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WWII 1st Infantry Division Vehicle Markings


MPoorthuis
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Hi,

 

Vehicle markings of the Big Red One seem to be under-studied, and I am trying to do some more research.

BRO vehicles seem to have (1) letter coded markings, (2) yellow/black tactical marking and (3) Preparation for Overseas Movement markings. See below.

 

1_Div_Jeeps_Wartime.jpg

 

But I am still trying to figure out the variations of yellow/black markings.

The 29th Infantry Division used similar markings (see below).

 

29th_Markings_Color.jpg

 

Can someone help me with this?

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Johan Willaert

Divisional HQ: black star in yellow circle

Inf Regts: yellow circle with black horizontal bars, sometimes with company letters

Arty Bn: yellow squares with black horizontal bars, sometimes with Battery letters

1st Signal Bn: yellow circle with three blck dots

1st Med Bn: combination of 2 black and 2 yellow squares

 

Other units markings remain a mystery

 

Will post some period pictures with examples later this week...

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Divisional HQ: black star in yellow circle

Inf Regts: yellow circle with black horizontal bars, sometimes with company letters

Arty Bn: yellow squares with black horizontal bars, sometimes with Battery letters

1st Signal Bn: yellow circle with three blck dots

1st Med Bn: combination of 2 black and 2 yellow squares

 

Other units markings remain a mystery

 

Will post some period pictures with examples later this week...

 

Thanks Johan! Much appreciated.

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  • 2 weeks later...
Johan Willaert

Do you have some period photographs with examples Johan?

Really excited to see some.

 

Are you on the Dutch KTR board... Posted loads of them there about a year ago...

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Are you on the Dutch KTR board... Posted loads of them there about a year ago...

 

No, I am not. I also do not own a vehicle, just interested in everything that has something to do with the BRO.

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DirkvandenBol

Hello Johan,

 

in wich topic did you posted the pictures on the KTR forum? Max was searching some information about the tactical markings of the 1st Inf Div for me.

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Johan Willaert

Hello Johan,

 

in wich topic did you posted the pictures on the KTR forum? Max was searching some information about the tactical markings of the 1st Inf Div for me.

 

Found it here: http://forum.ktr.nl/index.php/topic,2013.0.html

 

Sadly a lot of the pictures seem to have gone AWOL in cyberspace... Would have to scan them all again...

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Here is a document dated 27 February 1945 showing that all tactical markings had to be removed from 1st ID vehicles.

So, tactical markings would have been on BRO vehicles from D-Day to this date.

 

Tactical_Markings.jpg

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Johan Willaert

Here is a document dated 27 February 1945 showing that all tactical markings had to be removed from 1st ID vehicles.

So, tactical markings would have been on BRO vehicles from D-Day to this date.

Great document, thanks for posting...

 

And indeed by early 1945, BRO vehicles did not have the Tac signs anymore...

post-92-0-51641300-1476175775_thumb.jpg

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Johan Willaert

Interesting post. Did other units, I think at the 83rd, use the same markings?

I don't think so but I have only researched those from the BRO and 29th

 

Army Regulations do mention unit commanders' rights to design and order the painting of tac markings on the vehicles of their unit, but it seems to have been uncommon...

 

 

In the ETO most known are those from the 1st and 29th Infantry Divisions and the 1st AD...

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