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1944 “Conquest of Normandy” Video

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This 1944 video shows the early days following D-day. Not a whole lot of jeeps, but some interesting footage.

Various shots of American soldiers in street of village of Isigny. Fires are still burning in some of the wrecked buildings. Various shots of villagers returning home, passing American troops pushing on through smouldering ruins. M/S of dejected looking German prisoners resting against wall. Various shots of American soldiers helping civilians and rounding up more prisoners. They issue out advice and food to villagers from loud speaker van.

Aerial view of flooded area near Carentan. Point of view shot from jeep travelling along country road, American troops are resting in hedges. Various shots of refugees returning to Carentan. Happy American soldiers in the main square of Carentan, the World War One memorial is decorated with allied flags. The villagers come out of bomb shelters to greet the liberators. More shots troops advancing. Various shots of local fire fighters putting out fires in the town using hand pump.

Aerial shots of of Dakotas dropping paratroops over Northern France. Various shots of U.S. infantry passing through St. Marie du Mont. Various shots of British artillery unit firing field guns into the German lines. L/S of Sherman tanks of the British Army moving across fields. M/S of British infantry moving along country road. Various shots of American infantry moving through Montebourg, includes shots of American soldiers using a motorcycle-halftrack captured from Germans. American soldiers also seen operating remote controlled midget tank captured from enemy.

Various shots of Canadian troops evacuating their Public Relations H.Q. which has been hit by a shell. Various shots of Normandy farmyard where British and American troops are lining up for food. Army chef has made jokey menu board. More shots of Infantry on the road between Caen and Bayeux

Various shots of General Charles de Gaulle climbing down from DUKW (amphibious vehicle) on Normandy beach, before being driven off in a jeep. Various shots of De Gaulle meeting the people of France again. He is seen at the town of Bayeux, shaking hands and receiving flowers from cheering crowds.

Back on the beaches. Various shots of King George VI arriving on DUKW, he is greeted by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery (aka Monty). The King wears naval uniform. Various shots of King at investiture ceremony in the field. He presents medals to soldiers, including the Commander of the Third Canadian Division. Troops cheer the King. The King shakes hands with Monty before departing.

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1956? Willys Export Military Vehicle Brochure

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: I received this in the mail. It’s a surprisingly hefty booklet!

I had just enough time to win this brochure on eBay Sunday. It’s 52 pages. Willys even offered a DJ-3A for the military. I’m guessing this is a 1956 brochure, as it includes the CJ-6 and DJ-3A, but not any FCs.

Below are the seven pages posted on the eBay auction (it will be a while before I can scan this).

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1943 “Riders in Gliders” Video

• CATEGORIES: Features, videos This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

A jeep makes a brief appearance at the end of this short news clip from 1943 titled “Riders In Gliders – Dublin”

“Several shots of the lines of gliders and men working on them – possibly in the factory. Various shots of glider pilots boarding their craft. With a tow from powered plane, the gliders go into the air and the pilots are left on their own. A glider makes a perfect landing. A jeep emerges out of one of the gliders – demonstration of the carrying power of these craft.”

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Busy Busy

• CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

It’s been a couple long days, but 95% of the stuff has been moved. We have some family here now, so we should make more good progress this weekend. My brain is a bit fried, to the point I can’t think of anything clever to write (this of course assumes that I’ve written clever prose in the past; if I haven’t, don’t spoil my delusions … ).

 

 

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Jeep Tool Kit

• CATEGORIES: Features, Parts This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: Barney Goodwin spotted a similar tool kit branded by Cadillac:

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Original posted Dec 10, 2021: Anyone familiar with this unusual took kit that’s been listed on eBay for $80 obo? Was it included in any jeeps or just offered as a dealer option? I would guess it was available in the early 1970s?

I’ve had these same tools for years, but didn’t know they came in a Jeep-marked tool kit container. Here’s my tools (there is nothing marked “jeep”).

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Here’s the set that’s available on eBay:

View all the information on eBay

“Vintage Jeep socket RATCHET WRENCH full kit.”

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Hemmings: Did a Pre-VW Influence the Jeep Design?

• CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Bill spotted this article from Hemmings about the possibility that the jeep design was partly influenced by a Volkswagen predecessor. The article draws heavily on Bill’s Spears great book Warbaby: The True Story of the Original Jeep.

Here’s the article: https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2021/04/29/did-an-obscure-beetle-predecessor-influence-the-development-of-the-jeep?

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Bantam BRC Mk II (AKA BRC-60). Photo courtesy Bantam Jeep Historic Festival.

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1943 “Roosevelt in Malta” Video

• CATEGORIES: Features, Vendors This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This three minute video offers a variety of clips featuring FDR riding in a jeep.

“President Franklin D. Roosevelt sits in army jeep to inspect British troops in Malta. M/S General Dwight Eisenhower accompanying British Naval officer.”

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1942 “Roosevelt With Troops” Video

• CATEGORIES: Features, videos This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This British Pathe video that John shared shows some early shots of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in a jeep.

“Various shots of American President Franklin Delano Roosevelt arriving in front seat of open jeep at an open tented army camp at unknown location in America. He inspects the camp in a jeep. President Roosevelt remains seated to watch march past.”

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1943 “Roosevelt With USA Paras” Video

• CATEGORIES: Features, videos This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This silent video includes several clips of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in a jeep.

“L/S palm trees – looks like hot climate, could be Cuba? C/U President Franklin D Roosevelt (FDR) with dignitaries and US Naval Commanders. FDR gets into jeep and is driven past village of straw huts. Various shots FDR having dinner with VIPs inside hut, one of the guests is black. Various shots FDR taking salute at march past by black / Latino soldiers in American army uniform, marching behind American flag. FDR wears a black armband.”

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