United States Army Quartermaster Corps

December 14, 1940
The US Army Quartermaster Corps (QMC) was the original US Army department charged with the jeep development and procurement until July 1942 when the Ordnance Department took over.  The source documents in this section are ones related to the jeep development and prior activities that involved other small vehicle manufacture.
Original Source Provided By
Bantam   August 1, 1940 - Contract No. W-398-qm-8269 (O.I. #137) (Invitation for Bids No. 398-41-9)

Bill Norris
Bantam   October 4, 1940 - QM 451 (Proc. 398-41-9), F. H. Fenn, American Bantam, to Lt. Col. J. Van Ness Ingram, Purchasing and Contracting Officer, Holabird  

Bill Norris
Bantam   October 9, 1940 - QM 451 (Proc. 398-41-9), F. H. Fenn, American Bantam, to Lt. Col. J. Van Ness Ingram, Purchasing and Contracting Officer, Holabird   - Fenn price reduction

Bill Norris
Bantam  "Demonstration of Bantam, 1/4-Ton, 4x4, Pilot Model at Fort Knox, Kentucky"    by Captain E. L. Moseley - November 6, 1940

Bill Spear
Ford   October 16, 1940 - QM 451 (Proc. 398-41-9), H. M. Cunnigham, Ford Motor Company to Lt. Col. J. Van Ness Ingram, Holabird

Bill Norris
Ford   October 16, 1940 - QM 451 (Proc. 398-41-9), H. M. Cunnigham, Ford Motor Company to Lt. Col. J. Van Ness Ingram, Holabird - Supplement

Bill Norris
Willys   October 8, 1940 - QM 451 (M-P) (398-41-9), Eugene M. Rice, Willys-Overland, to Lt. Col. J Van Ness Ingram, QMC

Bill Norris
Willys   July 9, 1941 - W-398-qm-8888 - Eugene M Rice to Lt. Col. J. Van Ness Ingram, QMC

Bill Norris
Spicer   April 28, 1941 - Mr. Fairhurst, Spicer, Toledo

Bill Norris
Chief of Staff   February 1941 - 'Contract for Manufacture of Light Cars' - QMG to Chief of Staff

Bill Norris
National Defense Advisory Commission   January 6, 1941 - E.S. Van Deusen, QMC to Mr. John C. Biggers, National Defense Advisory Commission

Bill Norris
QMC   August 1, 1938 - 451 (Development) - Progress Report - Month Ending July 31, 1938 - Project EDT - No. 29-8 - Truck, Chassis, 4-wheel drive, Quarter-ton Capacity (Carrier - Machine Gun)

Todd Paisley
QMC   September 25, 1939 - F. H. Fenn, Vice President, American Bantam Car Company to Lt. Col. H. C. Lawes, QMC

Todd Paisley
QMC   December 12, 1939 - Engr. 431 - Ltr. - American Bantam Car Company, Butler, Pa. - 9-25-39 - Lt. Col H. J. Lawes to QMG.htm

Todd Paisley
QMC   December 12, 1939 - Major William B. Johnson, Chief Engineering Branch, QMC to American Bantam Car Company

Todd Paisley
QMC   September 1, 1938 - 451 - Progress Report - Month Ending August 31, 1938 - Project EDT - No. 29-8 - Truck, Chassis, 4-wheel drive, Quarter-ton Capacity (Carrier - Machine Gun)

Todd Paisley
QMC   October 17, 1940 - QM 451 - 'Quarter-Ton 4x4 Vehicles', Major R. G. Amlong, Quartermaster Corps, Assistant to QMG  - Bid prices for all 3 companies to QMG

Bill Norris
QMC   November 6, 1940 - QM 451 (M-P) (Proc. 395-41-9), QMG to General R. C. Moore

Bill Norris
QMC   July 7, 1941 - U.S. Army Tentative Specification USA-LF-91-997A

