Cincinnati Goes to War - cincymuseum.org

Spring 1991

Cincinnati Goes To WarCincinnati Goes To War 21

In 1941, like most American cities, Cincinnatiwas in the throes of recovering from the Great Depression.The Queen City's citizens were concerned also with the everexpanding war in Europe. Many favored PresidentRoosevelt's support to the countries fighting the Axis.Others, under the leadership of Cincinnatian, SenatorRobert A. Taft, advocated isolationism, and still others tookno position but fervently hoped that the United States couldavoid war.

By 1940, although the President and Congresstalked of avoiding involvement in the foreign conflict, theUnited States had begun preparing for a possible war.Defense spending rose, the armed forces began moderniz-ing, federal agencies planned for full war production, andnew war plants were built. The defense buildup created ademand for products manufactured by Cincinnati compa-nies, particularly chemicals and machine tools. Other local

industries expanded their businesses and began producingspecial war related items.

In late 1940 and early 1941, a growing numberof Cincinnatians had decided that war was inevitable andtook active roles in the preparedness campaign. Theyvolunteered for civil defense training, participated in RedCross programs, raised funds for War Chest campaigns, andcontributed to scrap drives. Others volunteered for militaryservice or registered for the draft after the passage of theSelective Service Act, the first peace time conscription inAmerican history.

However, the debate on and concern over theUnited States' involvement in the war ended on December7, 1941, with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. With theUnited States at war, Queen City residents mobilized theirenergies and threw their total support into the national wareffort and Cincinnati went to war.

Greater Cincinnatians tookactive roles first in prepared-ness, and then in workingtowards an Allied victory.

Traveling, Shopping, or EatingAmericans Can't Ignorethe War

To help the United States win the war,civilians made sacrifices so there would be enough weapons,vehicles, food, gasoline, tires, and other supplies for thearmed forces.

As "vital materials" including iron and copperwent first to the military and war industries, and as factoriesswitched to war production, Americans on the home fronthad to make do with less. There were fewer tires and lessgasoline; less red meat, coffee, and sugar; and fewerconsumer goods including cars, shoes, bicycles, and stoves.

Because wartime shortages could cause pricesto rise, encourage hoarding, and prevent fair distribution ofgoods, the Roosevelt administration set up a national systemof rationing and price controls in 1942.

Until the end of the war, every Cincinnatian— like every American could get only limited quantities ofsome products and could not buy other items at all.Although rationing and shortages were more severe in GreatBritain and the Soviet Union, all Americans felt the impactof the war.

lected and sorted rationstamps and tokens when cus-tomers purchased rationeditems.

Doing Your BitffifitffBlM

Spring 1991

This is to Certify that pursuant to the Rationing Orders and ReguLtions administered by the OFFICE OF PRICE ADMINISTRATION, aagency of the United States Government,

i(Name, AddreM, and Description of y^muajo whom the book is iuued:)

(Count,) (Suu)Stamp* must not be detached except in the pretence of the r

TRY CRISCO'SNEW DELICIOUS,SUGAR-SAYING

fcromrCAKES

OUR LABOR AND OUR 600DS A i l FIGHTiNB

In May 1942, the federal gov-ernment began rationing,which established monthlylimits on purchases of foodsthat were in short supply.Consumers had stamps thatallowed them to buy setamounts.

To get the most out of theirred ration points, homemak-ers added fillers to meatdishes, bought less popularcuts of meat, and reusedcooking fats.

While the war created shor-tages of gas, tires, and food,Americans also faced limitedsupplies of many other itemsranging from building mate-rials, to shoes and stockings.When silk and nylon went intomilitary products such as par-achutes, stockings becamehard to find. Many womenused leg makeup to create thelook of stockings.

24 Queen City Heritage

Spring 1991 Cincinnati Goes to War: Doing Your Bit 25

HOW MILEAGE IS RATIONED

TTTICar owners received books ofgas ration stamps and match-ing window stickers for theirvehicles. Before pumping anygas, the station attendantchecked the window sticker,made sure it matched thedriver's ration book, and thentore out the correct number ofstamps for the purchase.

Different books and stickersshowed the amount of gas adriver could buy. The "A"books and stickers the mostcommon type —were sup-posed to provide enough fuelfor driving about 240 mileseach month.

Queen City Heritage

"YOU KNOW, DEM....SOMETIMES I WISH WE'DCONE EASY ON OUft TIRES BACK IN 1942/*

The wartime rubber shortagemeant that local tire retreadoperations had plenty to do.

Because the armed forces'need for rubber came first, thefederal government rationedtires and limited driving onthe home front.

Motorists drove more slowlyas suggested in the chart of"Victory Numbers"—to maketheir tires last, then gotretreads. Gasoline rationingalso helped save rubberbecause people wore outfewer tires if they drove less.

