A look at my 1941 White M2A1 Half Track named Bertha. The history of where she came from and how she turned out.
She was restored 2018-2020.
For a more in depth look at the restoration with MANY photos, check out:
halftrackinfo.com/index.php?t...
I put together a short video with some clips/photos of Bertha's engine....what it looked like when I found it, got it home, tested it, installed it........and when she first moved.
• 1941 White M2A1 Half T...
Here's a little video I put together from a few years ago showing when Bertha first arrived at my shop to start her restoration.
• When Bertha Came Home ...
To take a look at the walk-around I did on my 1955 M38A1 Jeep it's at:
• Dad's Jeep - 1955 Will...
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the "clicker" was originally a toy called a "cricket"and was adopted for use by the airborne forces to help identify each other at night and in thick vegetation
Yes.....such a simple idea and it apparently worked!! Thanks for the comment!!
There is a film here at 5:43 it shows how the clicker was used. It’s a German produced film but they did a good job. This is a true story. kzhead.info/sun/rLaNndabepSMa30/bejne.htmlsi=BH0NJBKrpdlTCwD5
The clicker was used by the paratroopers of the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions who jumped into Normandy on the night before D-Day to signal each other and identify friendly troops so they didn't shoot at each other. 1 click to challenge, 2 clicks to reply. Great video and great job restoring the half track. My father was a corporal during W.W. II and was the vehicle commander in an M-16 variant anti-aircraft half track with the quad .50 caliber machine guns in the back. He missed the D-Day landing but saw action with Patton's Third Army.
Thank you and correct on the clicker!! Wow.....I'd like to talk to your dad about life on a half track during the war. The M16 was an awesome machine!! My dad was WWII infantry and never talked much about the war. Only the funny stuff that happened. Thanks for stopping by!!
Thanks Keith. Sadly, my father passed on many years ago. Like most combat veterans, he didn't talk much about the war. I wish I could go back and ask him about his half track and a thousand other things.
@@kevinreilly3479 Yes...so many things I didn't ask and he didn't talk about.
There is a good re-enactment of the clicker and how it was used at 5:40 into this film on KZhead: "LILI MARLEEN - Award winning WW2 Short Film | Wehrmacht/Airborne - German Perspective" Just use the KZhead search. It's actually a true story. There were code words involved as well.
Sir, that is one of the most beautiful half tracks I have ever seen. Congratulations on an excellent job restoring that vehicle to the point that it looks better than new. Enjoy!
Thank you!!!! She was a great project!!
About the interchangeable headlights; the hooded ones were for blackout driving and the full clear lens was for driving in non combat areas, usually rear holding areas or supply bases. As many have noted the clicker was a signaling device for the airborne units, and sometimes the infantry units on night patrols, it sounded like a cricket at a distance to fool the enemy. The barrel magazine you spoke about are also called a 'drum' magazine. There were some of them used in the war, but generally they used a clip that was easy to switch out, hence the ammo bag for numerous spare clips. The Thompson could be fired in burst of three or four rounds, the timing for these was usually measured by pulling the trigger and holding long enough to say 'son of a bitch'. Bursts helped keep the barrel from over heating. Most of my basic training NCO's were WWII or Korean War vets and yes 'they were tough as nails and run us recruits into the ground every chance they got!!
Thanks for the comment. Great info!!
The best review and guided tour I have ever seen - Thank you for taking the time to post.
Thank you and thanks for stopping by!!!! This was a fun video to make!!
Incredible work, thank you for the walkthrough. Always been a fan of the halftrack.
Thank you....and thanks for stopping by!!!!
Wow what a restoration success
Thank you....and thanks for stopping by!!!! She was a GREAT project and a LOT of fun to drive!!!
Great job restoring your love of machines. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you!! She was a great project. I had to do a lot of research since I'd actually never seen a half track in person and I had a bazillion pieces that I didn't have a clue where they went!!!
