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Patton's Jeep:
One of the customized jeeps used by General George S. Patton during World War II.
General Patton's style of command included being visible to his soldiers. Among the vehicles he used in Europe were customized jeeps. Their most notable feature were airhorns made from trombones and, later, extended wheel wells to provide better protection from the European mud. Other customized features included a reinforced windshield and comfortable seating for the General and his aide. This is one of Patton's jeeps, used toward the end of the War and during the months immediately following. After the War, the jeep was sent to the Richmond Quartermaster Depot and later transferred to the Quartermaster Museum.
"My men can eat their belts but my tanks got to have gas!" -- General George S. Patton
During the 3rd Army's rapid drive across France in the Fall of 1944, Patton's thirst for gasoline was legendary. His tanks and other vehicles required over 500,000 gallons of fuel a day, and he was continually frustrated by being refused the gas needed to continue his advance into Germany. The Quartermasters' challenge was to keep the other six field Armies totalling 90 combat divisions fueled from limited port facilities. General Eisenhower decided to slow Patton's advance until better port facilities could be secured and supply lines better established, and ordered a more northern, British-led advance into Germany be given priority. This decision remains controversial to this day.
The 214th Quartermaster Gasoline Supply Company was one of 120 similar Quartermaster petroleum units organized during World War II. In November 1943, while in England, the unit was redesignated the 3937th Gasoline Supply Company and in September 1944 landed in France. The unit was immediately involved in filling gas cans for shipment on the Red Ball Express and after establishing pipelines, was moved forward to Belgium. There the unit operated a petroleum depot and became the target of German V-1 rocket attacks.
Two operations were improvised to supply Patton's Divisions. .... well known was the "Red Ball Express." Stretching over 700 miles, the Red Ball became the longest one-way traffic artery in the world. Operating from August to November 1944, the Red Ball consisted of well [???] over 5,400 trucks and over 200,000 Quartermaster and other support personnel. At its conclusion, the Red Ball had transported over 10,000 tons of supplies.
The other improvised supply operation involved airlifting gasoline to forward air bases using B-24 bombers. From 29 August to 17 September, B-24 bombers in the 2nd Bomber Division, 8th Air Force, supplied over 430 tons of fuel to Patton's 3rd Army. Though it was proven the B-24s could deliver gasoline, planes were limited by where they could land, making it an impractical method. |