A unique culinary-themed vehicle attracted much attention at last year’s Wartime in the Vale show. Craig Moore discovers the World War Two US Army Kitchen Truck ‘Jimmy Chow’
Iam always on the lookout for something different to write about. At the Wartime in the Vale 2023 event at the Ashdown World War Two Camp, in Evesham, Worcestershire, I spotted a GMC US Army Field Kitchen being used as a food truck. It was selling bacon baps, hot dogs, and egg banjos, with a choice of coffee, tea, or Coca-Cola to wash them down with.
This GMC CCKW 352 A1 variant 2½ ton short wheel base truck, built in March 1941, was originally designed as an artillery gun tractor. Many of these GMC 352 trucks, when not used to tow guns, were assigned to general service roles like transporting troops, ammunition, water, fuel, and food supplies. Some were even converted into field kitchens.
This particular food truck has been christened ‘Jimmy Chow’ in reference to the wartime nickname ‘Jimmy’. These trucks were also known as ‘Deuce and a Half’, though most GIs are said to have referred to them simply as ‘trucks’.
Every US Army company would have a field kitchen attached to it to feed the officers and men. Each one would be issued…
