military surplus ww2

Military Surplus Ww2 - This 1942 GMC CCKW covered cab is an example of last year's yellow-painted truck. These are easy to find using a commercial steam cleaner to reveal the original olive green paint.

For years after the fighting stopped in September 1945, there was much confusion about the fate of the thousands of surplus military trucks. It might be helpful for those of us interested in today's vehicles to know some of what was going on back then and how it finally reached the hands of the public.

Military Surplus Ww2

As someone who has spent his professional life studying and teaching history, I wish someone had taken note of what happened then. By now, it was almost too late to learn about that era as the individuals involved had almost all died.

Army Royal Marines Surplus Fairbairn & Sykes Commando Knife Sword S.a.s.r. British Australian

I was born during the Second World War. I've always joked that I wasn't "born" but "raising Army surplus." Even though I lived at that time, I am only aware of a few things that happened when I was young.

After the Second World War, rural areas saw an excess of military vehicles as a lifesaver. By the time the war ended, most of the civilian trucks were completely out of order. They barely survived decades of the Great Depression because money was not available for new vehicles and because a shortage of new trucks during the war years left agricultural interests nearly desperate.

The problem is that individuals cannot buy excess goods. A family friend with a large Idaho dryland grain operation went to a surplus center in Toulle, Utah. He found that trucks of the size he and others in our area needed were being sold by the dozen or more. Large surplus traders from the eastern part of the country became the owners of most of them.

At great risk to himself—because he didn't know if he could find individual buyers from his fellow farmers—he purchased two lots of mostly 1 1/2-tonne Chevrolet trucks. Everything had to be brought home for 300+ miles, so it took quite a while to get there.

Genuine Original Collect Ww2 Military Surplus Vietnam War Chinese Army Soldier Gk80 Camouflage Steel Helmet With Badge

Years later, he told me that the only trucks sold individually were International 5-ton H-542-11 cab over semi-tractor engines. There are ten or twelve available. He jokingly told me he thought, "What's going on? I've grown my neck. So I bought it!"

He built a semi-trailer to go by truck. Over the years, he hauled two D6 tractors and one D4 Caterpillar back and forth to his remote operations. He was able to testify that the truck's top speed was 38 miles per hour (meaning its "cruising" speed was roughly 20 mph). He told me he questioned himself about buying the truck many times on the long drive from Touella to south-central Idaho.

Our International H-542-11 is used to move old houses. It's the same truck that drove 300+ miles at about 20 mph in 1947 when it was bought on a surplus sale.

Theft of surplus goods is a major problem almost everywhere. Accordingly, civilian buyers were told, in no uncertain terms, that as individual trucks were widely distributed after they left government hands, all military markings should be removed.

Used U.s. Military Surplus Wwii Era Field Phone

Any documents that go into the initial surplus sale are obviously not going to end up in the hands of the final owner. To prove the excess of the vehicle is now legally no longer owned by Uncle Sam, no white star, hood registration number, or other exterior military markings will be visible.

As a child, I remember seeing old military trucks with ugly patches on the hood and sides where the owners used something useful to block government signs.

Anyone with the ability to paint an entire truck usually does. Dull olive is not my favorite color.

In my experience dealing with all kinds of excess WWII vehicles, industrial yellow seems to be the most common repaint color. Red is in second place.

Authentic Wwii Herringbone Twill Jacket 36r

Because the prep paintwork was so rare - the trucks were just getting cleaned up from the start - the paint used at the time lasted a decade or more. When a car enthusiast like me buys an old truck, a bad repaint - all that's left of it - proves easy to remove with a steam cleaner. A pressure washer will remove some, but commercial steam cleaners will almost always restore an old vehicle to its original state. I've done this successfully with over a dozen WWII vehicles.

Some of the excess trucks are sold "new". For example, the US6 Studebaker tandem trailer, which had been assembled for delivery to Russia but not after Lend-Lease was shut down, was sold at a low price. The $1,600+ price tag was high in the late 1940s, but far from what Uncle Sam paid for them.