Spring 1991 Cincinnati Goes to War: Doing Tour Bit 27

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS

TO EVERY OHIO MOTORIST

FOR THE DURATION

IMPORTANT INVITATIONTO YOU AND YOURS

NON-COMBATANTS EVERYWHERE WANTTO DO THEIR UTMOST TO WIN THEWAR IN THE SHORTEST TIME POSSIBLE-THIS IS A CALL FOR COMPLETEMOBILIZATION OF ALL MOTORISTS TOHOLD SPEEDS TO 35 MILES AN HOURTO SAVE TRANSPORTATION AND TIRESFOR WAR-DO YOUR PART-SWAP RIDES-ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO THE SAMEFOR V-l-C-T-O-R-Y

JOHN W. BRICKERGovcrnoj of Okio

GEORGE McCONNAUGHEY

H. G. SOURS- « ^ Oinctet—Ohio Department of Hijfcw.ys

To help save tires and gas, thefederal Office of Price Admin-istration (OPA) encouragedAmericans to share rides.

The OPA sent out materialson carpooling and, in late1942, ordered firms withmore than 100 workers to setup "transportation commit-tees" to encourage ride-sharing.

28

Everyone Can "Get in the Scrap'Queen City Heritage

Even before the attack on Pearl Harbor, thefederal government and private organizations were askingAmericans to donate scrap materials and all kinds of useditems for the war effort.

Salvage drive organizers had two primarygoals: to build up the country's industrial resources and toboost civilian morale.

The collection of scrap metal, rubber, grease,and paper expanded the country's supplies of raw materials.Contributions of: binoculars and guns for British civildefense workers and clothing for distribution by reliefagencies saved time, labor, and materials in Americanfactories.

In addition, salvage drives improved homefront morale. Participating in collection efforts gave civiliansof all ages a chance to feel they were doing something to

help end the fighting and speed an Allied victory.From the summer of 1941 through the end of

the war, Greater Cincinnatians enthusiastically gatheredrubber, paper, rags, grease, and metal for scrap drives.

The Hamilton County Waste MaterialsConservation Committee regularly met or exceeded itsquotas. Scrap came from factories, municipal governments,house-to-house collection drives, and more than 3,000collection barrels that volunteers placed on city streets andin downtown buildings.

By September 1945, the Hamilton Countysalvage committee had collected 50,000 tons of waste paper,2,000 tons of grease, 4,000 tons of rubber, 3,500 tons of rags,and 645,500 tons of tins cans and scrap metal. The committeesold these materials to scrap dealers and gave the nearly$110,000 in proceeds to the USO and other charities.

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They've got moreplaces to go than you!...

KEEPSCRAPPINGRON AND STEEL-RUBBERflll OTHER METAlS-RftGS

MOVE JILL SCRAP NOW]

Save RubberCHECK YOUR TIRES NOW

Scrap metal collected by BoyScouts for the war effortmade an impressive sight onFountain Square.

As the war went on, officialsin government and industryfound that they needed moreof some kinds of scrap andthat other materials were notuseful.

Americans' eager support ofsalvage drives led to someunfortunate decisions aboutwhat should be scrapped.Souvenirs of earlier wars, his-toric steam fire engines andlocomotives, antique pewter,

and bronze sculptures weredestroyed for the metal theycontained.

30

Every Possible Provision forTheir Protection"

Queen City Heritage

"The citizens of every community have a rightto assume that their representative officials have consideredevery possible provision for their protection and safetyagainst sabotage or any act of war." Cincinnati Bureau ofGovernmental Research, Memorandum, June 12,1941.

As Germany bombed Britain, Americansworried that U.S. cities could also be attacked. In response,the Roosevelt administration created the Office of CivilianDefense (OCD) in May 1941.

The OCD encouraged state and local govern-ments to develop defense plans that would limit injuriesand property damage in an attack. The federal governmentalso warned Americans to be wary of possible spies and

saboteurs eager for information about troop movements anddefense production.

The Hamilton County National DefenseCouncil was formed in November 1942, to coordinate areacivilian defense activities. By July, over 62,000 HamiltonCounty men and women had trained as civilian defense airraid wardens, fire watchers, emergency rescue workers, andmessengers.

Fear of air attack soon diminished, butHamilton County civilian defense recruited volunteersthroughout the war to help with scrap drives and war bondrallies, work in child care centers, and help harvest and canvegetables from Victory gardens.

Posters warned citizens thatpossible spies and saboteurscould be listening for informa-tion about defense production.


OORNIER Do 19 (GERMANY)

MarkingsDescription

Long-range, mid-wing, 4-engjned bombing monoplane powered by 4 Bromo radialengines of 650 h.p, each. Little information is available on this plane although ithas been in service for some time. Reported load capacity is about 9 tons andit is capable of speeds in excess of 200 m.p.h. It is known to carry at leost 4 machineguns in addition to its bomb load. Has gunner's position under nose and probablyin the tail.

Recognition Characteristics

Large 4-engined bomber of generally angular appearance. Twin fins and ruddersare mounted on upper surface of stabilizer half-way between tip of stabilizer ondfuselage, and are strut-braced. Tapered wing of high aspect ratio.

Specifications

Span 106 ft.; length 78 ft.; height 19 ft.; empty weight 24,000 lbs,; loaded weigM40,700 lbs.; max. speed 235 m.p.h.

Pag© 18

Civilian defense officialstrained volunteer spotters toidentify enemy airplanes suchas German bombers thatmight be able to reach theU.S. They stockpiled but neverused gas masks and alarmrattles.

