Hobby Master 1/48 Ground Power Series
HG1613
Willy's Jeep "Follow Me" RAF, WWII
 
General Background
Wanting to replace their outdated light vehicles the U.S. Military received three tenders. Bantam
Car Company was the initial winner but couldn’t meet demand so the job went to Willys-Overland
Motors. Willys was to take the best design features of the three submitted tenders and build a
standardized vehicle. Eventually in order to meet an even greater demand the Ford Motors
Company was asked to build a similar vehicle. During World War II there was a total of 647,870
Jeeps produced by the three companies; Willys-Overland produced 362,841 of them.
 
“Follow Me” jeeps were used to help with control of ground traffic at airfields. If an aircraft landed
at an unfamiliar airfield it would require guidance to the various runways, taxiways and parking
areas. Sometimes local aircraft needed their services to reach the correct assigned location.
Once the aircraft had slowed to a safe speed these brightly colored jeeps would drive in front with
a large “Follow Me” sign attached to the rear and would proceed to the assigned spot for that
aircraft.