Military-Vehicles: [MV] Abandoned Military Vehicles

[MV] Abandoned Military Vehicles

Joe Baker (edc@tiac.net)
Wed, 18 Sep 1996 09:34:13 -0400

While doing the research on my WWI ambulance, I came across an article
in the automotive manufactures journal published in 1920 (or there
abouts) that discussed efforts by the automotive and aircraft industry
to have legislation passed by Congress that prohibited the military from
return excess aircraft and vehicles from Europe after World War I. It
seems that the automotive industry was concerned that the release of
large numbers of military vehicles on the civilain market would ruin the
civilain market for new vehicles. Congress ordered that the vehicles be
destroyed in Europe. The article showed pictures of hundreds of planes
and vehicles piled up for burning.

I suspect that similar efforts were pursued by the automotive industry
at the termination of WWII. Only the threat of USSR saved the vehicles.
That threat required that the US not totally demobilize and retain large
numbers of vehicles in reserve stockpiles. The runways in Alaska would
have made an excellent airhead for the Soviets, so I can believe that
the military would have taken steps to prevent use of the airfield while
still preserving the option for our use in the future. The use of old
vehicles to prevent aircraft from landing was first used by the British
in WWII when they parked old vehicles in farm fields to prevent glider
landings in southern England.

This explains why my ambulance is only one of seven remaining out of
over 6,000 built. By the way my ambulance is looking for a new home, if
anyone knows of anyone interested please contact me.

-- 
Joe Baker
Major, Cavalry


Formerly of the 1st Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment (77-80)
and 418 Med Co (AMB), RVN (69-70)


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