The GMC CCKW

I have a Serial No. CCKW 353 492508-2 with a DOD of 4-45 , I need to know how many trucks in that run , what the serial No.s were ( start to finish in that run ) and the USA registration numbers in that run . what I'm trying to do is get the hood number . I have part of it after wet sanding with 1000 grit paper.Any info would help . the truck is from Camp Hayden in Port Angeles Washington USA . I have the bumper markings ( 6A 248CA 131 12 ) and to have the hood numbers I might find photos of the truck in service . thank you Gunny.

March 1945 490,441 - 514,406 = 23965 units

What did you uncover after sanding? It may help to fill in the blanks.

Gunny
Does your truck have the original data plate still in it? If so I would like to know what the date of delivery to the Army is. I have to assume that it does not, or you would probably be like me and take the date of delivery to the Army as the date of manufacture, which may not be the case.

Your USA Number is 48XXXXX or 49XXXXX, as CCKW numbers within that range are definitely 1945.

By 1945, the factory applied USA registration numbers on CCKWs consisted of 7 numbers followed by "S". The originals were a very thin coat of Blue Drab in 2" size. They were just "dusted" on.
Joel

well here is what I found after sanding : http://home.wavecable.com/~elliott/
now I found the "S" at the end of the number but no "W" in front of it , whats with that ? I thought the Army droped the Blue drab for numbers after 1942 ?

There are many takes on when Blue Drab was discontinued, but seeing is believing, and the 2" registration markings on CCKW were blue drab as late as 45. The "W" prefix was not used with the 2" CCKW registration. The "W" prefix was discontinued in early 42, but many vehicles that were repainted continued with them, possibly to not all organizations being familiar with the latest marking bulletins.
Joel

It looks like what you have uncovered is a registration for 1945, it is 7 digits and the first two numbers "48" indicates the year 1945. It also appears that your USA number has been restenciled, as it has the broken pattern of a stencil. Factory CCKW registration numbers were solid, and applied with a thin coat of paint. They are difficult to find by wet sanding as they were applied so thin.
You are very fortunate to recover your registration. The regulations for USA Numbers are that the number be centered on the hood and be 1" above the bottom of the hood. The USA will be centered on the number and be 1" above the number. The USA is centered based on the total length of the USA to the end of the "period" following the letters.
Joel

Would the post war hood numbers have remained the same? What if the truck was transferred from Army inventory to Air Force inventory, would the numbers have remained the same? I say this as my CCKW hood numbers , which were visible in black on the flight line faded yellow paint had 8 didgits, 48552594. Could the Air Force added the 4 for some significance?

Your truck will most likely have all the latest updates to the Cab, holes for under the seat spare parts box, the provisions for storing the gas can nozzle on the RH Dash, possibly the updated brake tubing that was installed across the axle housings (like MB jeep), the bottom door handle, Rotary light switch,etc.
Is the reinforcing plate present for the Gas Can Nozzle bag? It is mounted with two extra holes drilled thru the dash panel above the RH Cowl for 2 each, 1/4" bolts. The holes are approx 2" apart.
Joel

I have heard a lot about the gas can nozzle , anyone have a photo of 1 in the holder ? I think it has the updats for 45 , the big regulator , rotary light switch , wooden steering wheel and the brake lines. I will post a photo of the trucks in the morning.

TM9-801 P. 21 has a photo of the nozzle holder.

I was out looking at the hood number in the sun light and the factory numbers are in blue drab , if you look close you can see them in the photo ( http://home.wavecable.com/~elliott/ ) , then painted over with white numbers. my trucks DOD is 4-45 . When I repaint should I use the blue drab ?

I would. use Blue Drab. Amazing how your truck can be described from far away, ain't it? You are sort of lucky that your truck did not get sandblasted over the years.
Joel

When the USAF reassigned the later 4 digit Registration system to WWII wheeled vehicles beginning around late 1951, there would be a prefix using the year of the vehicle, Ex; a 43 CCKW or Jeep or whatever would start off with 43, followed by an L or a K, a dash, and a 4 digit number. ( USAF 43K-4444) The Jeeps were assigned a block of nimbers, the 3/4 Tons and 2 1/2 Tons etc. When the USAF became independent from the Army, in 47, the USA# became "USAF" followed by the old Army registration number. There are color photos of new OD M-38A1 Jeeps in Korea with the "F" added to the USA, it is evident as the USAF is not centered over the number. By 52 all WWII Vehicles in the USAF had been allocated the new registration numbers, but there is much evidence that the job was never completed and many WWII USAF trucks were surplused with the old registration system . The new numbers did not contain any of the old numbers. You will not find this information in any old collectors manuals,as it was acquired by 55 years of curiosity and asking lots of questions to the right persons. The original directives probably do exist, but try and get them two score and 5 years later. Possibly Maxwell may have them.