Home Would someone please tell me where on the frame of a 53 M37 is the frame number located! My neighbors' nephew just acquired this truck and we are trying to put together as much info as we can for the M37 registry.
We know it was from Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, MA. After rubbing off a few layers of paint we found USAF A17574. Any ideas what the A stands for? On the door we uncovered
CONTRACTOR VEHICLE
OPERATED BY
THE MITRE CORP
BEDFORD, MA
Believe the Mitre Corp was contracted by the Air Force for air defense technology in 1957/58 and is still at Hanscom as of today. Any info would be great!
Thanks, Kathy
Frame number/ Hood Markings
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MSeriesRebuild
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The VIN# is stamped into the web of the left frame rail behind the left front wheel. You may have to remove multiple layers of paint to find it, however once paint is removed digits are usually very ledgible.
Charles Talbert
www.mseriesrebuild.com
www.mseriesrebuild.com
Drivers Side
Frame, just below the steering box, 800XXXX, you did say 53 right? Are the Data Plates present on the glove box, the vin should match? The AF #'s were on the door, right?
Bruce,
1953 M-37 w/ow
Retired Again
Keep Em Rollin'
VMVA
1953 M-37 w/ow
Retired Again
Keep Em Rollin'
VMVA
Frame number/Hood markings
Thanks for the info. The truck has all of its data plates! I know the frame # is the serial number on the data plate I just like to be able to find it on the frame itself! We may have to rub off a little rust to find it!! Oh, one other question; what does NSN mean on the registry record page?
Kathy
Kathy
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Mr. Recovery
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Dan. Kathy,
Maybe I can help you a bit with the numbers. I was in the Air Force for almost 30 years, and the M37 has always been my favorite truck.
During WWII, what had been the Army Air Corps became the US Army Air Forces. Then, in August of 1947, we got a "divorce" from the Army and became the United States Air Force. Our trucks were still OD and had the original Army hood numbers on them, some of which had "USAF" stencilled in front of them.
In 1950, or thereabouts, the regulations were changed and all Air Force vehicles had to be painted blue. Painting them all at once would have been horribly expensive, though, so the regulation allowed for the repainting to be delayed until such time as new paint was necessary.
About that time, the numbering system was also changed and the numbers were relocated to the doors. Again, the "grandfather clause" applied, and some trucks had the old Army-style numbers on their hoods and the new Air Force numbers on their doors at the same time.
When the time came to repaint the whole vehicle, however, these problems were corrected. By 1958, we had no green trucks left and all traces of the Army markings were either removed or painted over.
I hope this helps. If you have more questions, just give me a holler.
Maybe I can help you a bit with the numbers. I was in the Air Force for almost 30 years, and the M37 has always been my favorite truck.
During WWII, what had been the Army Air Corps became the US Army Air Forces. Then, in August of 1947, we got a "divorce" from the Army and became the United States Air Force. Our trucks were still OD and had the original Army hood numbers on them, some of which had "USAF" stencilled in front of them.
In 1950, or thereabouts, the regulations were changed and all Air Force vehicles had to be painted blue. Painting them all at once would have been horribly expensive, though, so the regulation allowed for the repainting to be delayed until such time as new paint was necessary.
About that time, the numbering system was also changed and the numbers were relocated to the doors. Again, the "grandfather clause" applied, and some trucks had the old Army-style numbers on their hoods and the new Air Force numbers on their doors at the same time.
When the time came to repaint the whole vehicle, however, these problems were corrected. By 1958, we had no green trucks left and all traces of the Army markings were either removed or painted over.
I hope this helps. If you have more questions, just give me a holler.
"PER ARDUA AD ITER"
Thanks again for info. Did any of the vechicles come from the factory strata blue? This M37 does not seem to have any green. We have a 1952 M38 that has the green paint under the blue. It had "for official use only' and the #2615 between the fender and the door well. On the hood was
USAF
N-1798
We haven't found out what base this jeep was on as of yet! We are going to see if anything is on the bumperettes! It had 5 layers of a thick gray paint when we got it!
We also have a 1942 GPW we will be working on next. It seems to have only one or two layers of gray paint. Maybe we will find out it was used by the Navy!
Kathy
USAF
N-1798
We haven't found out what base this jeep was on as of yet! We are going to see if anything is on the bumperettes! It had 5 layers of a thick gray paint when we got it!
We also have a 1942 GPW we will be working on next. It seems to have only one or two layers of gray paint. Maybe we will find out it was used by the Navy!
Kathy
Yes. Most, if not all, USAF M37s were painted Strata Blue at the factory. Their engines, transmissions, and transfer cases were painted silver, while the frame, axles, and drive shafts were painted black.
The door markings should be:
U. S. AIR FORCE
53K 175
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
These lines would be centered on each other, with the top line 6" below the window opening. The top 2 lines should be 1 3/4" letters, while the bottom line should be 1" letters.
The identification number consists of a 2-digit year of manufacture, the letter K (tactical vehicle), and a 3 or 4 digit sequential acquisition number. In my example above, the truck would be a 1953 model and the 175th M37 purchased by the Air Force.
I have info on bumper markings, too, but this post is getting a little too long. More later.
The door markings should be:
U. S. AIR FORCE
53K 175
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
These lines would be centered on each other, with the top line 6" below the window opening. The top 2 lines should be 1 3/4" letters, while the bottom line should be 1" letters.
The identification number consists of a 2-digit year of manufacture, the letter K (tactical vehicle), and a 3 or 4 digit sequential acquisition number. In my example above, the truck would be a 1953 model and the 175th M37 purchased by the Air Force.
I have info on bumper markings, too, but this post is getting a little too long. More later.
"PER ARDUA AD ITER"
The hood numbers would be whatever the Army assigned to them when they were accepted. It's quite possible that your M37 was originally assigned an Army-style registration number, but it would have been changed by the late '50s. I don't know about the Jeep.
The Air Force did paint their Jerry cans blue with the word "MOGAS" stencilled on the upper portion of each side in 2" white letters. The pioneer tools stayed OD green for some reason (or for no particular reason).
The Air Force did paint their Jerry cans blue with the word "MOGAS" stencilled on the upper portion of each side in 2" white letters. The pioneer tools stayed OD green for some reason (or for no particular reason).
"PER ARDUA AD ITER"