Communities and individualfactories organized blackoutand air raid drills. At least onelocal defense plant the Procter& Gamble Company's Ivory-dale used a hand-crankedsiren for tests.


Wardens made sure thatstreetlights and outdooradvertising signs were putout, and that interior lightswere covered; they clearedthe streets as sirens blared"warnings" of enemy aircraft.Wardens urged Cincinnatiansto put up blackout curtains intheir homes and create "ref-uge centers" in the safestrooms.

Volunteer air raid wardensmade sure their neighbors fol-lowed air raid and blackoutprecautions during drills.


Not So Easy To"Carry On'

Although most Americans tried to continuetheir normal routines, the war caused change and stress intheir daily lives.

Americans of all ages faced new tensionsduring the war. When the military or war work took a familymember far away, those who stayed behind had to cope withloneliness and worry over those who had gone. They triedto create a new routine for daily life.

War changed the family. Men cooked meals,and children cared for younger brothers and sisters. Many

women held down war jobs, often with irregular hours, andtried to raise families while their husbands were gone.

Wartime uncertainties frequently producedshort engagements and quick marriages. The housingshortage forced people to live with parents, in-laws, orfriends.

And families found the war made it harder toget together for a meal, to go to church, or even have aconversation.


Cincinnatians conserving gasand tires traveled up river onthe steamboat Island Queento Coney Island amusementpark to ride the Wildcat rollercoaster, swim at Sunlite Pool,picnic, and dance at MoonliteGardens.

The war often disrupted fam-ily life, but organizations suchas the Boy Scouts offeredsupervised, useful activities tohelp keep young people out oftrouble.

Spring 1991 35

For many American childrenthe war was an exciting time,and entertainment and toyswith military or patrioticthemes played upon theirinterest in the conflict.

While children of the 1940'swere interested in manyaspects of the war, aviationwas a favorite.

Wartime flying had a specialfascination that the other,earthbound elements of theconflict lacked. Aircraft devel-opment went through contin-ual and exciting changes; mil-itary pilots appeared par-ticularly romantic and heroic.

American youngsters dili-gently studied aircraft identifi-cation books and built modelplanes. One Cincinnati news-paper responded to this inter-est by issuing sets of stickersof squadron emblems.

36

"Food Fights for Freedom":America Plants VictoryGardens

During the war, the federal governmentencouraged civilians to grow much of their own food, sothe armed forces could use more of the nation'scommercially canned produce.

Because the military required vast amounts offood, the government announced a "Victory Gardenprogram" to help ease home front shortages. The HamiltonCounty National Defense Council directed local Victorygardeners into already-existing community garden projectsor encouraged them to start new gardens.

By 1943, when one-fourth of the foodproduced in the United States went to the military,Hamilton County boasted nearly 70,000 Victory gardens.Backyard plots helped feed families, while others on publicproperty sent produce to school and factory cafeterias.

Victory gardens also offered Americans recreation and achance to contribute to the war effort.

JOAN LETU HAVE A' POTATOESA POUND

Es\J

FRESH FRUITS AND VI

PLANT A V I C W GARDEN

; •• ; • •

The vast majority of Ameri-cans obeyed rationing andprice regulations; however,many businesses soughthigher profits through "blackmarket" activities.

An estimated one in five ofall American businessmenreceived some warning forviolations of price control andration laws, such as ignoringprice ceilings or selling lowquality meat for the price of a

better cut. The governmentasked consumers not to dealwith these "blackmarketeers."

Homemakers adapted to theshortage of familiar cannedgoods by trying out newrecipes using Victory gardenproduce and learning how topreserving fruit and vegetables.

Spring 1991

Paying for an Expensive WarCincinnati Goes to War: Doing Tour Bit 17

The federal government financed about halfthe cost of the United States' participation in World WarII with taxes, and the rest with loans. The governmentborrowed a major portion of this money through the saleof war bonds to individuals, banks, and businesses.

There were eight nationwide bond drives. Thefirst war loan drive began in June 1942, and raised $12.9billion; the total for all drives was $135 billion.

Hamilton County exceeded its quota in eachdrive and won national recognition for raising 193% of itsquota during the Second Bond Drive. By December 1945,area residents and institutions had purchased over $1.7billion worth of war bonds.

Bond drive organizers used a variety of salestechniques. Over 8,500 volunteer "bondadiers" went door-to-door; Cincinnati public school children bought defensestamps each Tuesday; workers signed up for payrolldeduction plans; and businesses worked "Buy Bonds"reminders into their newspaper and radio advertising.

One of the largest groups formed toencourage bond sales in Greater Cincinnati was the Womenat War Committee. Made up of members of local women'sorganizations, the group provided 4,000 bondadiers andsponsored banquets, concerts, exhibits, and other specialevents promoting war loan drives.

In 1942, two structures wentup in downtown Cincinnati onthe Tyler Davidson Fountainesplanade to promote bondsales and military service.

The Citizens' Navy Committeeof Greater Cincinnati spon-sored the construction of theU.S.S. Victory, a sixty-six-footmodel of a destroyer thatserved as a naval recruitingstation and bond sales office.Thousands of Cincinnatiansattended the Victory's July 17dedication, where 151recruits took the oath ofinduction into the Navy.