Bill Norris
QMC   July 11, 1941 - No 398-42-NEG-1 - 'QMC Form of Request for Informal Bids' - Lt. Col. J. Van Ness Ingram, QMC

Bill Norris
    October 4, 1941 - W-398-qm-10977 - Lt. Col. J. Van Ness Ingram, QMC to Ford Motor Company

Bill Norris
QMC Technical Committee   October 18, 1940 - Proceedings of Motor Transport Sub-Committee - Quartermaster Corps Technical Committee

Bill Norris

The following are some documents that have been referenced by other documents/books that need to be tracked down:

Document Name Date
QM 400.112 (Automobiles) Austin, IB 451, Infantry Board to Chief of Infantry, November 8, 1932, “Austin Car for Test,” with succeeding indorsements. Tuesday, November 08, 1932
OQMG Office Order No. 4, January 7, 1937 Thursday, January 07, 1937
American Bantam Company sold the Quartermaster Corps three chassis for experimental purposes, but they did not prove successful. 1938
OQM 451 (Maintenance), January-December, 1938 January-December, 1938
Minutes of the QMC Technical Committee,” November 18, 1938 Friday, November 18, 1938
Minutes of the QMC Technical Committee,”  2nd indorsements from the Secretary of War, December 17, 1938 Saturday, December 17, 1938
Minutes of the QMC Technical Committee,”  6th indorsements from the Secretary of War, December 21, 1938 Wednesday, December 21, 1938
QM 095 (Willys-Overland Motors Inc.), Vol. 1, Detroit QMC Motor Planning Office to The QMG, 2nd indorsement, December 28, 1938 Wednesday, December 28, 1938
QM 095 (Willys-Overland Motors Inc.), Transportation Division to War Planning and Procurement, “Allocation of Facilities, Willys-Overland Motors, Inc.,” January 7, 1939 Saturday, January 07, 1939
A.G. 451 (6-15-39) Misc. D., AG to QMG, “Standardization of Motor Vehicles,” August 12, 1939 Saturday, August 12, 1939
American Bantam offered additional units to the Quartermaster Corps for further tests, they were informed “that there appeared no further military requirements for that type of vehicle that they built.”  September, 1939
Minutes of the QMC Technical Committee, November 6, 1939 Monday, November 06, 1939
QM 095 (Willys-Overland Motors Inc.), letter, ASW to Willys-Overland, February 20, 1940 Tuesday, February 20, 1940
QM 400.112 (Vehicle Motor Light), CI 470.8/550 XII “C,” Chief of Infantry to Adjutant General, Light Vehicle Development,” June 6, 1940  Thursday, June 06, 1940
QM 400.112 (Vehicle Motor Light), CI 470.8/550 XII “C,” Chief of Infantry to Adjutant General, Light Vehicle Development,” 1st indorsement, June 8, 1940 Saturday, June 08, 1940
OASW to QMG, “Approval of important purchases by Advisory Commission to the Council of National Defense,” June 10, 1940 Monday, June 10, 1940
OASW to QMG, “Approval of important purchases by Advisory Commission to the Council of National Defense,” June 13, 1940 Thursday, June 13, 1940
QM 400.112 (Vehicle Motor Light), CI 470.8/550 XII “C,” Chief of Infantry to Adjutant General, Light Vehicle Development,” 2nd indorsement, June 14, 1940  Friday, June 14, 1940
