Willys MB Ford GPW 1/4 Ton 4x4 Army Jeep

The Truck, 1/4 Ton, 4x4 (Willys MB / Ford GPW) is the standard World War II jeep used by the U.S. Army and all other branches of the U.S. military and allied countries during WW II and into the 1950s. The full story of the development of the original Army Jeep of World War II is on the linked page. See the Willys MB / Ford GPW page for more details and photos of this jeep.

Loading a newly produced jeep on a haulaway truck at factory, Detroit, MI. April 1943.

Today in WW II: 8 Feb 1940 Germans establish the first large Jewish ghetto in Poland in the city of Lodz. More ↓

8 Feb 1941 US House of Representatives passes the Lend-Lease Act [265 to 165].
8 Feb 1942 Battle of Sarimbun Beach begins, the first stage of the Japanese assault on Singapore.
8 Feb 1942 Japanese Offensive in Burma begins [8 Feb-2 May].
8 Feb 1945 Battle of the Reichswald: British and Canadian forces under Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery begin Operation Veritable [8 Feb-11 Mar].
Visit the Olive-Drab.com World War II Timeline for day-by-day events 1939-1945! See also WW2 Books.

Truck, 1/4 Ton, 4x4 (Willys MB, Ford GPW) WW II Army Jeep

The WW II jeep with MB-T or T3 trailer, Potsdam, Germany, 14 July 1945. This photo is available in high resolution in the Olive-Drab.com Gallery.

3d Infantry jeep providing mobile defense for St. Johns, Newfoundland, in the summer of 1942. Note WW I style helmets, M1917A1 and M1917A1 Browning water cooled machine gun, plus 37mm cannon (?).

Drawing of MB/GPW jeep from TM 9-803, dated 22 February 1944.

Patton's Jeep in Bastogne, 1 January 1945. Photo taken by Lieutenant Colonel Merton Singer, Deputy Ordnance Officer, VIII Corps. Modified to reflect General Patton's unique personality. It has among other things, Buell trombone airhorns mounted on the hood to announce his arrival.

MB or GPW with rocket launcher unit. Note second jeep with heavy MG in background.
Photo: Courtesy of WW2Xprt.

Restored MB or GPW at Highland Lakes Air Museum, Burnet, TX (background removed). 9 April 2005.
Photo: Courtesy of Bob Pettit

Restored 1943 Ford GPW. Photo: Courtesy of Philippe Aimar, Owner
Restored 1943 Ford GPW. Photo: Courtesy of Philippe Aimar, Owner.

Members of the Old 29th Division Association drive a restored MB or GPW during reactivation ceremonies for the 29th Infantry Division (Light), Ft. Belvoir, VA, 16 Feb 1988.

Hill climbing jeep at Ft. Story, VA, 1942.

Loading jeep into LCT by crane, ETO WW II. This photo is available in high resolution in the Olive-Drab.com Gallery.

Jeeps crossing rain swollen stream in Italy, 1944. This photo is available in high resolution in the Olive-Drab.com Gallery.