Some thoughts to the markings of 3/4 ton Dodge in WW2

The 2.344 Radio Command Cars would have had a hood number beginning with 2018.

The registration numbers for the WC58 were between 20182609 and 20184952 regarding to the tactical vehicles list.

The -S stands for "suppressed". The CC's radios were shielded against interference.

First I'd like to mention that there were numerous different fonts, size and also at least two colours

used for hood numbers. Early ones were done in a greyish blue, later the colour was changed to white

for better visibility. Differences in style also depend on where and when the marking was done.

Some (numbers) were repainted some were not. Last but not least the Army didn't take that much care of

the minutiae of the writing, less than collectors do nowadays. Remember, when the 3/4 ton was introduced

in 1942 a war was going on and not much time for following regulations as AR 850-5 with fonts and sizes.

Regarding to the TM the gaps between the numbers should be closed after stenciling, but from photos in

most cases this does not happen to white numbering.

Doing some research on several vintage photos, unrestored Ambulances and taking into account

suggestions from the Forum I came to the conclusion: choosing between the stencils available is mostly

a matter of taste, as there are rarely two historic photos showing the same font, except the factory

stenciled in blue drab.

Just be careful that the choosen font was already available in the 1940s and not one of the many modern ones.

As the bumper number was supposed to be applied in fuel-soluable paint, (to wash it down before a division

moved and re-applied in the field) the hood numbers would have been much neater and more white than

the bumper codes. I'm thinking of repainting the bumbers otherwise there is at least one pic showing a CC

on a parade with clearly visible numbers.

Examples seen on vintage photos, both with points between the USA

and without the points, sizes vary between 2 and 4 inch:

U.S.A.

12345678

U.S.A. 12345678

W and S

Early factory stenciled 1/2 ton trucks and some of the 3/4 ton came with the letter W (war department)

before the numbers. The letter S (suppressed) was either near the firewall or directly added to the number.

In many cases with blue drab a single S was added near the firewall, while with white painting the

-S was added to the number.

I choose a stenciled variation made with the font shown in the manual AR 850-5 from 1942.

In white colour as Commander has already the toolrack and the jerry cans attached.

Without cans and toolrack I would choose the blue drab for an early CC like this (7/42).

Blue Drab

As mentioned above the factory applied hood number of early Dodge was done in a greyish blue - Blue Drab.

The 2nd picture is from the LIFE Archiv, taken by Myron Davis in December 1942.

Compared with the nicely done example of a Command Car WC 56 built in September 1942,

stenciled with early blue drab and star without circle.

Owner: Thierry Becker, France. Thanks a lot for the photos!

Font shown in the AR 850-5 from 1942, only one of the many fonts used during WW2:

Some examples for different stencils on historic photos:

This photo of the Eagles Nest near Berchtesgaden is a fine example

how hood numbers differ even on the same situation:

Photo taken from the book Entering Germany 1944 -1949 by Tony Vaccaro

How they did it:

First three pics show 1/2 ton Dodges in 1941, numbers painted accuratly in blue drab at that time.

Writing on unrestored hood, letters are around 2 inches / 5 cm high:

Unit numbers and bridge plates:

Colors ATTENTION - this is ONLY for the numbers, each Monitor show different colours!

Mascots and Pin Ups:

They were not as common on trucks than as on aircrafts but there have been some: