USAF bumper markings

Bill_F · Post by **Bill_F** » Mon May 02, 2016 6:52 am

I hope to repaint my m38 at some point in the near future, the paint is showing its age right now. I want to do some bumper/unit markings on it this time around. How did the USAF do the bumper markings? I would want to to maybe represent a Jeep that served at Pease Air force Base in New Hampshire.

Post by **wesk** » Mon May 02, 2016 8:37 am

Depending on the level of accuracy you desire start with the basic AF Reg from that date period. Add the individual Major Command supplements and then add the individual unit supplements and you will then have an accurate regulatory guide to the markings on a M38 from that unit during that period.
You could spend several months researching the national Archives looking for those pubs. The easiest solution is to spend a week reviewing base and assigned unit histories for Pease during the period you are interested in and download all the vehicle photos you find then choose what you like.

Bill_F · Post by **Bill_F** » Mon May 02, 2016 8:59 am

I do know Pease officially opened in 1956, which makes it a little late for my jeep but that is ok. I was thinking of also doing marking for the New Boston tracking station. Most of the USAF photos I have found do not have clear bumper markings.

If I do Pease I am thinking marking it as the 100th Bombardment Wing

Anyone have any idea what those markings may look like?

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Mon May 02, 2016 10:14 am

Well here is a website with photos specific to Air Police vehicles
including a resto vehicle A-21338

http://www.usafpolice.org/security-patrol-vehicles.html

Closeup of 21338:
http://www.usafpolice.org/security-patrol-vehicles.html

Front bumper is painted MP-HAFB A-1

Here is a page from the TO 36-1-3:
http://www.usafpolice.org/security-patrol-vehicles.html

Note the bumperette markings. March AFB?

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Mon May 02, 2016 10:29 am

A restored M37 with MAFB markings.

http://garbee.net/~cabell/photos35.htm

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Mon May 02, 2016 10:56 am

Don't forget the whitewalls!
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _photo.php

Bill_F · Post by **Bill_F** » Mon May 02, 2016 11:01 am

The jeep has a hood number really close to mine. Mine is N-1346

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Mon May 02, 2016 12:14 pm

That photo and the other in the set are circa April 1954.

The F86D had a parachute installed beginning in April. The
housing for the chute included a straight fairing above the tailpipe.
This one is curved.

Does anyone recognize the squadron insignia?

Sure you don't want to do a Follow Me jeep?

No one will run over you in the turn lane!
Take care,

Bill_F · Post by **Bill_F** » Mon May 02, 2016 12:23 pm

I was thinking of doing a checkerboard design but my jeep came blue out of the factory so that is how it is going to stay.

OKCM38CDN · Post by **OKCM38CDN** » Mon May 02, 2016 7:39 pm

The only bomber wing at Pease to my knowledge was the 509th, I was stationed there 1978-1980.

The 509th is the only unit to actually drop nuclear weapons, ie, WWII in Japan. They are now stationed in Missouri and flying B2s.

Bill_F · Post by **Bill_F** » Mon May 02, 2016 8:20 pm

Hal do you remember what the markings would be?

OKCM38CDN · Post by **OKCM38CDN** » Mon May 02, 2016 8:25 pm

Markings on a USAF vehicle when I was there was year Letter Reg number

78B1234

Then we had a license plate with PAFB and AFCS on it...

We were the Comm Squadron...

A SAC vehicle would have SAC instead of AFCS...

Post by **wesk** » Mon May 02, 2016 11:58 pm

Here's a list of host units on Pease over the years:

There were several units primary to Pease from it's opening in 1956 as Portsmouth AFB thru it's closing in 1991. Name changed to Pease in 1957. The first host wing for Pease was the 100th BW. Contained a B-47 bomber wing and KC-97 tanker wing. They were joined by the 509th BW with B-47's from Walker AFB NM in 1958. The 100th was converted to 100th SRW in 1966 and moved to Davis-Monthan AFB AZ. The 509th stayed at Pease as the primary host unit and converted to 509th BW (Heavy) with B-52's and KC-135's in 1966. It again converted to 509th BW (Medium) and acquired FB-111's in 1970. The 509th operated as host unit thru 1990 when it was transferred to Whiteman AFB MO to operate the new B-2. The New Hampshire ANG's 157th MAG was transferred to Pease in 1966 with C-97's and shortly after in 68 C-124's and then C-130's in 71 . The 157th became an ARG then ARW in 1975 with the KC-135. The 157th become host unit in 1990.

Bill. had your M38 been based at Pease during it's USAF career it would have probably been a 100th BW asset.

Bill_F · Post by **Bill_F** » Tue May 03, 2016 6:20 am

So Wes what would that look like on the bumper? It seems to be difficult to find how the airforce marked vehicles. Planes no problem lots of marking info available, a jeep not so much.

Post by **wesk** » Tue May 03, 2016 8:38 am

That's because of two issues.

1-The USAF was tighter on the control of it's retired publications. We were always required to burn or shred our regs and tech order pages when they were updated or changed. This is why you see a huge supply of original Army pubs on the market. The Marines & Navy also were as tight as we were.

2- The lack of photos comes from the Air Force's primary mission. Aircraft. Thus you see plenty of aircraft and very little of ground vehicles. During my 22 years in the USAF all of my photo taking on the job was focused on the aircraft.

100 BW would only be found on bumpers of vehicles assigned to the wing HQ squadron. Units that made up the 100th BW (M) at Pease during that period were:

349th, 350th, and 351st Bomb Squadrons (BS), of 15 aircraft each.

100th Air Refueling Sq. (ARS) with KC-97's.

100th Maintenance Group (100 MXG)
100th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (100 AMXS)
100th Maintenance Squadron (100 MXS)
100th Maintenance Operations Flight (100 MOF)

100th Mission Support Group (100 MSG)
100th Civil Engineer Squadron (100 CES)
100th Communications Squadron (100 CS)
100th Logistics Readiness Squadron (100 LRS)
100th Security Forces Squadron (100 SFS)
100th Force Support Squadron (100 FSS)

___________________________________________________________

509th BW member units were:

The wing's 393rd, 715th, and 830th Bomb Squadrons (BS) with the B-47. 509th Air Refueling Sq. (ARS) Tankers

It's other remaining squadrons would have been similar to the 100 BW's squadron list:

100th Maintenance Group (100 MXG)
100th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (100 AMXS)
100th Maintenance Squadron (100 MXS)
100th Maintenance Operations Flight (100 MOF)

100th Mission Support Group (100 MSG)
100th Civil Engineer Squadron (100 CES)
100th Communications Squadron (100 CS)
100th Logistics Readiness Squadron (100 LRS)
100th Security Forces Squadron (100 SFS)
100th Force Support Squadron (100 FSS)

Here's rear markings as shown on a 63 Dodge

Early 50's line service