The Swing Shift Shuffle is a radio program of swing, big band, jazz, boogie woogie and other popular music from the 1930's and 40's that airs every Wednesday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. (US Central Time) on WEVL 89.9 FM in Memphis, Tennessee, with a live webcast at wevl.org. In addition to the radio show, this blog is dedicated to all aspects of the Swing Era, including art, automobiles, cartoons, comics, history, movies, music, news, science, technology, and anything else that happened during that time. It also includes announcements about events in the Memphis/Mid-South area related to the Swing Era, such as classic movies, concerts, dances, lectures, etc. If you see something that fits the description, send it to me at tim@wevl.org. If you would like more information about the radio show, just go to the Radio Show FAQ page.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Wartime Hot Rodders Streamline A Jeep

Even today, in the time of rounded SUV's and crossovers, the words "streamlined" and "Jeep" seem incongruous.  The Hemmings blog posted an item about some members of the 478th Air Service Squadron in 1945 who decided to provide their standard issue "General Purpose" vehicle (the term "Jeep" came from the abbreviation "GP") with some aerodynamic improvements.  Quoting the 1945 Popular Mechanics article that provided the photo, Hemmings said: 
“They made a racer type body from the cowling of a C-46 engine, fashioned fenders out of emergency gas tanks and wound up with a speedy little runabout,” the article stated. Details, of course, were sparse, indicating only that the 478th was stationed in the Philippines at the time.
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