The Hamilton County war sav-ings committee gatheredvolunteers and donated mate-rials to erect a "bond pier" atthe Vine Street end of Foun-tain Square. Representativesfrom civic, fraternal, andsocial groups sold bonds fromthe pier throughout the war.

38 LETS FlY THIS FLAG

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Younger Americans madetheir contribution towards anAllied victory by helping withbond sales or purchasing tencent and twenty-five centdefense stamps that theysaved to buy bonds.

Over 300 local firms receivedthe Minute Man Flag in recog-nition of their workers' com-mitment to purchase bonds.

The federal government pres-ented special flags to firmswhere ninety percent of theemployees committed at leastten percent of their wages tobuy bonds through a payrolldeduction plan. In July 1942,Cincinnati's Gruen WatchCompany was the first plantin the nation to receive theaward.

In October 1942, Etta Moten,co-starring in "Porgy andBess" at the Taft Theater,opened a war bond and stampdrive sponsored by the localNegro Citizens' Committee.Cincinnati, like other Ameri-can cities, also held separatecivil defense meetings andWar Chest drives to raisemoney for social serviceagencies.


Wartime Strains on PublicServices

The war created new and greater demands oncommunity services — particularly public transportation ata time when the organizations that provided those servicesfaced shortages of workers and materials.

The needs of defense plants and the militarycame first during the war, so city governments andcompanies providing services such as public transportationhad to meet people's growing needs with fewer resources.

The Cincinnati Street Railway Company hadmore passengers because of tire and gasoline rationingstreetcar use in the city rose steadily, peaking at almost500,000 rides on one day in December 1944. But federal limitson the use of buses and on the production of new streetcarsand track made expanding service difficult.

The street railway mainte-nance shops also refurbishedfifty older streetcars that hadbeen retired. The companyshowed its support for thewar effort by painting patrioticmessages on these rebuiltcars.

40

Supporting Those in UniformQueen City Heritage

Cincinnatians rallied to support Americanservicemen and women through activities that includedvolunteering with the USO and Red Cross, knitting andsewing garments, and sending newsletters overseas.

The Red Cross and the USO were the largestgroups that organized wartime programs for the benefit ofAmericans in uniform.

In February 1941, six national serviceorganizations joined together as the United ServiceOrganizations, or USO, to take primary responsibility forhousing, feeding, and entertaining military personneltraveling between home, training camps, and assignments.Cincinnati's USO was one of the busiest in the country. By

the end of the war, its facilities in Union Terminal had servedover three million troops.

The city's nine other USO lounges forAmerican military were at the bus depot, the airport atLunken Field, and downtown clubs; two all-black facilitiesoperated at the YMCA and YWCA "Negro" branches in theWest End.

The Cincinnati area chapter of the AmericanRed Cross organized thousands of volunteers for hospitalwork, blood drives, making or collecting clothing andmedical supplies, packing Christmas gift boxes, and otherefforts to aid United States military personnel.

USO centers offered a varietyof amenities: lounges, readingand writing rooms, cots andovernight rooms, showers,swimming pools, gymnasiumfacilities, bowling lanes, snackbars, meals, and game rooms.At Union Terminal, USOworkers also checked bag-gage, mailed letters, andhelped care for servicemen'schildren.


THE CARRIER PIGEON

OCT. 10, 1942 INDIAN HILL. OHIO

TO THE BEST OFOUR KNOWLEDGE

Lieutenant Clarkson Beard is As-sistant KeconnalaaoQe officer of hi*Battery at Camp Ohaflee. Arkansas.Allie and "Cactus," the Lakelandpup. are vamp-following lor theprea-ent and are Mtabliahed at a ''sharehome" iu Fort Smith, Arkansas.That doesn't mean she's turned share-cropper, v but is a domestic arrange-ment by which you have a privatebed-room, but share the use o( thekitchen and bathroom.

Bill Taft is tremendonslr incensedbecause they turned him down forall the exciting branches of the Ser-vice and at present he is working inths personnel department of themain Red Crone Headquarters atWaahinKton. He and his bride wentto Murray Bar for their wedding tripwhere Kill proceeded to get scuteappendicitis. However that crisisstffDs to have been overcome and thetwo have been staying with the Sen-ator this summer while the familywas awajr.

John Deupree is evidently intii-«uwl with the beamy and interest ofthe terrain surrounding his stationIn Northern Ireland. He nays it reminds him of Maine. Routine armvlife must not be too routine-ish therefor he has done a little nightaeeiug,plaved a little golf, and mentionedhaviug dinner one evening with AlJoUon and Merle Oberon, (notsepar-ately), when they came to put ou ashow for (he American boys.

John has a brand-new member ofhis family to greet him on his return.

THE CARRIER-PIGEON

This is the flirt number of a Paper speoially published for 70a—the lioys and men in the Services who haTe gone from our familiesassociated with the Indian Hill Chapel. You are always in oarthoughts and prayrrs — and we want you to know it. Hut we thoughtthat you would also like to know from time to time what is going 00at home 011 the Hill; what news we haTe of your old friends, snd soforth. The ••Carrier-Pigeon" will tell you as well as we can pat it to-gether. There will be nol«e ol all forts, and nothing will be missedthat is likely to interest you. But vou can help as to make it moreinteresting still, if you will. A note from you about your doings — oranything, would please us all heie. and add Talue to the Paper forthose who are away. Send it Hi Mrs. Stanley Rowe, Mrs. Robert L.Black, or the Rev. F. J. Moore. The Church of the Advent. KemperLane. Meanwhile, we hope you will like the little Paper which wesend with our greetings and sincere wishes for the best of luck aud asafe, return.

