The American Automobile Industry in World War Two
An American Auto Industry Heritage Tribute by David D Jackson

Overview      Lansing Michigan in World War Two   The U.S. Auto Industry at the Normandy Invasion, June 6, 1944    The U.S. Auto Industry and the B-29 Bomber   U.S. Auto Industry Army-Navy "E" Award Winners   The Complete listing of All Army-Navy "E" Award Winners   Sherman Tanks of the American Auto Industry   Tank Destroyers of the American Auto Industry    M26 Pershing Tanks of the American Auto Industry   M36 Tank Destroyers of the American Auto Industry   Serial Numbers for WWII Tanks built by the American Auto Industry   Surviving LCVP Landing Craft    WWII Landing Craft Hull Numbers   Airborne Extra-Light Jeep Photos  The American Auto Industry vs. the German V-1 in WWII   American Auto Industry-Built Anti-Aircraft Guns in WWII   VT Proximity Manufacturers of WWII   World War One Era Motor Vehicles   National Museum of Military Vehicles  
Revisions   Links

 Automobile and Body Manufacturers:  American Bantam Car Company   Briggs Manufacturing Company   Checker Car Company   Chrysler Corporation   Crosley Corporation   Ford Motor Car Company   General Motors Corporation   Graham-Paige Motors Corporation   Hudson
Motor Car Company   Murray Corporation of America   Nash-Kelvinator   Packard Motor Car Company      Studebaker    Willys-Overland Motors

General Motors Divisions:  AC Spark Plug   Aeroproducts   Allison   Brown-Lipe-Chapin   Buick   Cadillac   Chevrolet   Cleveland Diesel   Delco Appliance   Delco Products   Delco Radio   Delco-Remy   Detroit Diesel   Detroit Transmission   Electro-Motive   Fisher Body   Frigidaire   GM Proving Grounds   GM of Canada   GMC   GMI   Guide Lamp   Harrison Radiator   Hyatt Bearings   Inland   Moraine Products   New Departure   Oldsmobile   Packard Electric   Pontiac   Saginaw Malleable Iron   Saginaw Steering Gear   Southern California Division   Rochester Products   Ternstedt Manufacturing Division   United Motors Service   Vauxhall Motors

 Indiana Companies:  Bailey Products Corporation   Chrysler Kokomo Plant   Continental Steel Corporation  Converto Manufacturing    Cummins Engine Company   Diamond Chain and Manufacturing Company   Delta Electric Company   Durham Manufacturing Company   Farnsworth Television and Radio Corporation   Haynes Stellite Company   Hercules Body Company   Horton Manufacturing Company   Howe Fire Apparatus   J.D. Adams Company   Kokomo Spring Company   Magnavox  
Muncie Gear Works   Pierce Governor Company   Portland Forge and Foundry   Reliance Manufacturing Company   Republic Aviation Corporation - Indiana Division   Ross Gear and Tool Company   S.F. Bowser & Co.   Sherrill Research Corporation   Tokheim Oil Tank and Pump Company   Warner Gear   Wayne Pump Company   Wayne Works

Commercial Truck and Fire Apparatus Manufacturers:  American LaFrance   Autocar  
Biederman Motors Corporation   Brockway Motor Company   Detroit General   Diamond T   Duplex Truck Company   Federal Motor Truck   Four Wheel Drive Auto Company(FWD)   International Harvester   John Bean   Mack Truck   Marmon-Herrington Company   Michigan Power Shovel Company   Oshkosh Motor Truck Corporation   Pacific Car and Foundry   "Quick-Way" Truck Shovel Company   Reo Motor Car Company  Seagrave Fire Apparatus   Sterling Motor Truck Company    Ward LaFrance Truck Corporation   White Motor Company

Aviation Companies:  Abrams Instrument Corporation   Hughes Aircraft Company   Kellett Aviation Corporation   Laister-Kauffman Aircraft Corporation   Naval Aircraft Factory   P-V Engineering Forum, Inc.    Rudolf Wurlitzer Company-DeKalb Division  Schweizer Aircraft Corporation   Sikorsky Division of United Aircraft Corporation   St. Louis Aircraft Corporation   Timm Aircraft Corporation