Thankyou so very much for sharing with us the fascinating history of the half-track
I'm glad you enjoyed it!!! She was a VERY fun project and I learned a LOT restoring her. Thanks for stopping by!!!!
Nice machine, I remember when there was no such thing as FM radio, we listened to WLS Chicago Great video thumbs up
Thank you!!! Yep.....the old AM radios picked up just a BIT of radio noise!!!! Thanks for stopping by!!!
Beautiful job on the Restoration. One of My Uncles was a aerial gunnery instructor during WW2 . He was a many bases but said when He was in Arizona He and some other guys used a halftrack to go Deer Hunting.
Thank you!! Wow....that's a great story!! A half track would be a great platform for hunting. An armored hunting blind. Thanks for the comment!!
Absolutely awesome restoration. Thank you for the video. Very motivating, as Im restoring M2A1. Great job Keith 👍👍👍
Thank you!!! It was a fun project. I see you have also done several restorations including a Jeep. I did a "walk around" on my dad's 1955 M38A1 you might also enjoy. It's at kzhead.info/sun/i8l8d9OqsJRjpH0/bejne.html Thanks for the comment!!
Beautiful.
Thank you!!!
The clickers where for the paratroopers to regroup after jumps they where originally toys for kids. History Channel WW2 is a great series to watch. Love it wonderful reiteration, can you drive it on the road?
Yep...correct on the clickers!! I drive her on the road to local events and parades. Furthest round trip was about 35 miles. She's happy around 25mph...and while the engine is quiet, the ride is VERY noisy with the armor and floor pans vibrating....and I always get lots of funny looks!! 😆
Seeing your cartridge case reminds me of when I picked one up walking up the path from Omaha beach to the Cemetery on 50th anniversary.
Wow......that had to be a pretty amazing moment!! Such a place of honor. Thanks for the comment.
@@keithspillman It has not been fired, but the bullet has gone. Having trouble actually identifying what weapon it was used in. It's I,D is REM-UMC 7.65m/m. I can only find pistol rounds so far. It is a big subject. Loved your half track, there were two in Bayeaux on the anniversary.
Sir, may I say that is one of the most beautiful half-tracks I have ever seen! You did one hell of a great job restoring that rig. Congratulations!
Thanks again!!!!
Your M2A1 looks great thanks for this video :)
Thank you!!!!
Does it fire ?
Thanks a lot for this very interesting video! Really nice to see the old tech. Greetings from central Germany. 😏🙋
Glad you enjoyed it!! Thanks for stopping by!!!
Clicker was to determine friendly or enemy…one click answered with two clicks meant friendly
We have a winner!!! My son gave that to me as a gift. Not many folks know why a WWII soldier would need a clicker!!! Attaboy!!!
Watch the film 'The longest day'. Shows US paratroopers using this 'cricket'. The film is star studded cast immortalising D-day.
Great video Keith!! Very interesting and wow, what a great job you did restoring that machine.
Thanks Mike!! It was a fun project. I grew up in the grease pit at my dad's service station so I've always worked on and loved figuring out mechanical things!! Kinda like trying to figure out honey bees....which is a lot more confusing at times. 😆
Great vid, Keith, thank you.
Thanks for checking it out!! I had fun making it. Probably talked WAY too much....but I love teaching folks about these historic old vehicles.
Great video cousin!
Thanks Vincent!!
You did an amazing job restoring this piece of equipment and this video is a very good overall presentation. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!!!! She was/is a great project. Thank you for stopping by!!!
Thanks for the video. An excellent walk through. What a beautiful in a beastly sort of way, war machine.
Thank you and thanks for stopping by!!!!
Awesome rig. We have a 1951 GMC 6x6 2 1/2 ton truck which has been turned into a skipjack logging rig. It has a GMC 302 cid. 6 cylinder with a multifuel Holley carb. with almost the same trans setup your halftrack has tho its an automatic with high/low range that has reverse in each. wench is now on the back to lift logs so they can be dragged outa the woods. You have done an amazing job on this Half track.Thanks for sharing.