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.lean Davler, and sheat Vernoufage Two

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Place

Sincere ThanksNot every little church news-

sheet has a world-famous artistdraw its masthead. Oars wasdone f<ir us by none other thanCharles Dana Uibsou. and we art

ly thrilled to be typified by suchs wise little bild as our friend a-bovi. (Now kindly refrain fromremarking that our figure* arestrangely alite).

At any rate we hope your (aceiassume the pleased expression ofthe Doughboy when you read alltheae juicy items.

Thank you again, Mr. Gibson,and you. Mrs. Emery, for askingyour father this tremendous favor.

MISSING - - -WITH A HAPPY ENDING

That dread telegram with the omi->us words. "We regret to informiu that your son Captain Edmund

V. Lunken is reported missing. De-tails will follow from the War Offloe"nired at the Eschelby Lunkenlome a couple of week* ago. andamily and friends pat in a crueltynxious three days before the happylews cime that Ebbie was safe andveil.

It seems that Ebbie who is I U -ioi.ed in the "Latin American The-

ater," as that part of oar continent iscalled in war parlance, was on hisway back to his home base One ofthose sudden, violently fierce tropicalalorms came up. At first he thoughtthe ship would not weather thestorm and he was about ready to

(Continued on Page Three)

Throughout Cincinnati andacross the country, womenworked on their own, in infor-mal groups, and organized bythe Red Cross to knit sweatersand other garments for Amer-ican servicemen.

Local women in the KnittingDivision of the Red Cross Pro-duction Corps turned outthousands of items for men inthe service, in navy and armyhospitals, and for foreign warrelief. The June 1943 quotafor volunteers with the RedCross of Cincinnati andHamilton County included3,733 sweaters and 600 pairsof gloves.

Dorothy S. Rowe edited TheCarrier Pigeon, a newsletterfor servicemen from familiesassociated with the Indian HillChapel. After the war, themen presented Rowe with asilver punch bowl engravedwith their signatures and withthe names in block letters ofthose Indian Hill servicemenkilled in the fighting.

42

Cincinnatians Lend a Helping HandQueen City Heritage

Many Americans helped people whose liveshad been turned upside down by the war. Cincinnatians jointheir countrymen in efforts that included collecting suppliesfor British victims of German bombs, taking displacedEuropean children into their homes, and helping WestCoast Japanese Americans and European Jews reestablishnormal lives.

Ordinary people in Europe and in the UnitedStates found themselves in danger or facing new difficultiesbecause of World War II. European Jews faced imprison-ment and death. German air raids on England destroyedhomes and threatened lives. The U.S. government sent WestCoast Japanese Americans to bleak interment camps.

A significant number of Cincinnatians helpedthese people. Between 1933 and 1941, local Jewishinstitutions and social service groups helped some 1,000German and Austrian Jews escape Hitler and resettle inCincinnati. In 1940 and 1941, Cincinnatians gatheredclothing and raised money for "Bundles for Britain." A fewprovided homes for British children evacuated from thatembattled country. From 1943 to 1945, three Cincinnatihostels provided temporary housing for some 600 JapaneseAmericans relocated from western internment camps.

Such efforts benefited a relative handful ofpeople, but showed that many Americans still cared aboutthe well-being of strangers.

Between 1943 and 1945,some 600 Japanese Ameri-cans left government intern-ment camps and resettled inCincinnati with the help of thefederal War RelocationAuthority (WRA) and localchurch groups.

The WRA, cooperating withlocal Quakers and the Episco-pal Diocese, set up three hos-tels where former interneesstayed while looking for

homes and jobs. GeorgeShumida operated a drillpress in a local war plant.

Many parents sent their chil-dren away from the war inEurope to live with Americanfamilies for the duration.Three children who foundtemporary homes in Cincin-nati were Desmond and Nor-man Parsons, who came fromEngland, and Ellen Kaspar, aJewish girl from Germany.

The Parson twins stayedwith Mr. and Mrs. HerbertKoch in Kennedy Heights, andEllen Kaspar (left) lived withGene Ach and her family inWyoming.

Spring 1991

Broadcasting Brings the Battle-front to the Home Front

Cincinnati Goes to War: Doing Tour Bit 43

During World War II, radio stations through-out the United States offered a growing range of war-relatedprograms in response to civilians' hunger for news of thefighting overseas, and federal officials' desire to buildsupport for the war effort.

Americans listened to an average of four andone-half hours of radio a day; WLW, WSAI, WCKY, andWKRC were the four major stations in Cincinnati. Nationaland local stations competed in providing regular, up-to-datenews about United States' forces and the Allies' progress.Listening to the radio, the nation joined PresidentRoosevelt's prayer for the young men about to invadeEurope on D-Day.

