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» Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic: GENERAL MOTORS CONTRIBUTIONS IN WW II
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Hello Everyone-

My Dad worked for General Motors Assembly plant in Linden New Jersey for 40 years, from Nov. 1940 to Jan. 1970.

He often spoke of the transition from building cars to the designated FM-2 Wildcats during the War production years. He also spoke of how the traffic was stopped alonf Route #1 in Linden so the finished Wildcats could be taxied across the road to the Newark Airport for testing prior to shipment. Thant must have been something to see!

I was going through some of my Dad's things and came across a bookthat was given to all GM employees at the time. It's titled-GM THE FIRST 75 YEARS OF TRANSPORTATION PRODUCTS.

I was amazed to learn just what GM produced for the War effort!

Heres the listing-

FM-2 Wildcat fighters, 20 and 37 mm aircraft guns, Oerlikon and Bofors anti-aircraft cannons, components and gun mounts for naval 3 and 5 in. guns, volume production of .45 cal. sub machine guns, .30 cal. carbine shells, cartridge cases, and armor piercing projectiles. GM turned out 13,000 airplanes and one quarter of all US aircraft engined, GM Allison Division's liquid air cooled engine powered Lockheed's P-38. Other aircraft powered by GM engines included Bell's Aircobra, Curtis War Hawk, P-51 Mustang, and the Grumann's Wildcat and Avenger torpedo bombers. GM produced Pratt and Whitney engines for the B-24's. Engines for larger aircraft included the Invader a-36 attack bomber, Consolidated's B-24 Liberator and numberous transport planes.

GM developed, tooled and completely built from start, in converted assembly plants during the plant's first year, 1000 Avengers and 1000 Wildcats for the Navy's carrier forces. The most intricate assignment was for the aerial torpedo, requiring 5000 parts and 20,000 seperate operations. Oldsmobile produced 48 million rounds of ammunition and 350,000 precision parts for aircraft engines. GM delivered 854,000 trucks, 4 and 6 wheeled drive trucks, mobile repair shops, airplane tenders, ambulances, and field kitchens, Cadillac's M-5 light tank and the Vauxhall Churchill tanks, m-10 tank destroyers, m-8 howitzer T-70 tank destroyer, the GM amphibian "DUCK" from a 2 1/2 ton truck adaptable to land and water was designed tested, built and off the line in 90 days. Many Navy ships were powered by Cleveland Diesel Division engines.

I've always drove a GM car all my life! I wouldn't have it any other way!

Thanks guys for letting me share with everyone! Oh yaeh, THANKS DAD!!

Frank Ryczek
Modeler/Friend RON-10 PT-169 " ZEBRA SNAFU "

HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!

YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY!

Posted By: FRANK | Posted on: Oct 21, 2008 - 11:46am
Total Posts: 349 | Joined: Oct 7, 2007 - 2:09pm



Fasinating information Frank. Thanks.



Posted By: ducati650 | Posted on: Oct 21, 2008 - 12:32pm
Total Posts: 450 | Joined: Feb 19, 2007 - 10:01am



Frank

Thats something, and it was only one plant in the US producing this amount. Can you imagine the production that was put out within the Country during 1940-1945?

I am sure that Elco had many many Companies producing parts for their PT BOATS. And, I am sure that those Cannon's from GM found their way on more then one boat. Thanks for the update Frank, it boggles the mind to think of the items produced during WWII.



Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Oct 21, 2008 - 12:35pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am



Yes Frank,
I agree, the Oldsmobile M4 and M9 37mm automatic cannon was especially useful to the PT Boaters as well as being installed on the P39 and P63 cobra fighter planes. I was surprised to find out that this successful cannon was manufactured by Oldsmobile, the car company (GM). I just wish there were more surviving examples of them that we could obtain for the restoration of PT658. If you know of any that are available please let us know! Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Oct 21, 2008 - 1:40pm
Total Posts: 1469 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm



Would you like to ride in one of those Ducks? They have been in use in Branson, Missouri for many years. The town is a tremendous tourist attraction.