Other World War Two Manufacturers: 
Air King Products   Allis-Chalmers   American Car and Foundry   American Locomotive   American Stove Company   Annapolis Yacht Yard  
Andover Motors Company   B.F. Goodrich   Baker War Industries   Baldwin Locomotive Works   Blood Brothers Machine Company   Boyertown Auto Body Works   Briggs & Stratton   Caterpillar   Cheney Bigelow Wire Works   Centrifugal Fusing   Chris-Craft   Clark Equipment Company   Cleaver-Brooks Company   Cleveland Tractor Company   Continental Motors   Cushman Motor Works   Crocker-Wheeler   Dail Steel Products   Detroit Wax Paper Company   Detrola   Engineering & Research Corporation   Farrand Optical Company   Federal Telephone and Radio Corp.   Firestone Tire and Rubber Company   Fruehauf Trailer Company   Fuller Manufacturing   Galvin Manufacturing   Gemmer Manufacturing Company   General Railway Signal Company   Gibson Guitar   Gibson Refrigerator Company   Goodyear   Hall-Scott   Hanson Clutch and Machinery Company   Harley-Davidson   Harris-Seybold-Potter   Herreshoff Manufacturing Company   Higgins Industries    Highway Trailer   Hill Diesel Company   Holland Hitch Company   Homelite Company   Horace E. Dodge Boat and Plane Corporation   Huffman Manufacturing   Indian Motorcycle   Ingersoll Steel and Disk   John Deere   Johnson Automatics Manufacturing Company   Kimberly-Clark   Kohler Company   Kold-Hold Company   Landers, Frary & Clark  Lima Locomotive Works   Lundberg Screw Products   MacKenzie Muffler Company   Massey-Harris   Matthews Company   McCord Radiator & Mfg. Company   Metal Mouldings Corporation   Miller Printing Machinery Company   Morse Instrument Company   Motor Products Corporation   Motor Wheel Corporation   National Cash Resgister Company   Novo Engine Company   O'Keefe & Merritt Company   Olofsson Tool and Die Company   Oneida Ltd   Otis Elevator   Owens Yacht   Pressed Steel Car Company   Queen City Manufacturing Company   R.G. LeTourneau   R.L. Drake Company   St. Clair Rubber Company   Samson United Corporation   Shakespeare Company   Sight Feed Generator Company   Simplex Manufacturing Company   Steel Products Engineering Company   St. Louis Car Company   Twin Disc Company   Victor Adding Machine Company   Vilter Manufacturing Company   Wells-Gardner   W.L. Maxson Corporation   W.W. Boes Company   Westfield Manufacturing Company   York-Hoover Body Company   Youngstown Steel Door Company  
   

Harley-Davidson Motor Company in World War Two
Milwaukee, WI
1903-Present


This page updated 8-30-2022.


Harley-Davidson won the Army-Navy "E" Award four times during World War Two. 
The first time was May 12, 1943.

Harley-Davidson motorcycles were first used by the U.S. Army when it ordered twelve motorcycles with machine gun mounted sidecars for General Pershing's 1916 Mexican Excursion.  During World War One, Harley-Davidson was contracted by the U.S. military for 8,125 motorcycles.  Supposedly, the first American soldier to enter Germany after the signing of the Armistice was riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. 


This original 1917 Harley-Davidson served with American military forces in Europe during the First World War.  It is on display at the National WWI Museum and Memorial at Kansas City, MO.  Author's photo added 10-22-2018.


Author's photo added 10-22-2018.


This World War One era document shows that Harley-Davidson was contracted to build 8,125 motorcycles during that war.  Document courtesy of Warren Richardson added 12-12-2021.

Harley-Davidson World War Two Production Statistics:  A minimum of 84,878 motorcycles of eleven different models as documented below. 

Table 1 - Harley-Davidson World War Two Motorcycles built during World War Two
Type Quantity
42 WLA 45 Cu. In. - This was a modified version of the civilian WL.  A stood for Army modified type. 60,486
UA Model 74 Cu. In. 100
WLS 45 Cu. In. 50
U Model 74 Cu. In. w/Sidecar 50
45 Cu. In. Shaft Drive (Model XA) 1,000
Motorcycle, Chain Drive, w/Sidecar (Model UA) 852
Motor Tricycles (Unknown H-D Model) 20
WLC - Mechanically the same at the WLA, but modified with a hand clutch. 18,020
45 Cu. In. Model US 1,900
WS - Modified version of the Forty-Five with low engine compression and sidecar gearing. 50
WL - Forty-Five model with cast iron head, civilian air cleaner, and other older features of the model. 2,350
Total 84,878