Federal agencies encouraged, guided, andsometimes coerced radio, as well as newspapers, magazines,and movies, to carry explanations of the ideals for which theAllies were fighting, and to encourage civilian efforts on thehome front. While nationally broadcast programs by KateSmith, Glenn Miller, Jack Benny, and other entertainersbriefly took listeners' minds off wartime anxieties, the starsalso urged listeners to buy bonds, donate blood, and evensave grease.

Cincinnati radio stationsWLW, WSAI, WKRC, andWCKY kept news-hungry lis-teners informed about theprogress of the war andAmerican war aims. WLWwas the acknowledged leader,with a larger news budget,audience, and transmittingrange.

44

Entertainment helped relievethe worry and tensions ofwartime, and WLW's MoonRiver program of music andpoetry was a favorite.

Peter Grant drew eighty per-cent of the local radio audi-ence for his 11:30 p.m. newsbroadcast on WLW. He alsoannounced many of the sta-tion's drama and varietyprograms.

WLW boosted its wartimenews staff from six to four-teen, subscribed to all majornews services, and securedan agreement for local newscoverage from The CincinnatiEnquirer. The station also pro-duced a program of shortwavebroadcasts from Allied coun-tries, and NBC picked up oneof its several news commen-tary programs.

WLW's Gil Kingsbury was oneof Cincinnati's premier localnewsman throughout WorldWar II, and then became thestation's Washington corre-spondent in 1945.

Plowshares Into Swords

Industry Adapts to Survive

Cincinnati does to War: Plowshares Into Swords

Wartime restrictions, regulations, and shor-tages of materials and manpower meant that Americanbusinesses had to change packaging, manufacturingprocesses, the quantities and types of goods they turned out,and whom they hired. Companies that could not adapt oftenclosed.

To provide the Allied war effort with hugequantities of needed goods, the federal governmentallocated industrial supplies and labor. Plants manufacturingitems for the war received first priority in the distributionof equipment, materials, and workers. Companies produc-

ing "non-essential" or restricted consumer goods scrambledto get what they could.

The war brought opportunities to increaseproduction, expand facilities and work forces, and earnlarger profits. But to take advantage of the opportunities,companies had to adjust.For many businesses, adjustmentmeant survival. A firm that could not obtain and fillgovernment contracts, or find a product for which thegovernment would allocate workers and materials, mightjoin the half-million American businesses that shut downduring the war.

es with contracts toproduce war supplies had tomeet requirements set by themilitary and federal govern-ment in such matters as hir-ing practices and qualityinspections, but improvedsecurity was a particularconcern.

Managers of plants doingwar work had to take air raidprecautions, warn workersagainst divulging information

to possible spies,their facilities more secureagainst sabotage and espio-nage. At larger, more impor-tant factories such as P&G'sIvorydale, the plant guardswere armed, given extra train-ing, and designated as auxil-iary military police.

Queen City Heritage

The Globe-Wernicke Companycontinued to produce woodand metal office furnishingsafter the defense-buildupbegan, but because workersand supplies of steel werelimited, most of the desks, fil-ing cabinets, and tables madein the Norwood factory werefor the federal government. Aportion of the Globe-Wernickeplant was converted to pro-duction of aircraft parts —

wing sections for cargo planes The federal government con-and fuselage tails for fighters. trolled metal supplies more

Ninety percent of Globe-Wernicke's factory wasinvolved in war work.

closely than almost any otherindustrial material. Hamilton'sMosler Safe Company sur-vived wartime restrictions onsteel by using its peacetimeexperience in making heavysteel objects to turn outturrets for tanks and armorshields for artillery pieces.

Spring 1991 Cincinnati Goes to War: Plowshares Into Swords 47

As companies finished onegovernment contract, theyhad to pursue others whichmight or might not be relatedto previous work. Cincinnati'sOsborne Register Companyproduced ration tokens for theentire country, then took onother, less well-known jobs.

The Osborne Register Com-pany made a variety of tokens,advertising items, and com-memorative coins before the

war, but with wartime restric-tions on labor, materials, andmachinery it took on projectsrelated to the war effort tokeep its York Street plantbusy.

In 1944, Osborne Registerspent five months stampingout two billion ration tokensfor the United States Office ofPrice Administration. The firmcut the dies to stamp the tok-ens, developed the fibre mate-

rial, and bought sixty newpunch presses.

Osborne also used theseand other presses to maketokens for PX stores at mili-tary bases and POW campsthroughout the United States,and to stamp parts for air-plane pilots' survival flash-lights.

The Peters Cartridge plant atKings Mills initially maderounds for the .45 calibre Coltautomatic pistol. Later itreceived contracts to turn outmillions of cartridges for theM1 carbine. Peters workersformed the bullets, and loadedand assembled the cartridges.

Women employees becameimportant at Crosley in 1943when they replaced some 800male workers — about halfthe work force — who hadentered military service. Thefollowing year, the firm recru-ited 1,000 additional femaleemployees.

One of the Crosley Corpora-tions's most important productswas the SCR-284 field radio,which the company designed,built, and shipped directly tothe armed forces. Womenemployees did most of theassembly work.

A mainstay of U.S. militarycommunications from thedeserts of North Africa to theislands of the South Pacific,the SCR-284 operated from abattery or a hand-crankedgenerator and had a range ofabout seven miles.

