Indian Motorcycle in World War Two

Indian Motorcycle Company in World War Two
Springfield, MA
1901-1953
In 2011 Polaris purchased the Indian name and now produces Indian Motorcycles.

This page updated 8-21-2022.

The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, Birmingham, AL has a large collection of pre-World War Two era vintage motorcycles on display. This may be the only museum that has such a display showing these historical motorcycles. Author's photo added 8-21-2022.

The Indian Motorcycle Company won the Army-Navy "E' Award three times during World War Two.
The first award was won in September 1943.

Indian Motorcycle World War Two Production Statistics: The table below shows that Indian built a minimum of 38,827 motorcycles during World War Two. While the table below shows no motorcycle production for 1945, one source indicates the plant was working 60 hours a week and had 400,000 square feet of manufacturing floor space when the war ended. Indian Motorcycle most likely had non-motorcycle related contracts for the plant to be working that many hours. The unused manufacturing capacity would not have been wasted. The numbers in the table below are in rough agreement with motorcycle output with other sources as noted below. Many of the Indian motorcycles went to the countries of the United Kingdom, especially the Model 741 that was designed specifically for the British Purchasing Commission.

Table 4 shows that between 1940 and 1945, Indian delivered $24,309,000 worth of motorcycles, spare parts, tools, and engineering assemblies for the war effort. The U.S. Army was the largest purchaser of Indian products. However, there were also four orders from foreign countries and one from the U.S. Treasury Department.

Table 1 - Indian 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	Indian Model	1940	1941	1942	1943	1944	1945	Total
45 Cu. In. Chain Drive	45-640B	507	2,022	2	0	0	0	2,531
45 Cu. In. Shaft Drive	841	0	0	667	333	0	0	1,000
30 Cu. In. Chain Drive	741	0	892	19,372	11,731	0	0	31,995
Motorcycle, Chain Drive, w/Sidecar	340-B	1,560	105	0	0	0	0	1,665
Motorcycle, Chain Drive, w/Sidecar	344					1,620		1,620
Motor Tricycles	WTC-18	0	16	0	0	0	0	16
Total		2,067	3,035	20,041	12,064	1,620	0	38,827

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 World War Two. It also purchased vehicles for the USMC, US Navy, and for 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 2 - Disposition of Indian Model 741 Motorcycles in World War Two
Country	Quantity
USSR	5,100
Great Britain	7,600
Australia	4,158
New Zealand	3,616
South Africa	72
India	1,000
Free Polish Forces supported by Great Britain	683
Iran	25
Total	22,254

It is unknown how many, if any, Indian-built motorcycles were used by the U.S. military. However, in the case of the Model 741, 31,995 were accepted by Army Ordnance, but only 22,254 can be accounted for as going to foreign governments. It could be that the U.S. military used the difference of 9,741.

The 5,100 741s were sent to the U.S.S.R. through Lend-Lease. Great Britain received 7,600 units either through Lend-Lease or direct purchase. The historical record is unclear on this. It is also unclear whether the Indian 741s that the Commonwealth countries received were obtained through Lend-Lease or direct purchase. In both cases, most likely they were Lend-Lease.

In 1940 Canada took possession of 150 Chiefs with sidecars that were originally destined for France before it fell. In 1940 Great Britain received 2,800 740Bs that were originally ordered by France.

Canada also placed an order for an unknown number of Scouts and Chiefs.

In 1941-42 Great Britain took possession of 236 340Bs with sidecars. Most likely these were Lend-Lease from the 1,665 accepted by Army Ordnance in 1940-1941.

In 1944 Great Britain received 360 344Bs. These were probably Lend-Lease from the 1,620 built by Indian in 1944.