Posted By: QM | Posted on: Oct 21, 2008 - 1:46pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered



Funny you mention those "ducks" QM - I can't help but notice the "destruction" of military history with each branch of their organization. It's similar to the fishing use of PT's in the 50's-80's. Of course, if they didn't buy them, convert them and use them...would they just end up as scrap?

Grandson of James J Stanton
RON 15 PT 209 and RON 23 PT 243
Check out: www.pistolpackinmama.net


Posted By: newsnerd99 | Posted on: Oct 21, 2008 - 4:18pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered



Jerry
The same people I turned you onto for the 20mm magazines have a demilled 37mm - I believe it is the M4 - check with Dave or get back to me and I will research it for you - I would be happy just to find a few nice inert 37mm rounds for my collection.
Jerry B


Jerry Beasley

Posted By: Jerry Beasley | Posted on: Oct 21, 2008 - 8:39pm
Total Posts: 89 | Joined: Jan 9, 2008 - 4:27pm



Hello again everyone-

I must make a drastic correction to my original posting here. I mentioned that the finished FM-2 Wildcats were taxied from the Linden assembly plant across the road to NEWARK!!! That's incorrect!! It should have read LINDEN AIRPORT! Newark is some 12 miles from Linden!!

My Dad also told me that women pilots from the Air Corps would wring out the Wildcats over Linden and as far as Bayonne, New Jersey. Dad said the sound of the Wildcats overhead was a sound he'd never forget. I have a shot my Dad took of a formation of FM-2 's over the Linden airport. If I find it I'll post it here.

Another correction that needs mentioning here- and I quote from Dads book- " Over 20.000 outside suppliers and subcontractors would mesh with "94" GM plants in 46 communities in over 13 states, not to mention Canada, Mexico, and South America." It wasn't just one plant producing aircraft, it was a total GM effort all over the country.

I just wanted to make this clear for everyone reading the original posting!

Thanks for letting me share this guys!

Frank Ryczek, Jr.
Modeler/Friend RON-10 pt-169 " ZEBRA SNAFU "

HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!

YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY!

Posted By: FRANK | Posted on: Oct 22, 2008 - 7:37am
Total Posts: 349 | Joined: Oct 7, 2007 - 2:09pm



Hi Jerry,
Yes I saw that one but they want $5k for it and we dont have that much cash! Thanks for the heads up. Jerry

Here is a copy of their listing:
Oldsmobile M9 37mm Cannon - receiver demilled, rest of gun is intact. Probably one of a kind. For use on M15 half track or Bell Aero Cobra Fighter. Also mounted as deck guns on PT boats... $5000.00

Jerry Gilmartin

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Oct 22, 2008 - 10:26am
Total Posts: 1469 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm



The accomplishments of General Motors during WW II was very impressive. It is almost impossible today to realize the massive unified effort put forth by the entire country. In addition to production by corporations, contributions were made by people of all ages, from children to the elderly. Children planted Victory Gardens to raise vegetables. Families recycled various items which were useful in the war effort--kitchen grease, empty toothpaste tubes, scrap metal [sometimes including kitchen utensils]. Anything that might be useful was on the list.

I am curious about the Wildcat which we identified as the F4F. I thought that it was mostly replaced by the newer Hellcat F6F during the war. Is the Hellcat mentioned GM production records?

Posted By: QM | Posted on: Oct 22, 2008 - 6:23pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered



Hello there QM-

The Wildcats that were produced by GM were given the designation as FM-2. The main difference between the F4F Wildcat's and the GM FM-2 were in the main tail section. The main tail on the FM-2 were higher than that of the F4F's. The FM-2 also had beefed up armor surrounding the cockpit area for the pilots protection.

Thank you kindly for your interest, QM.

Frank Ryczek, Jr.
Modeler/Friend RON-10 PT-169 " ZEBRA SNAFU "

HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!

YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY!

Posted By: FRANK | Posted on: Oct 22, 2008 - 6:33pm
Total Posts: 349 | Joined: Oct 7, 2007 - 2:09pm



GM's Saginaw division, AC Spark Plug, and Frigidaire also produced one of the all time great guns, the Browning .50 caliber M2 machine gun. This bad boy is still in use today and pretty much unchanged since WW II.




Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Oct 25, 2008 - 1:55am
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am



Also, IIRC, the General Motors Guide Lamp division made the Liberator pistol.

While I don't believe that they were used in action the Liberator was a very cheap, single shot .45. The idea was that they would be paradropped en masse to various guerrilla groups. Each Liberator came in a box that included the pistol, 10 rounds of .45 ACP ammo, and a comic book. The latter showed without words how to load & fire the thing. The heroic guerrilla was then supposed to sneak up to an Axis soldier, fire once, then take the weapon dropped by the dead enemy.

Good luck. The weapon was a smoothbore so effective range was pretty low.

It was pressed out of pot-metal (except the barrel, IIRC) and would have looked crude had it been a kid's toy. Apparently GM made a fair number at about $3.00 apiece, and did it so fast that one Liberator was coming off the line every few seconds.

If so, given that it was a single shot pistol, it may have been the first pistol made more quickly than it could be reloaded. [The latter is, of course, a joke; while a pistol came off the line every few seconds any individual pistol would have taken a lot longer to reload.]

Long, but an interesting (to me, anyway) bit of US industrial history and one of GM's contributions.



Posted By: fredtheobviouspseudonym | Posted on: Nov 19, 2008 - 12:40am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered



Fred,
OMG! BFF! LOL! WTF ROTFLMFAO! Forgive my ignorance to "netspeak" but what the heck does "IIRC" stand for? I have a feeling like I should know but I dont do much text messaging so maybe thats why I am unfamiliar with its meaning. It is a common term but I just dont know what it means and you seem to use it a whole bunch. Thanks for clearing up my ignorance. Thanks! Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Nov 19, 2008 - 2:54pm
Total Posts: 1469 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm



Jerry, you just made me ROFL! (Rolling on floor, laughing for those less "hip")

IIRC is "If I Remember Correctly)

Too funny!

Grandson of James J Stanton
RON 15 PT 209 and RON 23 PT 243
Check out: www.pistolpackinmama.net


Posted By: newsnerd99 | Posted on: Nov 19, 2008 - 3:19pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered




Jim, Jerrry, all:

Well so much for Phonics – it’s Acronyms for now . . . . . SYLOTB. Oh yeah, “See You Later On The Backside”

TWYL PTF&V

“Talk With You Later, PT boat Fans & Vets,”
Dick . . . . . .

PS: and here I though people were telling me lol (Loud Old Loser), who knew





Posted By: Dick | Posted on: Nov 19, 2008 - 4:32pm
Total Posts: 1417 | Joined: Aug 27, 2006 - 6:36pm



For Mr. Gilmartin:

Mr. Newsnerd99 is correct.

I'm not much of an Internet whiz but I have found certain acronyms useful and time-saving. IMHO (in my humble opinion; sometimes IMDHO or "in my deservedly humble opinion"), YMMV ("your mileage may vary" -- i.e., "I cannot guarantee that if you use this information you will get the same result as I" -- essentially a CYA message. I will not translate the latter as it long predates the Internet); AFAIK ("as far as I know" -- again, a CYA message) and there are others which I do not understand.



Posted By: fredtheobviouspseudonym | Posted on: Nov 21, 2008 - 8:48pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered



Don't forget the 45 cal. liberator pistol that we dropped behind enemy lines. GM manufactured out of sheet metal.

Ron 18

Posted By: Ron 18 | Posted on: Mar 17, 2009 - 9:31am
Total Posts: 1 | Joined: Jan 6, 2008 - 6:52am