 

Table 2 - Harley-Davidson World War Two Motorcycles Accepted by Detroit Ordnance, US Army
The information below comes from "Summary Report of Acceptances, Tank-Automotive Material, 1940-1945"
Published by Army Services Forces, Office, Chief of Ordnance-Detroit, Production Division, Requirements and Progress Branch
January 21, 1946.
Type 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 Total
42 WLA 45 Cu. In. 656 4,731 17,380 23,438 8,560 5,721 60,486
U Model 74 Cu. In. (Navy use?)         100   100
WLS 45 Cu. In.         50   50
U Model 74  Cu. In. w/Sidecar (Navy use?)         50   50
45 Cu. In. Shaft Drive (Model XA)     1,000       1,000
Motorcycle, Chain Drive, w/Sidecar (Model UA)  844   8       852
Motor Tricycles (Unknown H-D Model)   17 3       20
Total 1,500 4,748 18,391 23,438 8,760 5,721 62,558

Author's Note and Disclaimer:  The Detroit Office of Ordnance of the U.S. Army was the primary purchasing entity for vehicles for the U.S. Army during WWII.  It also purchased vehicles for the USMC, US Navy, and Lend-Lease.  However, there were other organizations that also purchased vehicles including the Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army Air Force, U.S. Army Signal Corps, Navy Bureau of Ordnance, Navy Bureau of Aeronautics, and foreign countries making direct purchases. 

Table 3 - Direct Purchase of Harley-Davidson Motorcycles by other Countries during World War Two
Model Quantity Country Comments
WLC 18,020 Canada Both the United Kingdom and Australia used a number of WLCs.  These most likely came out of the 18,200 that Canada purchased.
UA 100 Australia  
WS 50 Australia  
WL 2,350 South Africa  
UA 1,800 South Africa  
  22,320    

 

Table 4 - Disposition of Harley-Davidson WLA Motorcycles in World War Two
Country Lend-Lease Direct Purchase
U.S. Military   23,000
U.S.S.R. 27,100  
Australia 4,200  
Republic of China 1,000  
Free French 589  
Brazil 430  
Totals 33,319 23,000
Grand Total = 56,319

 

Table 5 - Harley-Davidson Motor Company's Major World War Two Contracts
The information below comes from the "Alphabetical Listing of Major War Supply Contracts, June 1940 through September 1945."  This was published by the Civilian Production Administration, Industrial Statistics Division.  This does not include contracts less than $50,000.  Table added 8-21-2022
Product - Customer Contract Amount Contract Awarded Date Completion Date
Motorcycles - Foreign $148,000 8-1940 12-1941
Motorcycles - Foreign $152,000 9-1940 12-1941
Motorcycles - Army $243,000 9-1940 1-1941
Motorcycles - Foreign $75,000 10-1940 11-1940
Motor Cycles - Army $61,000 10-1940 1-1941
Motorcycles - Army $661,000 12-1940 7-1941
Motorcycles - Foreign $556,000 12-1940 6-1941
Motorcycles Sidecars - Foreign $259,000 2-1941 8-1941
Motorcycles - Army $863,000 3-1941 5-1942
Motorcycles - Navy $55,000 5-1941 7-1941
Motorcycles - Foreign $1,855,000 5-1941 5-1942
Motorcycles - Army $1,725,000 6-1941 4-1942
Motorcycles - Army $236,000 10-1941 12-1941
Motorcycles - Army $156,000 12-1941 1-4192
Motorcycles - Army $212,000 12-1941 1-1942
Motorcycles - Army $18,474,000 1-1942 6-1943
Motorcycle Parts - Army $161,000 1-1942 5-1942
Motorcycles Parts - Foreign $209,000 1-1942 8-1942
Motorcycles - Foreign $198,000 1-1942 1-1942
Motorcycles - Navy $1,043,000 2-1942 10-1942
Motorcycle Parts - Army $627,000 8-1942 11-1942
Motorcycle Parts - Army $1,385,000 11-1942 3-1943
Motorcycles - Army $6,015,000 12-1942 4-1944
Tools - Army $156,000 1-1943 9-1943
Motorcycle Parts - Army $316,000 2-1943 11-1943
Motorcycle Parts - Army $1,563,000 2-1943 8-1943
Vehicle Parts - Army $209,000 2-1943 4-1943
Motorcycle Parts - Army $178,000 2-1943 4-1943
Motorcycle Parts - Army $1,471,000 2-1943 10-1944
Motorcycle Parts - Army $801,000 6-1943 2-1944
Motorcycles - Army $3,000,000 9-1943 12-1944
Motorcycle Parts - Army $276,000 12-1943 2-1945
Motorcycles - Army $91,000 4-1944 4-1944
Motorcycle Parts - Army $2,854,000 4-1944 9-1945
Motorcycles - Navy $76,000 5-1944 10-1944
Motorcycles - Army $5,686,000 7-1944 4-1946
Spark Plugs 18mm - Army $147,000 8-1944 7-1945
Remfg Motorcycle Engs - Army $154,000 5-1945 1-1946
Elec Power Plants - Army $3,218,000 5-1945 8-1946
Total $55,565,000    

