`42 Ford GPW: A “Follow Me Jeep!”

On Monday, May 26th, I had the privilege of driving this 1942 Ford GPW jeep in the annual Memorial Day parade in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. During World War II, Ford built its version of the Willys Overland MB jeep under a license issued by the War Department. This particular vehicle is known as a “Follow Me Jeep” and has radio equipment installed behind the front seats. These jeeps would have been stationed at Army Air Force bases in the states and overseas. They were painted in a yellow checkerboard pattern so they could be easily seen from the air. If a damaged plane was returning to an airfield with wounded on board and/or in need of immediate assistance, a man in the back of this jeep would have been in contact with the pilot or the radio operator and then directed them where to park once the aircraft was on the ground. You can see this and many other military vehicles and artifacts at the outstanding World War II American Experience Museum in Gettysburg where I serve as a volunteer Docent.