Spring 1991 Cincinnati Goes to War: Plowshares Into Swords

II

49

I can do with less gas for the car J. but

HOw i MISS MY dreft!...No soap can do what dreft does for dishes, silks, woolens!"

m

Many companies won profit-able government contracts bymaking something closelyrelated to their peacetime pro-ducts. Cincinnati's FashionFrocks switched from sewingladies' dresses, "non-essential" work, to sewingparachutes for the military.

Procter & Gamble, one ofthe city's largest companies,did not stop making consumergoods, but met wartime short-ages and restrictions bychanging the packaging andproduction of many of itshousehold items.

Steel was an "essential"material for ships, planes, andguns. To avoid stopping orlimiting the production ofCrisco shortening P&G

replaced the metal can with aglass jar.

Naphtha, used in manysoaps, was another "strate-gic" material and had to beeliminated from home frontproducts. P&G's Dreft deter-gent also contained an ingre-dient needed for the wareffort; it went off the market,though advertisements madesure housewives rememberedthe product. The company

also discontinued its largestsize boxes of Oxydol and otherdetergents to discouragehoarding.


Cincinnati chemical plants —Procter & Gamble, EmeryIndustries, Amsco Products,and others — preparedimmense quantities of theproducts for which they werealready well-known: cookingfats, industrial solvents andfinishes, glycerine, pesticides,soap, and even candles.

Much of this output of familiarproducts was destined fornew uses. Part of P&G's soapoutput helped in the process-ing of fabric and metal thatwent into each Gl's uniformand personal equipment.Emery and the So-Lo Worksmade candles in small cansfor soldiers to use in tents.

Much of what Cincinnati'sProcter & Gamble Companysupplied to the military, laun-dry soap, hand soap, andcooking fats, was like its civil-ian products. But other ver-sions of these items, as wellas materials and knowledgederived from peacetimemanufacturing, were appliedin different industries.


WE'RE PROUD OF EVERY

AMERICAN FIGHTING MANWE'VE DONE OUR PART V HIS FOOD AND EQUIPMENT

Helmet processed by soap be-

fore pointing.

Cotton and wool prepared and

processed into cloth by spec

textile soaps.

Cotton webbing cartridge belt

which was given a long series

of soap baths in its manufacture.Cooking fats-used to prepare

his bread, his favorite desserts,

and in Emergency Rations. Fats

are high-energy foods.

Glycerine ond cellulose for the

smokeless powder in the car-

tridges his rifle fires.Soap used as a lubricant in

machining the rifle barrel.

Soap for his personal clean!

ness and health and to dec

and maintain his weapons

top condition.

Soaps for the Army laundri

which keep his uniform and

and ready for inspection.

Leather for shoes, belts ai

rifle strops made tough and

pliable by penetrating soaps.

OVER 1500 PROCTER & GAMBLEMEN AND WOMEN ARE NOW IN UNIFORM

Various manufacturers usedP&G soap products to processfabric for uniforms and clothequipment, prepare metal forplating or painting, and aslubricants in metalworking.Soapmaking also generatedglycerine which was used inexplosives, quick-drying paint,medicine, plastics, and water-proofing.


The Arsenal of Democracy NeedsCincinnati

For many Greater Cincinnati businesses,supporting the war effort meant manufacturing largerquantities of the same products they had made before thewar, or making those goods to meet government or militaryspecifications.

Years before the United States entered WorldWar II, the armed forces contacted Cincinnati companiesto place orders related to the defense buildup, or to makeplans for those firms to enter defense production if Americabecame involved in the conflict.

Local firms that processed food, cast andstamped metal, built machine tools and other machinery,assembled vehicles, and made chemicals stood ready tosupply the military.

When the U.S. declared war, many Cincinnatifactories shifted to defense production. But other localplants, like Allis-Chalmers' electric motor assembly shops inNorwood and Cincinnati Milling Machine Company'smachine tool production facilities in Oakley, needed only tomake more of their usual products, and make them faster.

While most area contractorsinvolved in aircraft productionmade only a component partsuch as a propeller or engine,Aeronca in Middletown, Ohio,assembled complete air-planes. The U.S. Army pur-chased over 1,300 Areoncas.

During the war, the two-seat light monoplanes madeby the Aeronca Aircraft Cor-poration and modified withmilitary equipment, painted in

military colors, and desig-nated L-3 "Defenders," sawmilitary service in training,liaison-observation, and artil-lery spotting work overseas.

The planes served the wareffort in the Civilian PilotTraining Program and Civil AirPatrol activities.

54

Throughout Cincinnati,large and small machineshops made the machine toolsthat drilled, shaped, and cutmetal for guns, aircraftengines, tank turrets, andevery other kind of war mate-rial. The military also neededmachine tools for its arsenalsand machine shops on airbases and aboard ships wherewar equipment was repairedand refurbished.

When the war began inEurope, Greater Cincinnatihad over thirty-five machinetool firms that kept busy sup-plying machinery to newdefense industries. The area'stwo largest machine tool com-panies were the R.K. LeBlondCompany, which producedeighty-five percent of themachines used by the Alliesin making cannon barrels, andthe Cincinnati Milling

Machine Company, known as"The Mill."