Thanks!! Sounds like your rig is still going strong? That's very cool that it's still working in the woods after all these years!!
great presentation.
Thank you!!!! That was a fun video to make!!!!
Very well done restoration! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you!!! And thanks for stopping by!!!!
Very well presented and Bertha is a beautiful old girl !
Thank you on both accounts!!! I'm glad you liked it!!
Imagine waiting to see where you would be posted after basic training. I would be happy if this track was my post
The GI's in WWII were some tough guys!!!
Excellent 👍👍👍
Thank you.....and thanks for stopping by!!!!
Loved the video thanks for making it.
Thank you!!!! Glad you enjoyed it. I had a great time making it!!
That looks factory fresh. Looks great.
Thank you!!!! She was a great project!! Thanks for stopping by!!!
About the clicker,I think that it was used for Locating soldiers Position by using a code 🤔 in think that's what I remember my Dad told me. My Father really didn't like to talk a lot about his time while he was overseas in WW2 🇺🇸 . I Enjoy your Viedos.
Yes.....one click to say "I'm here" and two clicks was the proper response by a friendly soldier. Dad only talked about the funny stuff that happened. Very little about the hell those young guys went through. Glad you enjoy the videos!!!
Well done, many thanks for that brilliant insight to the half track
Thank you!!! I'm glad you enjoyed the video!!!
Very very cool
Thank you!!
Great job Keith!
Thanks Corey!!
Thank you Keith, great video!😊
Thank you!!!! I'm glad you enjoyed it!!
I've also heard the clicker was to fool enemy on empty garand rifle. No clue if that's true. In combat do we bother with that ? There could be a situation where it may be practical. But how common ? Thanks for sending this again. Very impressed with how you started with a pile of parts and what you have now. Your wife is a great sport and support as I know what a huge job this was. And to think she thought you were crazy 😆
I probably am a bit crazy!! 🙃
@@keithspillman that's ok. You got it done. And a great jeep. Very impressed.
Amazing restoration. Looks factory fresh.
Thank you!! She was a great project and I tried hard to do her justice!!!
@@keithspillman For a single person project,it's a great achievement. I don't think a team of professional restorers could have done a better job.
@@ddraig1957 Thanks again!!! That's a great compliment. I must admit...my wife did help with the stencil for the big star on the hood. I just didn't have enough hands!! 😆
Brilliant ,thanks very interesting
Thank you....and thanks for stopping by!!!!!
Beutiful version, credit to fallen troops ❤ from Scotland
Thank you....and thanks for the comment!!!
Really enjoyed that Keith. Great work...
Glad you liked it!! Thanks for dropping by!!
GREAT video. Very well done. Restoration, too.👍 I noticed the many unpainted nuts, bolts, and screws. Were they unpainted from the factory or did you choose not to paint them? Either way, neat and clean, well done restoration.👍👍👏👏
Thank you and good eyes!! I left them unpainted on purpose. I like the detail it added. She doesn't get out in the rain so rust isn't an issue. From the factory everything would have been painted OD green. Thanks for the comment!!!
I'd like to own one of these one day, particularly an m3/a1
They are a fun and historic vehicles to restore and drive. I hope you find one!!! The rear "box" on a M3 a bit longer and the inside is arranged a bit different. But other than that, a M2 and M3 are basically the same.
Very nice. I'd love me some Bertha.
Thanks!!
It's so cool😮🔥🇮🇩
Thank you!!!!
They gave their lives for democracy and an end to fascism . Jeeze that’s a beautiful restoration . Operation market garden , recognition signal . That is my favourite vehicle of ww2 .. beautifully reviewed , never seen such an in-depth , it’s always Sherman’s & Spitfires .
Thanks and I'm glad you enjoyed the video!! And yes on the clicker too!! I had fun making the video. It ran a bit long...but I love to talk about her. Thanks so much for the comment!!
