Tag Archives: hellcat

Iron Ladies, Tigers and Saving Willie?

Armor Museum Restoration Shop Fort Benning, Georgia.

Video report on World War Two tank restoration ops at Fort Benning, Georgia, with a focus on an M18 Hellcat and a Jagdtiger:

In 2012, the U.S. Air Force moves a Tiger-1 from the United Kingdom to the U.S. Army Armor and Cavalry Museum at Fort Benning, Georgia, for repair and full restoration.

According to the USAF, the Tiger-1 was originally on display at the United States Army Ordnance Museum at Aberdeen Proving Ground, then at a museum in Germany, before being stored at RAF Alconbury, United Kingdom, with two other tanks.

Apparently there was two years of legal wrangling before the approval was given to send the Tiger to Fort Benning, Georgia.

In September 2015, an old LVT-4 Willie was moved from Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, to Anniston Army Depot, Alabama, finally landing at Randolph Hall, a Marine training facility located on the Ordnance Campus of Fort Lee, Virginia, in January 2016.

One of the many LVT-4s auctioned-off by the City of Buffalo in New York in 2016.

The purpose is to restore it and to train-up new Marines Corps welders at the same time.  Interestingly the dedicated fans of the armor display at Aberdeen were never warned and thought Willie had been kidnapped: “The question was asked about the location of the LVT that used to sit in front of the old barracks. Through various emails and phone calls, Willie was tracked down and located sitting on a storage lot at Anniston. Through coordination and agreements to provide a better indoor home, it was agreed to move it back with the Marines.”– Chief Warrant Officer-3 Joseph Bering, USMC

The City Of Buffalo obtained several LVT-4s and used them as ice breakers in the local waterways.

Once restored Willie reportedly will end up at the U.S. Army Engineer Museum at Fort Leonard Wood (Lost in the Woods, my old basic and advanced training alma matter), Missouri.

HOW TO WELD YOUR TANK

VEHICLE I-D: ARMOR MUSEUM FORT LEONARD WOOD, MISSOURI

RAT ROD 1967 BLH AUSTIN-WESTERN USN SEABEES ROAD GRADER $14,794