https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...89a24c26-1.jpg
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The sand colored jeeps have their numbers in both Latin and Arabic. :eek:
Bonus indeed. Thanks! Period? Location?
Meter(?)-gauge tramlines, very long, straight tree-lined avenue, orientation SW-NE, trees at left in flower, French flags, GIs in casual mode = Tunis? 1943? May? Avenue Louis Braille, about 3 pm?
Sorry, can't say which day!
But I'll continue guessing: it's after the victory parade on 20th May 1943. Troops dispersing, no longer all going in the same direction, watchers on balcony turning away (time for an aperitif?).
Of course, I may be wrong.
Even stranger: It actually looks like Greek lower-case script. Zeta-omicron gamma omicron tau omicron.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom in N.J.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...70b800wi-1.jpg
Bob
yes tunis
And very early. Neither jeep has a gas can carrier and I believe the back jeep is a script Willys MB quite possibly a slat grill. The paint is a field or depot modification. Jeeps of both persuasions rolled off the line as lusterless olive drab. USA numbers were lusterless blue drab. No "S" in the USA number on the rear jeep so it isn't radio suppressed which is another early indicator but late enough for combat wheels. These jeeps are early 1942 so I'd guess mid to late 1942.
"These jeeps are early 1942 so I'd guess mid to late 1942."
I respectfully disagree. If the place is Tunis then it cannot be 1942. Earliest possible period is May 1943. (BTW I would welcome other analytical comment of my interpretation of place, date, time etc.) Dates of change of manufacturing details and fittings provide no more than earliest possible dates. I am not doubting your estimate of the date of production, but these vehicles had been in the field in North Africa for some time already when the photo was taken.
It is the same factor as in the eternal discussions about "correct" rifles etc. A manufacturing change can take a long time to work through into the field, and items already on the battlefield will hardly be pulled out of combat just for the sake of updating to a new factory standard. "Sorry guys, you'll all have to stop fighting for a day or two while we upgrade your equipment" - how likely is that?.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick Chadwick
Life magazine photo ought to make pinning things down a bit easier...
http://www.tunisiadailyphoto.com/?p=612
Apparently photo by a Hart Preston. Different street than you mentioned, no?
Aw c'mon JM! Right town, right period, street has the same orientation (SW-NE) so right time of day, right time of year. I was going by the tramlines. OK, maybe they've changed since then ...so who has a map of the Tunis tramway network in 1943? - you can't have everything.