1943 Willys MB jeep, 550th. BS, 385th. BG, 8th. AF, MFO 166
MFO 166, is marked as a jeep of the 550th. Bomb Squadron, nicknamed 'Red Squadron'. It is seen at the Lowestoft Classic Vehicle Clubs 30th. Anniversary meeting at Lound village green in Suffolk.
The 385th. Bomb Group, who took the nickname 'Van's Valiants' after their first Commanding Officer Col. Elliot Vandevanter, flew the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress from USAAF Station 155 Great Ashfield near Bury St. Edmouds in Suffolk. The Group led the attack on the Focke-Wolfe aircraft factory at Marienburg on 9th. October 1943, during which only two out of one hundred B-17's were lost and all of the buildings on the site were damaged or destroyed. They Group won two Distinguished Unit Citations. The first, awarded to all 4th. Bomb Wing Groups was for accurately dropping their pay load on an aircraft factory at Regensburg, on 17th. August 1943, the second was awarded after leading a difficult long-range mission to destroy an aircraft repair works at Zwickau, south-west Germany, on 12th. May 1944.
Length: 131 in. (3,327 mm)
Width: 62 in. (1,575 mm)
Height, top up: 70 in. (1,771 mm)
Height, top down: 52 in. (1,321 mm)
Wheelbase: 80 in. (2,032 mm)
Front axle: 48 in. (1,226 mm)
Rear Axle: 48 in. (1,226 mm)
Ground clearance: 8.75 in. (222 mm)
Weight: 2,454 lb. (1,113 kg)
Front suspension: Semi-elliptic leaf springs, De Dion axle.
Rear suspension: Semi-elliptic leaf springs, De Dion axle.
Front brakes: Drum
Rear brakes: Drums
Payload capacity, road: 1,200 lb. (540 kg)
Payload capacity, cross country: 800 lb. (360 kg)
Fuel capacity: 12.53 gal. (57 litres)
Engine: 2,199 cc (134.2 cu. in.) L134 Go Devil inline 4 cylinder, 8 valve, petrol
Engine output: 54 hp (40 kW) at 4,000 rpm
Carburettor: 1 x Carter W0-539S
Gearbox: 4 speed, manual
Drive wheels: All wheel drive
Max speed: 65 mph (105 km/h)
Operational range: 300 miles (480 km)
1943 Willys MB jeep, 550th. BS, 385th. BG, 8th. AF, MFO 166
MFO 166, is marked as a jeep of the 550th. Bomb Squadron, nicknamed 'Red Squadron'. It is seen at the Lowestoft Classic Vehicle Clubs 30th. Anniversary meeting at Lound village green in Suffolk.
The 385th. Bomb Group, who took the nickname 'Van's Valiants' after their first Commanding Officer Col. Elliot Vandevanter, flew the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress from USAAF Station 155 Great Ashfield near Bury St. Edmouds in Suffolk. The Group led the attack on the Focke-Wolfe aircraft factory at Marienburg on 9th. October 1943, during which only two out of one hundred B-17's were lost and all of the buildings on the site were damaged or destroyed. They Group won two Distinguished Unit Citations. The first, awarded to all 4th. Bomb Wing Groups was for accurately dropping their pay load on an aircraft factory at Regensburg, on 17th. August 1943, the second was awarded after leading a difficult long-range mission to destroy an aircraft repair works at Zwickau, south-west Germany, on 12th. May 1944.
Length: 131 in. (3,327 mm)
Width: 62 in. (1,575 mm)
Height, top up: 70 in. (1,771 mm)
Height, top down: 52 in. (1,321 mm)
Wheelbase: 80 in. (2,032 mm)
Front axle: 48 in. (1,226 mm)
Rear Axle: 48 in. (1,226 mm)
Ground clearance: 8.75 in. (222 mm)
Weight: 2,454 lb. (1,113 kg)
Front suspension: Semi-elliptic leaf springs, De Dion axle.
Rear suspension: Semi-elliptic leaf springs, De Dion axle.
Front brakes: Drum
Rear brakes: Drums
Payload capacity, road: 1,200 lb. (540 kg)
Payload capacity, cross country: 800 lb. (360 kg)
Fuel capacity: 12.53 gal. (57 litres)
Engine: 2,199 cc (134.2 cu. in.) L134 Go Devil inline 4 cylinder, 8 valve, petrol
Engine output: 54 hp (40 kW) at 4,000 rpm
Carburettor: 1 x Carter W0-539S
Gearbox: 4 speed, manual
Drive wheels: All wheel drive
Max speed: 65 mph (105 km/h)
Operational range: 300 miles (480 km)