| |
N0KFQ > TODAY 19.03.08 08:00l 43 Lines 2286 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 15538_N0KFQ
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Mar 19
Path: IZ3LSV<IW2OHX<IK2QCA<I4UKI<IR2UBX<IK2XDE<F5GOV<F4BWT<YO6PLB<CX2SA<
N9PMO<N0KFQ
Sent: 080318/1600Z @:N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA #:15538 [Branson] FBB7.00i $:15538_N
From: N0KFQ@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
To : TODAY@ALLUS
March 19, 1952
One millionth Jeep produced
In 1939, the American Bantam Car Company submitted its original
design for an all-terrain troop transport vehicle--featuring
four-wheel drive, masked fender-mount headlights, and a rifle
rack under the dash--to the U.S. Armed Forces. The Army loved
Bantam's design, but the development contract for the vehicle was
ultimately awarded to the Willys-Overland Company for its
superior production capabilities. Bantam wound up fulfilling a
government contract for 3,000 vehicles during the war; but the
Jeep, as designed by Willys-Overland, would become the primary
troop transport of the U.S. Army. Mass production of the Willys
Jeep began after the U.S. declaration of war in 1941. The name
"Jeep" is reportedly derived from the Army's request that car
manufacturers develop a "General Purpose" vehicle. "Gee Pee"
turned to "Jeep" somewhere along the battle lines. Another story
maintains that the name came from a character in the Popeye
cartoon who, like the vehicle, was capable of incredible feats.
The Willys Jeep became a cultural icon in the U.S. during World
War II, as images of G.I.'s in "Gee Pees," liberating Europe,
saturated newsreels in movie theaters across the country. Unlike
the Hummer of recent years, the Jeep was not a symbol of
technological superiority but rather of the courage of the
American spirit--a symbol cartoonist Bill Mauldin captured when
he drew a weeping soldier firing a bullet into his broken down
Willys Jeep. By 1945, 660,000 Jeeps had rolled off the assembly
lines and onto battlefields in Asia, Africa, and Europe. Many
remained abroad after the war, where their parts were integrated
into other vehicles or their broken bodies were mended with
colorful impromptu repairs. Wherever the Jeep roamed, it lived up
to its design as a vehicle for general use. During the war, Jeep
hoods were used as altars for field burials. Jeeps were also used
as ambulances, tractors, and scout cars. After the war, surplus
Jeeps found their way into civilian life as snowplows, field
plows, and mail carriers. Willys-Overland released its first
civilian Jeep model, called the CJ (Civilian Jeep) in 1945. On
this day in 1952, the 1,000,000th Jeep was produced.
Read previous mail | Read next mail
| |