QM 400.112 (Vehicle Motor Light), The Adjutant General to Chief of Ordnance, June 15, 1940. Saturday, June 15, 1940
QM 400.112 (Vehicle Motor Light), Subcommittee on Automotive Equipment to The Ordnance Committee, Technical Staff, “Light Infantry and Cavalry Vehicles,” June 22, 1940 Saturday, June 22, 1940
QM 451 (398-41-9), Tentative Specifications, Truck, Motor Gasoline, Light Reconnaissance & Command Car (Four Wheels - Four Wheel Drive), July 2, 1940 Tuesday, July 02, 1940
Standardization data from Motor Transport Historical Files, OQMG Historical Section; Public Law No. 703, 76th Congress, approved July 2, 1940, Sec. 1 (a) Tuesday, July 02, 1940
QM 400.13 (Without Advertising), SW to Chiefs of Supply Arms and Services, “Procurement without Advertising,” July 2, 1940 Tuesday, July 02, 1940
QM 400.12 (Vehicle, Motor, Light), Chief of Infantry to TAG, “Light Vehicle Development,” (June 6, 1940), 4th indorsement, Holabird to QMG, July 3, 1940. Wednesday, July 03, 1940
QM 400.112 (Vehicle Motor Light), 4th indorsement, AG 451 (6/l5-40), AGO to Chief of Ordnance and The Quartermaster General, in turn, July 5, 1940 Friday, July 05, 1940
QM 400.112 (Vehicle, Motor Light), Charles H. Payne, American Bantam Car Company, to Col. J. N. Johnson, OQMG, July 9, 1940. Tuesday, July 09, 1940
QM 451 (398-41-9), Current Procurement Branch to ASW, “Procurement of Trucks, Light Reconnaissance and Command Cars, 1/4-ton, 4x4,” July 10, 1940.   Wednesday, July 10, 1940
QM 451 (398-41-9), 4th indorsement, ASW to QMG, July 11, 1940 Thursday, July 11, 1940
QM 451 (Proc. 398-41-9), Holabird to The QMG, “Invitation for Bids No. 398-41-9,” July 24, 1940, including Technical Analysis Wednesday, July 24, 1940
QM 451 (Proc. 398-41-9), OQMG to Holabird, July 25, 1940 Thursday, July 25, 1940
OQMG Office Order No. 49, July 26, 1940 Friday, July 26, 1940
QM 451 (Proc. 398-41-9), OQMG to Commissioner Knudson, “Contract with American Bantam,” July 30, 1940 Tuesday, July 30, 1940
OQMG Office Order No. 52, July 30, 1940 Tuesday, July 30, 1940
QM 451 (Proc. 398-41-9), Letter of Charles R. Payne, Asst. to President, American Bantam Car Company, to the Hon. Henry L. Stimson, Secretary of War, October 14, 1940 Monday, October 14, 1940
QM 451 (Proc. 398-41-9), Charles H. Payne, Asst. to President, American Bantam Car Company, to the Hon. Henry L. Stimson, Secretary of War, October 14, 1940 Monday, October 14, 1940
“Proceedings of Motor Transport Sub-Committee, QMC Technical Committee,” October 18, 1940 Friday, October 18, 1940
QM 451 (M-P) (398-41-9), Eugene M. Rice, Willys-Overland, to Lt. Col. Jr Van Ness Ingram, QMC, October 18, 1940 Friday, October 18, 1940
“Proceedings of Motor Transport Sub-Committee, QMC Technical Committee,” Infantry Nonconcurrence, October 21, 1940 Monday, October 21, 1940
“Proceedings of Motor Transport Sub-Committee, QMC Technical Committee,” Field Artillery Nonconcurrence, October 21, 1940 Monday, October 21, 1940
