Hobby Master HG1604 Willys MB Jeep US Army Air Force, Iowa "Follow Me" 1/48
Wanting to replace their outdated light vehicles the U.S. Military received three tenders.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.