M-43 Air Force Ambulance

[TAK824]

By golly, it worked. By wetting, checking pictures, getting the light just right, etc., I was able to determine that something was on the body sides. I thought it had all been obliterated, but with some judicious light sanding, wetting, and being easy with the scrubbing, I actually cleared some of the obliterating overlay, and found bits of the original yellow paint used for the markings. It took a bit more doing, but I've been able to establish that it is what I suspected, the marking reads (on each side of vehicle):

U.S. Air Force
Medical Service
53K 774 (these numbers are indigenous to my vehicle)
For Official Use Only

The top three lines are in 1 1/2 inch lettering, the bottom one is 1 inch lettering.

So finally, I've got a clear picture now of what all the original markings were on the entire vehicle. The only marking that I have NOT been able to figure out, is a very faded stencil marking, on the cowl area under the hood, that says "Code 4012". Any ideas??

[rickf]

[m-37Bruce]

Great news, good advice Rick!

[Cal_Gary]

What an amazing find! Wish I'd known of this process before I tossed my old cancered out hood....

Sorry, I have no idea what the Code number is for.
Gary

[k8icu]

Good find on the markings. Now you can get your truck painted and remarked. Unfortunately I have no idea what code 4012 is. I did a google search but didn't come up with anything concrete to be able to say oh it means this. It might have been something the unit did....who knows....