of a named Solider Sleeping on Jeep Willys in St. Lo France, dated July, 1944. Measures 5″ x 7″. There is wear and a creases in the middle. Other edge wear and minor creases. Please see all photos.”
1947 Photos of the Indianapolis Speedway Fire Jeep
These two 1947 photos can be found as part of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway digital archives.
June 1949 Southern Utah – Glen Canyon Trip
These two photos from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science Digital Archives includes these two photos from a June 1949 trip though Southeastern Utah, specifically the Glen Canyon area. It’s unclear who these folks were or whether this was an official survey party or just an jeep adventure.
1953 Photo of Working Model Jeepster
The Tribune newspaper out of Coshocton, Ohio, shared this photo and caption on the May 24, 1953. It shows three-year-old Terry Schley driving a model Jeepster his father built for him. It includes a feature that auto braked when the foot is lifted from the accelerator.
Photos of early DJ-3A Hardtops with Side Glass
UPDATE: 2 more photos of DJ-3A Hardtops with side glass (note also the use of the modified hardtop with glass on the Jeep Creep jeep above). The first is a different 1956 DJ-3A with the same type of hardtop (side windows and small rear window) was posted to Facebook.
So, does this mean Willys Motors had planned on selling DJ-3As with side windows, but for some reason changed its strategy? Or, did they only intend these tops for commercial/governmental use?
This second is undated, but shows a DJ-3A with a windowed hardtop for the Triangle Drive-in. It was posted to Facebook by Michael Canup.
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The photos of this RHD drive DJ-3A were posted by Andy to Facebook. They show a RHD DJ-3A at work for the Los Angeles School Police Department (that’s the department’s insignia on the door).
This is a 1956 RHD DJ-3A. It has the small rear window top that was halted sometime around late 1956 or early 1957 (http://www.ewillys.com/2020/03/17/different-version-of-the-koenig-manufactured-hardtop/), but also has the Hall tail lights which I am surprised to see on a 1956 (https://cj3b.info/Dating/Taillights.html). Oddly, it also has the rear side windows on the hardtop, which wasn’t common for the DJ-3As, but the side windows were standard for this model of the CJ-5 hardtop. So, this must have been a special order?
There was another photo taken with what appears to be the same jeep (same number on the door), but having a different driver (at least a different cap) named Officer Verne Schlotzhauer, while Captain Maurice W. Calfee watches the officer. The car to the right is different, also. This appeared in the July 24, 1956, issue of the Valley News, Van Nuys, California:
The top pic was also syndicated to newspapers. The image below appeared in the June 22, 1956, issue of the Des Moines Register:
Kent Frost Jeep Photos from 1955 and 1957
The Huntington Digital Library has some more Kent Frost photos from his trips through Canyonlands and other southern Utah places. The photos represent two different trips. Most pics are from an October of 1955 jeep excursion, while one photo is from May of 1957.
This first photo from October of 1955 is a great photo that shows Kent and Fern Frost standing in front of a CJ-2A with a Porter & Reed hardtop. I’m not sure if this was one of their jeeps or not.
1950 Photo of Roy Fisher’s Willys “Jeep” Dealership
This 1950 photo from the Gateway to Oklahoma History archives shows Roy Fisher’s jeep dealership. His dealership was active between 1946 and 1950 in Oklahoma City, OK. It was sold about the time this May 1950 photo was taken. Note the CJ-2A Fire Jeep in the second story window. The vintage Willys sign with the drop “J” logo is cool as well.
Here are a few ads from the Roy Fisher Willys ‘Jeep’ dealer era.
Here is the sale announcement from the May 25, 1950, issue of the Miami News-Record out of Miami, Oklahoma:
1951 Photo of Jeeps Carrying Personnel during Korean War on eBay
It looks like these jeeps were stuff full for the drive to the front.
View all the information on eBay
“This is an original press photo. An American convoy,part of reinforcements being rushed to the front to stem advance of tank led North Korean forces, prepares to move forward Photo measures 7.25 x 8.5 inches. Photo is dated 3-2-1951.”
Circa 1954 Photo of Jeep on Lake Mendota Ice Fishing
This photo from the University of Wisconsin Digital Achrives was taken around 1954 and shows a jeep atop the Lake Mendota Ice, surrounded by fisherman.
Lake Mendota borders the northern side of downtown Madison, Wisconsin. In the early 1990s I lived in Madison for a couple years, but rarely spent much time near Lake Mendota.
Learn more here: https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AGOAAUBBNQBJC28P
This first photo is a closeup from the photo below it. The jeep appears to be a pretty stock MB.
WWII Photo Collection on eBay
The starting bid for the collection of 677 photos starts at $1000. It does include a few images of jeeps, including a Ford GPA Seep, an MB, and a Ford GP named “Marie”.
View all the information on eBay
“An awesome circa WWII original photograph album with approximately (677) photos. (567) on album pages that can be removed and (110) other photos. Mostly WWII US Army/Military from an album that came apart. They include some great images with lots of examples below. The 1939 Rose Bowl Football Game (soldiers must have attended) USC University of Southern California vs Duke Bluedevils, Tanks and Crew, Black Officers and soldiers, Uniforms, Helmets, Jeep Willy, Trucks, guns, vehicles, Baseball 86th R.C.A., Boxing, pin up girl in bathing suit, airplanes, blimp, Pasedena, California, Radio City, Mess, Medical, 25th Armored Engineer Battalion, Hollywood Canteen, Toyko Express, Beer, Cigars, girls, ladies, getting married wedding pic, USA flag, UCLA pennant, large Santa Claus, milk crates, shovels, family, etc. An awesome group of 1940’s photographs.”
1945 Photo Intelligence Jeep & Trailer on eBay
Steve shared this photo that includes some specific information about the jeep and its occupants. I’m wondering if these photos are related to the Brenner Pass counter intelligence operation described in this book? I’ve included more photos from Lt. Kradeskis below this one. You can see many more photos here that were taken by Lt. Kradeskis.
View all the information on eBay
“Original WWII Snapshot Photo of COUNTERINTELLIGENCE CORPS JEEP & TRAILER of Lt. Kradeskis at BRENNER PASS between Austria and Italy, 1945. Photo was taken by Lieutenant William (Bill) Kradeskis of the Counterintelligence Corps (CIC). Lt. Kradeskis was variously assigned to the 6th Armored Division, 101st Airborne Division, and 7th Army in France, Belgium, Germany, and Austria. He was from Marblehead, Massachusetts, and married (to Bee) on 18 December 1943 just before shipping out for the ETO and did not get his honeymoon until after the war starting 6 January 1946. See the other photos I have listed from this officer. Search for “CIC” in the titles of my listings.”
There are more photos that include jeeps. Lt. Kradeskis seems to have documented a lot of his travels during WWII.
2. OFFICER McGRATH COUNTER INTELLIGENCE JEEP “CAPTURES” KAISERSLAUTERN 52
4. COUNTER INTELLIGENCE HQ SIGN GUARD AUGSBURG 9
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