The last $55,565,000 contract for Electrical Power Plants was for the Army Air Force, which must have had a requirement for small electrical generators powered by the two cylinder Harley-Davidson motorcycle engine.  This contract may well have been cancelled in August 1945 with the end of the war.  This particular contract amounted to 5.7% of the company's total contracts during the war.

Table 5 - Harley-Davidson Motor Company's Word War Two Product Breakdown
Product Amount Percentage
Motorcycles - Army $37,423,000 67.3%
Motorcycle Parts - Army $10,142,000 18.2%
Motorcycles - Foreign $3,243,000 5.8%
Elec Power Plants - Army $3,218,000 5.7%
Motorcycles - Navy $1,174,000 2.1%
Motorcycles Parts - Foreign $209,000 0.3%
Tools - Army $156,000 0.2%
Total $55,565,000 99.6%

Table 5 shows that two-thirds of Harley-Davidson's major contracts were for Army motorcycles, while another 18% of the contracts were for spare parts for these same motorcycles.  85.5% of the company's total contracts were for these two categories. 

The Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee, WI:


The Harley-Davidson Museum in downtown Milwaukee, WI opened on July 12, 2008.  It is home for more than 450 historic motorcycles in a 130,000 square-foot building.  Author's photo added 7-8-2019.

 
I was pleasantly surprised to find that the museum has a dedicated room for three World War Two era motorcycles and information relating to the company's war effort.  I spent most of my visit in late May 2019 in this area.  Author's photo added 7-8-2019.


Author's photo added 7-8-2019.


Three XS prototypes were built with opposing cylinder engines.  This is the sole survivor of the three prototypes.  Harley-Davidson and the Museum have done a great job finding this one-of-a-kind motorcycle for display.  Author's photo added 7-8-2019.


Author's photo added 7-8-2019.


Author's photo added 7-8-2019.


On display is one of 50 Model U's with sidecar built for the US Navy Shore Patrol.  Author's photo added 7-8-2019.


Author's photo added 7-8-2019.


Author's photo added 7-8-2019.


Author's photo added 7-8-2019.


This WLA is in the center of the World War Two history room.  Author's photo added 7-8-2019.


Author's photo added 7-8-2019.


Author's photo added 7-8-2019.


There were several items in a display case featuring Harley-Davidson's winning of the Army-Navy "E" Award.  All of the employees at the companies that won the award were invited to the presentation of the award.  This was mandated by the military, as they considered the employees building the products to be key to making production schedules.  Author's photo added 7-8-2019.


This is the first time I have found an "E" badge with the recipient's name associated with it.  Again, this was to give the workers pride in their work and incentive to keep production rates high.  Author's photo added 7-8-2019.


Author's photo added 7-8-2019.


Author's photo added 7-8-2019.


On display were many of the spare parts that were provided for maintaining the Harley-Davidson motorcycles during World War Two.  Author's photo added 7-8-2019.


This is a photo of a double knuckle head engine that was designed for a Canadian tank in 1943.  It is unknown what tank it was for.  All of the tanks the Canadians built during World War Two were of American or British design and used existing automotive or aircraft engines.  This particular Harley-Davidson design was never used in production of a tank.  Author's photo added 7-8-2019.


This rare 1942 XA opposed engine motorcycle was out in the main display area.  It is one of 1,000 built.  Author's photo added 7-8-2019.


Author's photo added 7-8-2019.


Author's photo added 7-8-2019.