“Proceedings of Motor Transport Sub-Committee, QMC Technical Committee,” Special Concurrence of the Cavalry, October 21, 1940 Monday, October 21, 1940
QM 451 (M-P) (398-41-9), QMG to AG, “Procurement of Fifteen Hundred (1500) Trucks. ¼-ton (4x4),” October 22, 1940 Tuesday, October 22, 1940
QM 400.112 (Vehicles, Motor Light), CI 470.8/550 XII “C,” Chief of Infantry to The QMG, “Light Vehicle Development,” October 23, 1940 Wednesday, October 23, 1940
QM 451 (M-P) (398-41-9), AG to QMG, “Procurement of Fifteen Hundred (1500) Trucks, ¼-Ton, 4x4,” let indorsement, October 29, 1940 Tuesday, October 29, 1940
QM 451 (M-P) (398-41-9), QMG to AG, “Procurement of Fif­teen Hundred (1,500) Trucks, ¼-ton (4x4) Light Command-Reconnaissance Trucks,” 2nd indorsement, November 1, 1940 Friday, November 01, 1940
QM 451 M-P (Proc. 398-41-9) (Trucks, ¼-ton 4x4), 2nd indorse­ment, OQMG to AG, November 1, 1940 Friday, November 01, 1940
QM 451 (Proc. 395-41-9), AG 451 (10-22-40) M-D, AG to QMG 3rd indorsement, November 5, 1940 Tuesday, November 05, 1940
QM 451 (M-P)(Proc. 398-41-9), Memorandum from QMG to General R. C. Moore, Deputy Chief of Staff, November 6, 1940 Wednesday, November 06, 1940
QM 451 (Proc. 398-41-9), F. H. Fenn, American Bantam, to Lt. Col. J. Van Ness Ingram, Purchasing and Contracting Officer, Holabird, November 6, 1940 Wednesday, November 06, 1940
QM 451 (Proc. 398-41-9), F. H. Fenn, American Bantam, to Lt. Col. J. Van Ness Ingram, Purchasing and Contracting Officer, Holabird, November 7, 1940 Thursday, November 07, 1940
QM 451 (Proc. 398-41-9), QMG to Commissioner William S. Knudsen, November 7, 1940 Thursday, November 07, 1940
QM 451 (Proc. 398-41-9), F. H. Fenn, American Bantam, to Lt. Col. J. Van Ness Ingram, Purchasing and Contracting Officer, Holabird, November 8, 1940 Friday, November 08, 1940
QM 451 (Proc. 398-41-9), QMC to ASW, November 8, 1940 Friday, November 08, 1940
QM 451 (Proc. 398-41-9), Ford Motor Company to QMG, November 9, 1940 Saturday, November 09, 1940
QM 451 (Proc. 398-41-9), Charles H. Payne, Asst. to the President, American Bantam Co., to Brig. Gen. Joseph E. Barzynski, QMC, November 11, 1940 Monday, November 11, 1940
QM 451 (Proc. 398-41-9), John D. Biggers to QMG, November 14, 1940 Thursday, November 14, 1940
QM 451 (Proc. 398-41-9), QMG to ASW, November 19, 1940 Tuesday, November 19, 1940
QM 451 (Proc. 398-41-9), Willys-Overland to Lt. Col. J. Van Ness Ingram, Holabird, November 27, 1940 Wednesday, November 27, 1940
QM 451 (Proc. 398-41-9), Willys-Overland to Lt. Co1. J. Van Ness Ingram, Holabird, November 27, 1940 Wednesday, November 27, 1940
QM 451 (Proc. 398-41-9), Memorandum of verbal approval from Lt. Col. H. S. Aurand, G-4, to Lt. Col. Douglas Dow, QMC, December 3, 1940 Tuesday, December 03, 1940
QM 451 (Proc. 398-41-9), QMG to ASW, “Negotiation for Motor Vehicle Equipment,” December 5, 1940 Thursday, December 05, 1940
QM 161 (Ford Motor Co. )(398-qm-8887), Lt. Col. Douglas Dow (for The QMG) to ASW, December 20, 1940 Friday, December 20, 1940
