Here are some more WWII photos from European archives.
More Pics From Charles
May 20, 2015 • CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Features Research Archives
2015 Elkhart WWII Re-enactment
Nicolas filed this report from the 2015 WWII Re-enactment in Elkhart, Indiana.
He writes, I wanted to share with ewillys the event I went to this weekend. It was hosted in Elkhart, Indiana. Everyone was very nice to talk to and quite knowledgeable about every question I had to ask. The Jeeps guys have me convinced I need to join the group!
The Willys MB I’m standing next to has a very unique story, the guy who bought it had to go through an interview before the seller would let it go. The steel soldier landed on the beaches of Normandy, and later the Battle of the Bulge. The driver had it shipped back home where his father would pick it up. It was completely original (aside from the tires and paint) and was loaded with everything it went to war with. In order to be eligeable to purchase it, the owner agreed he would use it in reenactments and continue to tell it’s story.
In the pictures of the MB with the front ammo box, there is indeed an airplane flying above! I even got to ride around the camps in the slat grille.
Some additional photos:
Willys Wagon at the Automation Show in Wisconsin Dells, WI
Bob spotted this wagon at the Wisconsin Dells’ Automation Show. After a little searching I realized it was the same wagon we’d photographed at the 2013 Willys Midwest Reunion.
1945 MB Sold at Estate Auction for $3450
Joe reported the following: Wanted to share some pics of a Willys MB, delivery date 3/8/45, that was auctioned in a South Bethany Beach, Delaware estate sale on Saturday, May 15, 2015. Winning bid was $3,450. The jeep appeared to be mostly complete with a majority of hard-to-find-items intact including a tandem tow bar but had lots of surface rust with only one area of rust-through. The motor is seized. Title status was unknown at the time of sale. Proves once again that these little gems are still out there, even after 70 years!!!
Day 36 – Sun. May 17th: Tracking the Ore
May 18, 2015 • CATEGORIES: Features • TAGS: 2015-Texas-Trip. This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
<– Day 35 – Sat. May 16th: The End of Texas | TRIP OVERVIEW | Day 37-40 – May 18th-21st: Research –>
Three of the nine jeeps in Sagauche, Colorado. These are sitting at the edge of town. This is downtown!
Today was supposed to be about doing some family research, but I was in for a surprise!
Today I traveled from Alamosa to Pueblo.
I started the morning with a scraper in my right hand and my left plunged into my pocket. After weeks of warm weather, emerging into 32 degree temperatures shocked my being. With my window partially scraped, I could see just enough to drive myself to the local Campus Cafe, which served some good eggs and hash browns (a Yelp find).
My first stop of the trip was to see a very unique motel called Movie Manor. Run by Best Western, the motel plays movies on two drive-in screens. The speakers are hooked into the motel rooms. I priced it at $89, but figured I was too busy to watch the movies, so I found a cheaper place. Still, I wouldn’t mind returning with Ann sometime. They were playing two recently released movies, Avengers and Mad Max. Not bad!
Following movie manor I expected an uneventful drive to Monarch Pass. Instead, as I was driving through the sleepy town of Saguache (not even sure how to pronounce it) that is nearly small enough to have “Welcome to Saguache” on both sides of the same sign, I spotted a flat fender. As I approached more closely, I spotted a second. Then I spotted a couple more. By this time my foot was on the brake and my hand was on a camera. I had find out why these jeeps were sitting in the Gillette’s Trading Post parking lot in a middle-of-a-nowhere town like Saguache.
Day 37-40 – May 18th-21st: Research
May 18, 2015 • CATEGORIES: Features • TAGS: 2015-Texas-Trip. This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
<– Day 36 – Sun. May 17th: Tracking the Ore | TRIP OVERVIEW | Day 41-43 – May 22nd-24th: Omaha-Bound –>
On May 18th and May 19th I spent time in Pueblo to do some research. The only semi-interesting photo is this one showing under a sign on Eilers street, named for the Eilers Smelter, aka The Colorado Smelting Company.
The next update with be on May 22nd, which marks the day Ann returns to Colorado and we head to Omaha for her son’s graduation.
<– Day 36 – Sun. May 17th: Tracking the Ore | TRIP OVERVIEW | Day 41-43 – May 22nd-24th: Omaha-Bound –>
1948 Wagon Undergoing Restoration in Australia
Leigh found this 2WD 1948 wagon that had been sitting in a shed in Australia since 1994. He plans on restoring while retaining the current look as much as possible. From what he has been told only about 400 Wagons of any description came to Australia so parts are a bit difficult, however he reports Kaiser Willys has been a big help.
VIntage WWII Jeep Photos
May 18, 2015 • CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
Buz found this Facebook page with some good WWII jeep photos on it.
https://www.facebook.com/przewarkam?fref=nf
Day 35 – Sat. May 16th: The End of Texas
May 17, 2015 • CATEGORIES: Features • TAGS: 2015-Texas-Trip. This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
<– Day 34 – Fri. May 15th: High Plains Drifter | TRIP OVERVIEW | Day 36 – Sun. May 17th: Tracking the Ore –>
Today was my last day in Texas. Both Ann and I feel satisfied that we did enough and went enough places to get a taste of Texas regions. We appreciate Lee, Sam, Brian and Jason for taking time to meet and talk with us. Also, as always, we appreciate everyone’s suggestions!!
Today I drove from Amarillo, Texas, to Alamosa, Colorado.
To bid me a memorable goodbye, Amarillo threw me a thundershower party. There was thunder, lightening and plenty of rain. The worst of it came just as I stepped out of the motel with my arms loaded with stuff for the Jeep. So, I ran for the jeep and unlocked it as quickly as I could, but I still got pretty drenched!! I hopped in the jeep and drove to the covered area by the reception desk and snapped this photo.
Rather than try to photograph the Cadillac Ranch area in the rain, I headed north hoping to escape the storm. The plan actually worked. Within an hour I was cruising along under clear blue skies.
I even got a chance to see one last jeep before leaving Texas:
I wanted to drive to Oklahoma to see Boise City, a place heavily affected by the Dust Storms of the 1930s. The museum wasn’t open when I drove through the city, but I did find this tribute to a bomb dropped by a B-17 during 1943. My wife reminded me that this is why bombs are not armed until ready to drop. There are a surprising number of accidental bomb droppings I’m told, but safety procedures and good luck have kept us safe.
Unusual Camper Truck
May 17, 2015 • CATEGORIES: Features, videos, Willys Trucks This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
A reader forwarded this unusual truck that’s been modified with all kinds of camping conveniences. The narrator isn’t always easy to understand, but the truck is interesting.