I have one of the trucks purchased by a farmer (actually 2 farmers have purchased two trucks categorized as "pack twins"). He has reassembled and is using it on his farm. He kept them in the storeroom and tended them carefully. When I got it in 1992, it was almost like new.

The Studebaker US6 was bought new, in crates, by a farmer in 1946. I added a proper van body and built a motor home inside.

Original Swiss Work Jacket

There are stories of other trucks, even jeeps, being purchased new or nearly finished after the war.

American taxpayers paid for all military goods in the first place, so it makes sense that the same few people could get good deals on the items they needed. That sure beats throwing it into the ocean!

Perhaps a complete record of the distribution of surplus goods will not be written. Although the government did not have any mechanisms in place to deal with the large surplus materials after World War II, it resolved itself within a few years. Still today, we're having fun with that initial oversell.

We Buy, Sell and Trade military war relics from all countries and all times. It is our honor and privilege to bring you the past and present war history of our online store and our store located in South Milwaukee, WI2of 24War Assets Administration is responsible for the surplus inventory left over from WWII Here, ccloseup showing parts from Craft 2000 on a boat pond in San Pedro California Photo dated 8/3/1947 Wide World PhotoShow MoreShow Less

German Army Surplus Hi Res Stock Photography And Images

4 of the 24 War Assets Administration was responsible for the supply of surplus left over from World War II. Here, aircraft propellers repaired and ready for installation. Photo dated 4/301/1947 Wide World PhotosShow MoreShow Fewer

5 of 24 The War Assets Administration is responsible for surplus supplies left over from World War II Here, a C-54 converted into a passenger plane Photo dated 31/5/1947 Wide World PhotoShow MoreShow Less

6 of 24 War Assets Administration is responsible for surplus inventory left over from World War II Here, chassis, with good tires went on sale on 19 February, Photo dated 18/2/1946 Worldwide PhotosShow MoreShow Less

7 of 24 Photo from Benicia Arsenal, where 10,000 veterans show up to buy about 1,600 military jeeps. The line passed through the base, and then exited more than a mile into town. Some got there the night before, and slept in lines. 24 June 1946, P.1Aaron Rubino/The ChronicleShow MoreShow Less

Romanian Military Bread Bag, Post Wwii, Romanian Army Surplus, Textile

9 of 24 Photo from Benicia Arsenal, where 10,000 veterans show up to buy some 1,600 military jeeps. The line passed through the base, and then exited more than a mile into town. Some got there the night before, and slept in lines. Roland P. Finklebeiner (with hat), and Sam Peruch, were first in line for jeep sales. 24 June 1946, P.1Aaron Rubino/The ChronicleShow MoreShow Less

10 of 24 Photo from Benicia Arsenal, where 10,000 veterans show up to buy some 1,600 military jeeps. The line meanders through the base, and then exits just over a minute into town, June 24, 1946, P. 1Aaron Rubino/The ChronicleShow MoreShow Less

11 of 24 Photo from Benicia Arsenal, where 10,000 veterans show up to buy some 1,600 military jeeps. The line meanders through the base, and then exits just over a minute into town, June 24, 1946, P. 1Aaron Rubino/The ChronicleShow MoreShow Less

12 of 24 Photo from Benicia Arsenal, where 10,000 veterans show up to buy some 1,600 military jeeps. The line passed through the base, and then exited more than a mile into town. Some got there the night before, and slept in lines. 24 June 1946, P.1Aaron Rubino/The ChronicleShow MoreShow Less

Romanian Military Bread Bag

14 of 24 The War Assets Administration is responsible for surplus supplies left over from World War II Here, 7,000 planes lined up near Kingman, Arizona Photo dated 30/30/1945 Associated Press PhotoShow MoreShow Less

15 of 24War Assets Administration responsible for surplus supplies left over from World War II Here, a giant destroyer truck in Port Hoeneme Photo dated 02/18/1946 Wide World Photo Series, Show MoreShow Less

17 of 24 Surplus Navy ships and hunter submarines for sale in Chicago Harbor August 5, 1947Joe Rosenthal/The ChronicleShow MoreShow Less

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Used German Military Surplus Wwii Powder Case

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