QM 161 (Ford Motor Co.)(398-qm-8887), Lt. Col. Douglas Dow to ASW, December 20, 1940 Friday, December 20, 1940
QM 161 (Ford Motor Company) (398-qm-8887), Lt. Col. Douglas Dow to ASW, December 20, 1940 Friday, December 20, 1940
QM 161 (Ford Motor Co. )(398-qm-8887),3rd indorsement, Brig. Gen. J. E. Barzynski to Holabird, December 27, 1940 Friday, December 27, 1940
QM 451 (Proc. 398-41-9), Lt. Col. E. S. Van Deusen to John D. Biggers, “Comments on Article Regarding Ford in December 30, 1941, PM,” January 6, 1941 Monday, January 06, 1941
QM 161, Willys-Overland Motors, Inc., “Report of Pilot Model Vehicle, ¼ ton, 4x4, Command Reconnaissance truck, Contract No. W-398-qm-8888,” January 8, 1941 Wednesday, January 08, 1941
“Minutes of Quartermaster Corps Technical Committee,” January 22, 1941 Wednesday, January 22, 1941
QM 451 (Military Characteristics), Maj. Gen. R. C. Moore, Deputy Chief of Staff to QMG, “Contract for manufacture of light cars,” February 8, 1941 Saturday, February 08, 1941
QM 161, Willys-Overland Motors , Inc., Contract No. W-398-qm-8888, Major R. G. Amlong, Asst. Purchasing and Contracting Officer to Willys, February 8, 1941 Saturday, February 08, 1941
QM 161, Willys-Overland Motors , Inc., Contract No. W-398-qm-8888, Lt. Col. J. Van Ness Ingram, Purchasing and Contracting Officer, to Willys, February 11, 1941 Tuesday, February 11, 1941
QM 451 (Proc. 398-41-9), I. F. Stone, “Willys-Overland Gets Army Favor on Midget Cars,” PM, February 16, 1941 Sunday, February 16, 1941
QM 451 (Military Characteristics), let Memorandum Indorsement, QMG to Deputy Chief of Staff, March 5, 1941 Wednesday, March 05, 1941
”Minutes of the QMC Technical Committee,” March 10, 1941 Monday, March 10, 1941
QM 451 (Neg. Amer. Bantam Car Co.) W 398-qm-8886, Letter from American Bantam to Holabird, March 26, 1941 Wednesday, March 26, 1941
QM 451 (Neg. Amer. Bantam Car Co.) W 398-qm-8886, Letter from American Bantam to Holabird, April 1, 1941 Tuesday, April 01, 1941
QM 095 C—C (American Bantam Motor Company), QMG to Senators Tom Stewart, Kenneth McKellar, and Representative John Jennings, Jr., April 8, 1941 Tuesday, April 08, 1941
”Minutes of the QMC Technical Committee,” April 11, 1941 Friday, April 11, 1941
QM 451 (Proc. 398-41-9), AG 451 (4-12-41) M-D, AG to QMG, “Additional Procurement of ¼-ton Trucks,” May 1, 1941 Thursday, May 01, 1941
QM 400.112 (Truck, ¼-ton, 4x4), CI 45l.4/9615, Chief of Infantry (through E. W. Fales, Colonel, Infantry Executive) to the President, Infantry Board re Tests of ¼-ton Trucks, Ford and Over­land, May 15, 1941 Thursday, May 15, 1941
QM 400.112 (Truck, ¼-ton, 4x4), CI 451.4/9615, Chief of In­fantry to President, Infantry Board, “Tests of ¼-ton Trucks, Ford and Overland,” May 15, 1941 Thursday, May 15, 1941
QM 451(Neg. Ford Motor Co.), Holabird to QMG, “Informal request for Quotation ‘A 1’,” May 8, 1941 Thursday, May 08, 1941
QM 451(Neg. Ford Motor Co.), OQMG to Holabird, let indorsement, May 23, 1941 Friday, May 23, 1941
QM 451 (M—P)(American Bantam Co.), Brig. Gen. J. E. Barzynski to Holabird, June 6, 1941 Friday, June 06, 1941