Author's photo added 7-8-2019.


Author's photo added 7-8-2019.


The museum has a wall displaying many of the engines the company has produced during its existence.  Author's photo added 7-8-2019.


Author's photo added 7-8-2019.


Author's photo added 7-8-2019.


This is a replica of the 10 foot by 15 foot building, known as the "shed," where Harley-Davidson began in 1905.  In 1906 the company moved across the street on what is now Highland Blvd. in Milwaukee.  This location remains the current location of the Harley-Davidson Headquarters.  Author's photo added 7-8-2019.

The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, Birmingham, AL:  The following series of motorcycles are on display at this very unique and outstanding museum.  It contains the largest collection of World War Two motorcycles that I have found to date.  The World War Two collection includes motorcycles not only from Harley-Davidson, but Indian, along with those from the United Kingdom and Germany.


This is a 1940 Harley-Davidson UA.  852 UAs with sidecars were accepted as shown in Table 2.  The UA was geared lower for a sidecar and had a low compression 74 cu. in. engine.  Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


This 1943 WLC is one of 18,020 built for the Canadians.  Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


This Model XA is one of 1,000 accepted by Army Ordnance in 1942.  Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


This motorcycle was based on the German BMWs that had opposed cylinders and a driveshaft rather than a chain to drive the rear wheel.  Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


This 1944 WLA is on display with a sidecar.  Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


This 1944 Model U is one of 366 built in 1944 for the U.S. Navy.  Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


Also on display at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is this cut-away of a Harley-Davidson World War Two 45 Cu. In. engine.  Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


The cut-away of the distributor shows the points and condenser.  Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


Author's photo added 8-30-2022.

Wright Museum of World War Two in Wolfeboro, NH:

The Museum has another one of 852 Model UAs built with low compression 74 Cu. In. engines. 


Author's photo.


Author's photo.


Author's photo.

The Victory Museum or National Military History Center in Auburn, IN:  At one time this museum  contained a varied and significant number of World War Two military vehicles.  However, in 2021 there were no military vehicles left after it went out of business.  Below are two Harley-Davidson motorcycles I photographed in 2013.


This Model UA was being auctioned off when I photographed it in November 2013.  It was in auction lot 130 and sold for $38,000.  All of the other many vehicles and weapons in the museum were gradually auctioned off until none were left.  In one auction in 2012 80 vehicles were put up for auction.  Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


Author's photo added 8-30-2022.


This very nice 1943 Model WLC was on display at the museum.  Author's photo added 8-30-2022.

The WLA:


 This very well restored 1944 42WLA was on display at the 2018 MVPA convention in Louisville, KY.  It is Serial Number 53146.  It is the most complete restoration the author has found.  Author's photo.


The display included MP gear, tools, weapons, and rations.  Author's photo.


Author's photo.


Author's photo.


Author's photo.


Author's photo.


This WLA is part of the collection of the National Armor and Cavalry Museum at Fort Benning, GA.  It was photographed in the Museum's maintenance shop awaiting restoration.  This particular motorcycle is of interest, as it is Serial Number 69317 built on June 11, 1945.  It was one of the last ones built before the end of the war.  Author's photo added 10-7-2018.


Author's photo added 10-7-2018.


The unit has 109 miles on it.  Author's photo added 10-7-2018.


This 1941 42WLA Serial Number 68180 was also on display at the Louisville MVPA convention.  Author's photo.


Author's photo.


Author's photo.


Author's photo.


Author's photo.


This 1942 WLA with a Goulding LS-29 sidecar is on display at the National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning, GA.  Author's photo added 10-2-2018.


Author's photo added 10-2-2018.


Author's photo added 10-2-2018.


This WLA with sidecar is on display at the Indiana Military Museum in Vincennes, IN.  Author's photo added 2-7-2019.


The sidecar appears to be  of similar manufacture as the Goulding LS-29 shown above at the National Infantry Museum.  However, this sidecar has been reinforced with an internal structure for what seems to be the ability to operate a light machine gun by the person in the sidecar.  Author's photo added 2-7-2019.


Author's photo added 2-7-2019.


This 42WLA was one of 26,000 that went to the Soviet Union under Lend-Lease.  In 1996 it was found in Kaiserslautern, Germany.  Today it is on display at the MP Museum at Fort Leonard Wood, MO.  Author's photo.


Author's photo.



 

 

 

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