Table 3 - Indian Serial Numbers for World War Two Motorcycles
Model	Frame Serial Numbers	Engine Serial Numbers	USA Registration numbers
340-B	340-101 and up	CDO-101 and up	61734-61743, 61749-61975, 61999, 62002-62995, 63726-63729, 73938-64247, 64278-64287,69051-69055
344	344-101 and up	CDD-101 and up	These were ordered for Lend-Lease with Registration numbers: 699680-69999, 610000-6101299
640-B	640-101 and up	FDO-101 and up	640940-65430, 66648-69047, 69056-69277, 642363
741	741-101 and up	Unknown	Unknown
841	841-101 and up	HDA101 and up	Partial 615903-616092

Table 4 - Indian Motorcycle 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.
Product - Customer	Contract Amount	Contract Awarded Date	Completion Date
Motorcycles - Foreign	$138,000	6-1940	9-1940
Motorcycles Sidecars - Foreign	$296,000	7-1940	11-1940
Motorcycles - Army	$183,000	9-1940	12-1940
Motorcycles Sidecars - Foreign	$258,000	11-1940	2-1941
Motorcycles - Army	$657,000	12-1940	8-1941
Motorcycles Sidecars - Foreign	$92,000	2-1941	5-1941
Motorcycles - Army	$86,000	3-1941	5-1941
Motorcycles - Army	$854,000	3-1941	5-1942
Motorcycles - Army	$2,062,000	6-1941	4-1942
Motorcycles - Army	$69,000	8-1941	11-1941
Motorcycles Parts - Army	$536,000	11-1941	4-1942
Motorcycles - Army	$5,228,000	1-1942	12-1942
Motorcycles - Army	$5,329,000	1-1942	12-1942
Motorcycles - Army	$1,476,000	1-1942	7-1942
Motorcycles Parts - Army	$297,000	8-1942	11-1942
Motorcycles Parts - Army	$327,000	12-1942	1-1943
Motorcycles Parts - Army	$83,000	12-1942	8-1943
Motorcycles Parts - Army	$287,000	12-1942	10-1943
Motorcycles Parts - Army	$126,000	12-1942	2-1943
Motorcycles Parts - Army	$1,242,000	12-1942	10-1943
Tools - Army	$106,000	2-1943	5-1944
Motorcycles - Army	$1,995,000	5-1943	8-1944
Motorcycles Parts - Army	$232,000	8-1943	4-1944
Motorcycles - Army	$1,246,000	8-1943	2-1944
Motorcycles Parts - Army	$291,000	2-1944	2-1945
Motorcycles Eng Assys - Army	$296,000	3-1944	9-1944
Motorcycles Parts - Army	$81,000	6-1944	12-1944
Motorcycles Parts - Army	$109,000	3-1945	12-1945
Termination Charges - Army	$200,000	4-1945	9-1945
Motorcycles -Treasury	$127,000	6-1945	11-1945
Total	$24,309,000

Model 640: The photos below were taken at the 2018 WWII Weekend at Reading, PA.

Author's photo.

Model 741: The photos below were taken at the Museum of Military History in Kissimmee, FL.
The Model 741 was designed at the request of the British Purchasing Commission to provide a motorcycle that was more fuel efficient than the existing Indian and Harley-Davidson 45 Cu. In. models. The 741 was used in Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.

The Model 741 below is described at the museum as being built in 1941, making it one of 892 built that year.

Author's photo added 8-4-2018.

Model 841: The photos below were taken at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, Birmingham, AL

Table 1 shows that there were 1,000 of these accepted by Army Ordnance. Many were sold as surplus after the war for $500 each. Author's photo added 8-21-2022.

The Model 841 used a drive shaft rather than a chain to drive the rear wheel. This was Indian's attempt to produce a motorcycle similar to the German motorcycles of World War Two. Author's photo added 8-21-2022.

Author's photo added 8-21-2022.

Model 741: The photos below were taken at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, Birmingham, AL

Author's photo added 8-21-2022.

Model 741: The photos below were taken at the 2018 WWII Weekend at Reading, PA.

Author's photo.

This is serial number 32212, which is a higher number than the number of 741s accepted by Detroit Army Ordnance. The highest serial number should be 32096(31995+101). This indicates that there were purchases by other organizations or some serial numbers were skipped. The date of 7-14-1943 is in the ball park for when this should have been built, based on the serial numbers. Author's photo.

This 741 does not have a serial number on the data plate. Author's photo.

Author's photo.

Author's photo.

Model 741: The photos below were taken at the 2019 TBM Reunion at Peru, IL.

According to the piece of paper on the handlebars, this is a 1941 Indian 741. Author's photo added 5-21-2019.

Author's photo added 5-21-2019.