Memorandum from the QMG to the Motor Transport Division, June 30, 1941 Monday, June 30, 1941
QM 451.2 ( ¼-ton, 4x4) QMG to General Moore, Deputy Chief of Staff, “Procurement of Trucks, ¼-ton, 4x4,” July 11, 1941 Friday, July 11, 1941
QM 095 (Willys-Overland Motors Inc.), Julius H . Amberg, Special Assistant to the Secretary of War to QMG, “Reconnaissance Cars,” July 17, 1941 Thursday, July 17, 1941
QM 400.112 (Truck, ¼-ton, 4x4), CI 451.4/9615, Test Section, Infantry Board, Ft. Banning, Georgia, to President, Infantry Board, “Partial Report of Comparative Tests .. . Bantam, Ford, and Willys ¼-ton, 4x4, Trucks,” July 22, 1941 Tuesday, July 22, 1941
QM 161., American Bantam Car Co., Letter to Chief, Purchasing & Con­tracting Branch, Motor Transport Division, July 24, 1941 Thursday, July 24, 1941
QM 161, Willys-Overland Motors, Inc., Letter to General Barzynski, Asst. QMG, July 24, 1941 Thursday, July 24, 1941
QM 451 (Proc. 398-42-Neg-l) “16,000 Trucks, ¼-ton 4x4 W-398-qm-10757,” Letter to Chief, Purchasing & Contracting Branch, Motor Transport Division, from Ford Motor Co., July 24, 1941 Thursday, July 24, 1941
QM 451 M-P (Proc. 398-42-Neg-1), 16,000 Trucks, ¼-ton, 4x4, W-398-qm-10757, Gen. Barzynski, MT Division, to QMG, July 30, 1941 Wednesday, July 30, 1941
QM 400.112 (Truck, ¼-ton, 4x4), CI 451.4/9615, Infantry Board to Chief of Infantry, July 31, 1941 Thursday, July 31, 1941
QM 451 M-P (Proc. 398-42-Neg-1), 16,000 Trucks, ¼-ton, 4x4, W-398-qm-10757, “Approval of Negotiated Contract,” July 31, 1941 Thursday, July 31, 1941
QM 451 M-P (Proc. 398-42-Neg-1), 16,000 Trucks, ¼-ton, 4x4, W-398-qm-10757, “Request for Contract Clearance,” July 31, 1941 Thursday, July 31, 1941
QM 451 M-P (Proc. 398-42-Neg-1), 16,000 Trucks, ¼-ton, 4x4, W-398-qm-10757, QMG to USW, July 31, 1941 Thursday, July 31, 1941
QM 451 M-P (Proc. 398-42-Neg-1), 16,000 Trucks, ¼-ton, 4x4, W-398-qm-10757, Lt. Col. E. S. Van Deusen to Holabird, “Award . . . No. 398-42-Neg-1,” August 1, 1941 Friday, August 01, 1941
QM 451 (Proc. 398-42-Neg-l) 16,000 Trucks, ¼-ton, 4x4, W-398-qm-10757, Ford Motor Company to OQMG Motor Transport Division, August 6, 1941 Wednesday, August 06, 1941
QM 451 (Proc. 398-42-Neg-l) 16,000 Trucks, ¼-ton, 4x4, W-398-qm-10757, Lt. Col. Ingram to Col. Van Deusen, August 8, 1941 Friday, August 08, 1941
QM 400.112 (Truck, ¼-ton, 4x4), CI 451.4/9615, Chief of Infantry to QMG, August 11, 1941 Monday, August 11, 1941
QM 451 (Proc. 398-42-Neg-l) 16,000 Trucks, ¼-ton, 4x4, W-398-qm-10757, Chief, Contract Control Branch to Chief, Procurement Branch, August 13, 1941 Wednesday, August 13, 1941
QM 400.112 (Truck, ¼-ton, 4x4), CI 451.4/9615, QMG to Holabird, August 15, 1941 Friday, August 15, 1941
QM 400.12 M-ES (Vehicles Airborne Task Force), August 19, 1941 Tuesday, August 19, 1941
QM 451 M-O, MT Operations Branch to MT Plans and Training Branch, “Motorcycles w/sidecar replaced with trucks, ¼-ton, 4x4,” August 19, 1941 Tuesday, August 19, 1941