Air force M38

[jeepers52]

Hello

I have a friend who's father served in the Air force and would like to mark an M38 in his dad's unit. In early Korea conflict days, 1951, did the Air force use M38s and where they OD green or Strata blue?

Thanks

[OKCM38CDN]

The color depended on whether the vehicle was at a US base or overseas...

If Stateside it would lean more towards the Strata Blue... other wise it would be green...

State side SAC units tended to go with the Blue, as they were reallt pushed to be Air Force...

This is not documented, just personal experience from '74 thru '94...

If you do go Blue, the tellow is available from most good hobby stores from Testor's and is Insignia Yellow... it comes in small spray cans just the right size for painitn markings...

Hope this helps...

[wesk]

The earliest documented M38 in Korea is Aug 1952. The primary jeep in Korea from 1950 thru the armistice 1953 was the MB/GPW. The summer 52 M38 arrivals rarely saw front line use. Same with the fall 52 M38A1 test introduction in Korea and the regular introduction of the A1 in spring 1953.

The M38 was procured in OD2430 thru the Army procurement system. The USAF used the jeep in both OD2430 and Strata Blue. Only evidence of USAF Strata Blue use at Willys shows up in late 1952 when the USAF started requesting Strata Blue on it's M38A1's and their new registration numbering system. It is possible this spilled over to the last of the m38's but only remnant samples of blue tubs exist as evidence that may have happened. As mentioned above overseas units and stateside units subject to rapid tactical deployment left them OD.

Take a look at my USAF MV's album:
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php

[jeepers52]

Thank you Gentlemen, This why I am addicted to this site. All the answers are backed up with good solid data. Thanks again.