Today in WW II: 14 Sep 1939 German troops enter Gdynia, west of Danzig, capturing Poland's only seaport.  More ↓
14 Sep 1942 Battle of Edson's Ridge: Japanese assault US Marines' perimeter line of Henderson Field Guadalcanal, a Japanese defeat with heavy losses [12-14 Sep].
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Early Dodge Military Trucks

Prior to World War II, the vehicles procured by the War Department for military use were based on commercial designs. Military modifications were few, such as de-plating chrome parts and painting the entire vehicle in olive drab. Custom designed military vehicles, the normal practice in WW II and later, were few.

Dodge went on to be the major supplier of light tactical trucks in World War II, with the Dodge half-ton 4x4 VC-1 to VC-6 (G505), the half-ton 4x4 WC-1 to WC-50 (G505), the 3/4 ton 4x4 WC-51 to WC-61 and WC-64 (G502), and the related WC-62 and WC-63 1 1/2 ton, 6x6 (G507) trucks.

Believed to be KC-1 Dodge 1/2 ton, probably 1935
Believed to be KC-1 Dodge 1/2 ton, probably 1935.
Source: National Archives with original caption: "Photograph of a machine-gunned army truck at Hickam Field, Hawaii, after the 7 December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor."

1934 Dodge 1 1/2 ton, Courtesy of Dave Walizer
1934 Dodge 1 1/2 ton, Courtesy of Dave Walizer.

Dodge 1 1/2 ton 4x4 Cargo Trucks from the 38th Infantry Service Company, 3rd Infantry Division (Marine Division), Camp Green, NC, on the parade ground at the Presidio of San Francisco, 1935
Dodge 1 1/2 ton 4x4 Cargo Trucks from the 38th Infantry Service Company, 3rd Infantry Division (Marine Division), Camp Green, NC, on the parade ground at the Presidio of San Francisco, 1935.

1935 Dodge, Courtesy of Dave Walizer
1935 Dodge, Courtesy of Dave Walizer.

1935 Dodge, Courtesy of Dave Walizer.
1935 Dodge, Courtesy of Dave Walizer

1935 Dodge, Courtesy of Dave Walizer
1935 Dodge, Courtesy of Dave Walizer.