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Now the Patton Museum volunteers are undertaking one of the
most significant projects in the museum's history; the complete
restoration of the command van to its war-time configuration.
Patton Museum volunteer Don Moriarty is the head of this project.
He, along with other volunteers, will work to rediscover the
command van's history, repair the damages and alterations and
preserve its original features. They will also remove layers
of post-war paint in an attempt to uncover the original war-time
markings, record them and repaint and mark the vehicle as it
would have appeared in 1944. Most of the narrative and photo
captions on these project pages are taken from Don's project
reports.
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Background
History of Patton Mobile Command Truck
by Don Moriarty
CCKW
ordnance shop vans in ETO. (courtesy of
Third Army HQ web site) |
Soldiers
loading equipment into CCKW ordnance shop vans.
(courtesy of Third Army HQ web site) |
The
CCKW series 353 two-and-a-half ton truck is a basic World War
II-era truck designed as a small-arms ordnance repair shop.
In 1944, a number of CCKWs were ordered to be converted as mobile
command posts. Third
Army headquarters retained three such mobile command
post trucks which was the heart of the tactical headquarters
of General Patton's Third Army. This particular mobile command
post truck was used by General Patton for the duration of combat
operations as Third Army commander. It acted as his personal
field quarters as well as a command center.
Immediately
following the end of hostilities in May 1945, the tactical command
post vehicles were reportedly "deactivated" and sent
to an undetermined equipment depot for return to the United
States. Information exists showing that the van was retained
in Germany from May 1945 through December 1947. Archival information
shows that in June 1947, efforts were ongoing to return it to
the United States.
"Plans
call for the van to be returned to Third Army Headquarters at
Atlanta, Georgia, where it will be used for recruiting purposes.
The famous equipage will probably find its final resting place
in the Patton Museum at the Armored School, Fort Knox, Kentucky,
where it will occupy an appropriate place among the memorabilia
of one of America's greatest fighting men." War Department
General
Patton (l) and General Middleton with one of
the three Third Army HQ vans.
(screen capture from DOD film)
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In
both a December 24 and December 30, 1947 memo, the plan
for the van to be shipped directly from Germany to Fort
Knox is discussed regarding the time-line of shipment. Beforehand
there was no information available as to a specific time-line.
It seems that there was a definite interest at very high
levels of command as to the disposition of the Patton van
and its Fort Knox destination. |
In
a memo from the Office of the Army Field Forces commander, General
Devers, to the commanding general of the Armor Center, Fort
Knox, dated June 9, 1948:
"The Patton Van has been located at Leterkinney Arsenal
pending shipment direct to you for Patton Museum being requested
of the Chief of Ordnance."
Digital
records show that the Van arrived at Fort Knox, Kentucky in
June 1948. At the time of its arrival the van predates the official
dedication of the museum, May 1949, by almost a year. The Patton
mobile command HQ van would be one of the many collection vehicles
displayed in the original Patton Museum from 1949 -1972.
From 1972-73, the displays from the old museum were transferred
to the new Patton Museum which included the Patton mobile command
HQ van where it was placed in the Patton Gallery. From 1973
till January 2011, the Patton mobile command HQ van would remain
basically untouched in the Patton Gallery. During this entire
period, it is believed to have been moved two or three times,
but basically remaining in the same general location for the
entire period.
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