Very very impressive Keith 👏👏👌💪💪💪🐝🐝
Thank you!!!
Superb restoration!
Thank you!!! She was a fun project.
@@keithspillman How long was the restoration process?
Sorry for the late response. Your post got lost somehow. It took me about a year and a half.....but I was pretty obsessed during that time so a LOT of hours!!!
Kool truck - one of my godbrothers bought a 1951 Army jeep cj5 - it was in rough shape but is boys ( 4 of us ) rebuilt back to military spec. except he put over size rims and all terrain tires on it and a roll cage - it had 4 seats - two were in the bed and could fold up out of the way - i think he still drives it - him and his twin brother are antique vehicles collectors - mostly pre 1970 only and rebuilt them to factory spec.
I also restored a 1955 M38A1 which looks much like a CJ5. My dad bought it from a local fire department back in 1969 so it's part of the family. I need to do a "walk around" on it. My hot rod is a 1964 Ford Fairlane. I pulled the 260 and 3 speed and replaced with a hot 289 and a 4 speed in the floor. I love the old vehicles!!!! Thanks for the comment!!
The mystery bracket on the right side was for the holding the fire extinguisher.
I've heard that.....or a decontaiminator. But either would need an odd bracket on them to fit down in this tapered bracket on the half track. I would love to see a picture of what was there....in place. Thanks for stopping by!!!!
Wow beautiful vehicle , always loved the half tracks you did a job better than the government or special restoration shop would have done 👍🏻👍🏻 the only thing I would have liked was a 12 valve Cummings engine to replace that flathead 6 , but that’s me ! You made a great piece of history! Love it ! I would love to have this it would be better than any new car or truck !
Thanks!!! She was/is a fun ride. Had to keep the stock flathead to be historically correct. Israel used half tracks into the early 90's and dropped Perkings diesels in them. Thanks for stopping by!!!!
Bracket in Pass. floor well referred to in Technical Manual TM-9-710 as "apparatus, decontaminating 1.5 qt., m2 (spec 197-54-113). Right of right shutter handle fastened to plate"... - vehicle gas-decontamination kit?
I've seen that discussed at: halftrackinfo.com/index.php?topic=1696.msg17450#msg17450 But it seems nobody has a photo of the bracket that mounted it in this location. Have you seen a photo of the bracket? Thanks so much for the comment!!
The clicker was also used to make the germans think you fired your last round out of your m1 Garand because the clip would make a clicking noise when the last round was fired out of it.
Interesting. Hadn't heard that. Thanks!!
@@keithspillman your welcome thanks for making this video
Yes I know the clicker story . You did a good job fixing that machine up. I think the gov. should give you a big tax right off for doing all that work and saving history
Thank you!!! The clicker story is a classic!! I like your tax deduction idea!!!!! 😁 Thanks for stopping by!!!
Did those really only get 3 mpg? How big is that gas tank? You did a beautiful Job on that vehicle. Thanks for making that video.
Thank you!!!! The manuals say she has a180 mile range for the 2 - 30 gallon tanks....so 3mpg. But I think that's a bit optimistic. 😄 Thanks for stopping by!!!
grate vid i love halftracks and i love even more when the owners of military viechels actually dress up there vehicles with musetbaggs and tarps and stuff the clicker is for paratroopers on D-day to find echoer and regroup whale it being a nother way of them identifying friend and foe
Yes on the clicker!! And thanks for the comment on the video. And yes....you have to have "accessories" to make the restoration look realistic!! Thanks for dropping by!!
Great vid and vehicle! Was it difficult to find tracks? Any idea how long a set of tracks would last?
Thanks!! The set that's on it were NOS tracks made in 1972 probably from Israel. They used US half tracks up into the 90's. I've read that a set should last 1000-1500 miles on pavement. I've ran several hundred miles and really don't see any wear. There are a couple of companies making tracks now.....but a set is probably around $8000. I have an extra new set I bought a couple of years ago.
