Very interesting photo-Military Jeeps Await Shipment

PaulB · Post by **PaulB** » Thu Mar 27, 2014 4:40 am

This photo recently sold on eBay. Seller states that this photo is a Philadelphia News Service Photo from 1961. If you look close you can notice some interesting details, M38 20916837 has a slave receptacle mounted also they also look like they have vinyl seat covers? Are these referbed jeeps or new?

oilleaker1 · Post by **oilleaker1** » Thu Mar 27, 2014 5:34 am

I'm wondering if that 6 is a 5. They didn't make M38's after '52. John ( PS---------what is clamped or attached to the steering columns just below the steering wheels? Neat picture.)

Post by **wesk** » Thu Mar 27, 2014 9:06 am

Large quantities of MV's in lots near deep sea ports was a very common sight. The date of the photo if correct indicates the jeeps are refurbed as are the M37's and are awaiting shipment overseas as stated in the photo caption. Since there is not much sense in shipping 1950-52 MV's overseas in 1961 to our units which were already using the M38A1 I assume they are MAP (military assistance program) units. In any case it was the norm to prepare jeeps for re-assignment in as like new condition as each motor pool could make them. Those could very well be on their way to Greece.

The photo cannot be a 1951 photo since the two hood numbers showing are April/May 1952 numbers.

baios · Post by **baios** » Thu Mar 27, 2014 1:14 pm

a lot of m38s come here to greece

BullRun · Post by **BullRun** » Thu Mar 27, 2014 7:41 pm

There was a surplus dealer in Spain a few years ago who had a bunch of M38's for sale.

One of my M38A1's was rebuilt at Rossford Ordnance Depot which no longer exists. The engine however was rebuilt at Letterkenny in Pennsylvania which is or was a huge rebuild facility from what I have been told from a friend who was a jeep mechanic in the National Guard in Maryland.

Chambersburg, PA was also a huge rebuild facility. Both places are only a few hours from Philadelphia.

The M38A1 has a very cool rebuild tag screwed to the dash that says;

Rebuilt at Rossford Ordnance Depot
1958
Mileage 20

I bet these have similar tags.

There still are rebuild facilities in the area for the Humvee.

BullRun · Post by **BullRun** » Thu Mar 27, 2014 8:58 pm

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1 ... 96,2489964

The link above has some interesting WWII information that will keep jeep fans busy for awhile. Supposedly, Rossford kept records on every military vehicle owned by the U.S. Army most likely including the M38's in the original picture.

Rossford closed in 1965. It was located right outside Toledo, Ohio.

A jeep in a crate! Imagine having a wall of them to choose from! I can dream right!

Texbillhs · Post by **Texbillhs** » Fri Mar 28, 2014 1:21 pm

I would like that Rossford link

BullRun · Post by **BullRun** » Fri Mar 28, 2014 4:41 pm

There is surprisingly little information out there that is internet based on Rossford. Probably an archive somewhere has way more information but where?

The information about Rossford having information on every military vehicle in service in the U.S. Army came from a mention in a newspaper article about retirees and former workers there reminiscing at an annual reunion.

Wes has pointed out (I think) that there are no known official data bases with vehicle numbers, etc. still around. Willy's offices had their contents thrown away. With Rossford closing nearly 50 years ago it is a tough subject to research.

Maybe time for a history book about Rossford Ordnance Depot?