10 Odd Jobs of World War II-- Part 2: Coopers, Model Makers, and Pigeoneers

6.  COOPER--  Built and repaired wooden buckets, barrels, casks, kegs used to pack, store and ship supplies and equipment.  Wood was used for much of WW II, but improvements in cardboard and metal packaging  marked the beginning of the end for wooden transport items.

7.  MODEL MAKER--  Created scale models of military equipment, terrain and other things used as training aids and operational planning.

One of their proudest moments came in Operation Fortitude which was aimed at fooling the Germans as to where Allied troops would be landing on D-Day.  Dummy buildings, aircraft and landing craft were constructed by modelers and positioned near Dover causing the Germans to withhold reinforcements to the Normandy beaches.

This was the famed "Ghost Army."

8.  PIGEONEER--  Responsible for all aspects of the birds' lives.  They would breed, raise, train and care for their birds which were used to deliver messages.  Birds would be trained to fly at night and that food and water would be located at different locations.

According to the military, some 90% of their messages were delivered successfully.

--GreGen

Making Model Planes in Schools for the War Effort and Life Magazine

From the March 6, 2017, Roanoke (Va.) Times  "Looking Back."

1942, 100 Years Ago.

**  "More than 200 boys taking general shop instruction in senior and junior high schools of this city already are at work on exact scale models of the world's fighting aircraft for the U.S. Navy Bureau of Aeronautics."

(They were also dong this in schools in DeKalb County, Illinois.)

**  "Roanoke friends of Lieutenant J. Lewis Ingles, attached to a balloon barrage corps on the west coast, were displaying pictures of the Army officer yesterday when copies of Life magazine reached here."

Someone Got Their Picture in the Magazine.  Wonder Who?  --GreGen

Making Model Airplanes At the High School for the War Effort

From the March 1, 2017, MidWeek "Looking Back."

1942, 75 Years Ago.

"Students of the DeKalb Township High School will start immediate production on model airplanes for the use of the army and navy.  The production of the model planes, at least a hundred of them, will be rushed in conforming to the needs of the nation's armed forces.

"These planes are to be exact models of the planes used by the United States, Germany, Japan and Italy, and will be used by the U.S. Navy Bureau of Aeronautics in training air and ground personnel."

You Need to Know What They Look Like.  --GreGen

"The Galloping Ghost of the Java Coast": The USS Houston

From the Jan. 2012, Blue Bonnet, Vol. 70, Issue 69.

There now is a 14-foot long model of the USS Houston (CA-30) at the National Museum of the U.S. Navy.

"Alert!"  The 70th Anniversary of the USS Houston Sinking to be held in 2012.  Make plans to attend:

USS Houston (CA-30)
2012 Reunion
Feb 29-March 4, 2012
Hyatt Regency Downtown
Houston, Texas

From November 17, 2011.

The USS Houston model installation ceremony was attended by 80 persons, including survivors David C. Flynn, Howard Brooks and Bill Ingram.  Also, former crew member (but not on the ship when it was sunk) Rau Kester.

The model is built at 1/48th scale.

Survivor Robert Hanley spent 7-8 hours in the water before he was picked up by a Japanese patrol boat and has been married 66 years to his wife Eilleen.

--GreGen