Theres a White half track about a mile from my house. the guy owns a storage shed and has an outdoor museum . hes got some amazing stuff but, none of it is restored
Original military equipment is very cool. If only these old steel soldiers could talk..... Thanks for stopping by!!!!
i love it because its got my moms name
It's a great name!!
Ahhh the took the glass out of the windshield when armour was put down I wonder where they stored it? Is it possible that generally in combat areas they just left it out all together?
Good question!!! I've seen this discussed in half track forums but no real answers. I think you are probably right.....just take them out and leave them out. You wouldn't want to be messing with the windshield glass when the bad guys are shooting at you!!!! Thanks for stopping by!!!
10:33 Hercules engine is a well-known brand of American engines
Yes....Hercules engines were used in the M3 Scout Cars. Mine uses a White 160AX.
Nice . Looks like you did a thorough job. I have an m2 I'm working on also. Is the bed and armor original or reproduction. What did you do for fuel tanks.
Hello!! Thank you and I appreciate you dropping by!! The bed is a reproduction as is the rear armor. All the armor is original from the bed forward. One of the tanks is a NOS rubber coated tank that's never had fuel in it. The other is a steel reproduction that I use. How's your restoration going?
@Keith Spillman - Half Tracks and Honey Bees its going well but slow. I got it in about 1995 and I was 12 years old. I got it in the summer time and dad and I had it driving by Christmas that year. I disassembled it about two years later and had it down to the frame. And sandblasted it and painted it then reassembled the drive-trane. In 1997 I received another m2 for my summer wages. Then life happened. I have collected enough parts to put one back original with original armor and one that's a fun driver. I recently purchased a new set of tracks the beginning of this year and I have a few projects to catch up with and then I can get back to work on it. Maybe next year if things go well.
are those 'screw heads' on the front aligned for visual inspection or to keep from accumulating water/rust?
Good eye!! Lining them up all over the vehicle was a "trademark" of the White Motor Company so I did this during the restoration. But yes....it would also allow moisture to pass through and not accumulate. Thanks for the comment!!
the clicker was used for comms
Yes!!!!
You would have felt pretty hard rolling around in this vic
She doesn't ride like a Cadillac that's for sure!!!!!😄
That took a while, lol over loaded that poor little pickup.
Yep.....that little truck carried all the stuff to put our daughter through Carolina and our son through Appalachian...then helped build Bertha. But still running good after two transmissions and a blown head gasket!!
Haven't you seen Band of Brothers? That clicker is for when you parachute drop from the plane into enemy territory you use the clicker to identify who you are to find your men and not yell out and give yourself away to the enemy.
Yes...and Yes. But I actually saw them first in the great classic D-Day movie.... "The Longest Day". Pretty ingenious and simple idea. Thanks for dropping by!!
Do you ever get called by directors for Ww2 movies or documentaries?
No....but I know some folks that have done that. Interesting.....but also hear some horror stories.
And America Soldier in Normandy was shot by a German soldier because as the German approached in the dark, the American gave one click to challenge, and heard two clicks back. When the Gi got up, he got shot, the two clicks he heard back was the German cocking his rifle, one click back, one click locking the breach.
That scene was replayed in the GREAT movie "The Longest Day". Thanks for stopping by!!!!
Bracket should be for holding a rifle, but im not 100%.
Thanks for the comment. Another post said it was for a WWII "decontaminator" used to remove residue from chemical weapons. I wish I could find a photo with the bracket in use.
Soviet BTR-152 copy M2 half truck
Bocage clicker
🏆 Yes!!!!
Clicker was DDay GI recognition
Yes!!! 🏆 Thanks for stopping by!!!
Thank you for the tour : She’s a beauty .
@@randyboldt-8126Thank you!!! Glad you enjoyed it!!
This vehicle would totally work in Ukraine
Hehe...a BIT outdated for new weapons...but could still put some rounds down range!!!