MEDICAL FLY

[Alain]

HELP needed :
We are still looking for the WW2 QMC Stock No. for the "Medical Fly" - this is the std OD fly with white field + red cross Geneva Convention symbols on both sides of the ridge . Its is NOT listed in FM 20-15 "Tents & Tent Pitching" - and does NOT appear in any of the MD and QMC Catalogs ...
Can anyone help ?
The info would help me complete the Article related to "Medical Tentage" .
Sincere thanks,
Alain

[TenthA86]

I thought these were field painted, so it would be the std QM tent item.

[Alain]

David,
NO, it's not just 'painted' canvas ! It is a Fly (9 foot x 18 foot), with on both sides a separate white space + red Geneva Cross, all stitched/sewn onto the OD canvas Fly. I've seen genuine examples dated 1944 and 1945 respectively, but there were NO labels !
Neither FM 20-15, QM 3-4, or any MD Catalogs mention the item . But, since the US Armed Forces were well organized, there must have been an official nomenclature ...
Thanks for trying,
Alain

[Ben]

David and Alain,
As far as I have been able to research, these items seemed to have all been made by a company named "Hoosier", and produced exclusively in 1944. My example has such a marker's indication.
Thanks,
Ben

[Alain]

Hi David and Ben,
The two Medical Flys I mentioned were made respectively by "HOOSIER" (dated 1944) and by "LEWISTON TENT & AWNING CO." (dated 1945) .
Regards,
Alain

[Ben]

Alain and David,
Thanks for this additional information about the item. I must confess that I wasn't aware of this later manufacturer. Just for reference, here is a rather poor quality illustration of mine, taken by the previous owner.
Kind regards,
Ben

[TenthA86]

Very good - I have seen post-war examples, but never a WWII dated one, so I assumed...

Hoosier Tent & Awning was in Indianapolis, Indiana (USA) and was absorbed by Indianapolis Tent in the 1960s Both are now gone - unfortunately, as they made blanket bags & other canvas MD items

[ETO-MED]

Hi
Just had my fly out on the back lawn and searched every bit of it and guess what??? no sign of a spec number or a label ever having been removed. Just the stamping in the corner for Hoosier T@A 1944.

Sorry

[Alain]

Hi ALL,
Yes, the WW2 items I mentioned were identical to the one illustrated by Ben ! As I indicated previously - the Fly doesn't have a label - the markings are just stamped/printed on the canvas itself .
The only problem is finding the QMC Stock Number ...

I've seen two postwar samples, absolutely identical to the US version, one used by the Belgian Army (dated 1952), and another used by the Dutch Army (dated 1951) w/o any US manufacturers' markings . Some other postwar Fly had respective white and red parts made out of 'plastic' material stitched onto regular od canvas !

Alain

[ETO-MED]

Hi Guys
Do any of you have any idea how much it would cost to get another origional fly sheet as i am in the process of trying to put a value on my collection, any help would be appreciated.

Regards

Alfie

[Ben]

Alfie,
It's difficult to put an exact value on tentage without being able to see the item. Assuming that it's in good condition (i.e. no dry-rot to the stitching, etc.) and comes complete with original rope and wire tensioners, I'd estimate its value to be any from £150 - £200. I paid less than this for my example in 2008, so I think it's a realistic valuation.
I hope this helps,
Ben