Western Desert SAS Jeeps The Special Air Service was formed in July 1941 by David Stirling. It was a commando force that would operate behind enemy lines in the North African desert. Initially it consisted of five officers and 60 other ranks. On its first mission, the SAS were dropped by parachute, but it proved… Read More »
A Flying Jeep The Rotabuggy flying Jeep was designed by Raoul Hafner of the Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment, England. The flying Jeep was in fact an autogiro. the main rota was not powered so it needed to be towed for the rota to spin and give lift. The prototype was built in 1942 by R. Malcolm… Read More »
British Airborne Jeep The Airborne Jeep was a modified version of the standard Willys MB or Ford GPW. The overall dimensions and weight were reduced to enable the vehicle to be loaded into a Horsa Glider. Airborne Jeep being loaded into a Horsa Mk 1 Glider Airborne Jeep being loaded into a Horsa Mk 11 Glider… Read More »
The Willys-Overland Motor Company Before the Jeep. The Willys-Overland Motor Company history starts with a automobile dealership selling the Standard Runabout, in Elmira, New York owned by John North Willys. The Standard Wheel Co. of Indiana was having financial problems, the assets of the company were acquired by Willys in 1907. He put the company… Read More »
Rail Jeeps adapted to run on rails Rail Jeeps came about because there was a lack of rail locomotives due to allied bombing. It was realized that the dimensions of the Jeeps wheel track was very close to the gauge of the railways 4 foot 8 1/2 inches, with a bit of ingenuity the Royal Engineers adapted… Read More »
4 wheel steer Jeep and 4 wheel drive Willys Overland company delivered a 4 wheel steer Willys Quad for testing in 1940 the first of the three companies to do so. The Bantam company built 8 of the Mk 11 four wheel steer Jeeps, the company also built 4 wheel steer version,s of the Bantam BR40. The Ford Motor… Read More »
Willys -Ford GPW Jeep ambulance Jeep Ambulance,s were used by the British, Canadian and American forces in all of the major conflicts around the world. In the second world war a need arose for a small ambulance that was able to get close to the front line and evacuate wounded soldiers. At the time trucks were… Read More »