Pharmaceutical companieshad to meet both civilian andmilitary needs. The William S.Merrell Company, the area'slargest drug maker, had con-tracts from the armed forcesto prepare huge quantities ofvarious medicines in differentforms: one billion tablets, fortytons of ointments, 63,000 gal-lons of liquids, and 250,000syringe ampules.

The labs at the firm's Read-ing, Ohio, plant took part ingovernment research projectson germicides, antibiotics, andanti-malaria drugs.

The Wright Aeronautical fac-tory near Lockland assembledaround 60,000 airplaneengines during the war. Mostof them were the "Cyclone"R-2600.

All engines that came offWright assembly lines wentnext to test shops and wererun at high speeds longenough to reveal any prob-lems. Workers then took theengines apart, checked each

piece, and reassembled themfor shipping to factories inother cities where they wereinstalled in aircraft.

Although the Lockland plantbuilt some engines for largerplanes late in the war, themajority of its output wentinto the Army's B-25 "Mit-chell" medium bombers andthe Navy's SB2C "Helldiver"dive bombers.

56

Making Something Different forthe War

Queen City Heritage

While government agencies and the militaryneeded many items that already were made in Cincinnati,they also needed many that were not. Dozens of localcompanies turned out new products to meet wartime needs.

Existing American plants made ammunitionboxes, rifle grenades, parachutes, gas masks, and other warmateriel. But the armed forces needed huge quantities ofthese items, so the government asked companies inCincinnati and across the country to switch from their usualproducts to goods needed for the war.

Some manufacturers made new items thatwere similar to their pre-war products, so the transition wassimpler. The Charles E. Sorin Company, a local maker ofmen's leather belts, shifted easily to producing shoulderslings for the Ml carbine.

Other firms — particularly those that hadconcentrated on a single specialized item — foundthemselves making completely unfamiliar objects. InCincinnati, the Artistic Furniture Manufacturing Companybuilt armored flak jackets for bomber crews, and RookwoodPottery fabricated wooden water pipe for army camps.

»••*.« >:•>«:.<>-...: r*,•,.*.•..••

Several Cincinnati firms were The U.S. Playing Card Com- The government shipped suchinvolved secret projects toprovide U.S. personnel inenemy prison camps withescape maps and radios.

pany produced about 100decks of cards with mapsections sandwiched betweenthe fronts and backs. Whenthe backs were soaked off, thepieces could be assembledinto maps of Germany. Gold-smith Sporting Goods pro-duced four dozen baseballsand softballs in which radioparts were concealed.

escape aids to Europeanprison camps in packagesfrom made-up charitableorganizations.


i*f%<

The war effort had little needfor the Cambridge Tile Com-pany's usual product. But thefirm's equipment proved well-suited for making crackersthat were packed in the boxesof "K-rations" issued to soldi-ers in the field.

Although the federal govern-ment halted the constructionof cars, trucks, and trailers forprivate consumers and mostcommercial uses, the compa-nies that had made them keptbusy making vehicles for thewar. General Motors' assem-bly line in Norwood puttogether 4x4 trucks, and theTrailer Company of America(Trailmobile) built military ver-sions of its peacetime cargo-

hauling trailers.Trailmobile made every-

thing from small jeep trailersto vans for hauling cavalryhorses shown here. The com-pany's engineers designedtrailers that could be disas-sembled for easy shipmentoverseas, special medicaltrailers, and even "expansi-ble" office trailers to provideportable command centers forthe army.

The Mosler Safe Companymade the armor plate shieldswhich protected the crews of37mm anti-tank guns.

58

Making a Part of the ProductQueen City Heritage

The most important role for Cincinnatifactories was in making tools, component materials, or partsof GI gear, rather than fully finished weapons such as planesand guns.

The majority of Greater Cincinnatiansengaged in war work did not turn out completed equipment.Local firms generally fabricated a sub-assembly orcomponent part, like armor shields or aircraft wing flaps.Other companies in other cities brought together the piecesmanufactured by subcontractors to assemble tanks,airplanes, cannons, and so forth.

Workers making component parts often didnot know how the pieces would be used. Sometimes this wasbecause the small parts did not look like anything familiar,but other times the final product, aerial bombsights forexample, was secret and workers were intentionally kept inthe dark.

In many cases, what a Cincinnati plant produced was evenmore basic to defense plant activities elsewhere. Locally-made tools and chemicals were crucial to manufacturingweapons, vehicles, ammunition, explosives, medicine, ships,and aircraft.

I'm the Girl Who Makes theLittle Gizmo That ScrewsInside This Bigger Thing ThatGoes on Top of SomethingElse . . .


It was important for plants tokeep their machines andemployees working so thatone of the federal agenciesoverseeing industrial resour-ces did not reduce their allo-cations of labor, supplies, andequipment.

60

Gathering the Manpower — andthe Womanpower — toWin the War

Queen City Heritage

America's industrial work force surpassed allknown production records during World War II, but thisachievement took the combined efforts of management,organized labor, and federal agencies to meet the nation'svast manpower needs and to keep workers as productive aspossible.

At the peak of war production, about 180,000Greater Cincinnatians worked in some 2,000 differentmanufacturing facilities. Yet military service took awaythousands of young and middle-aged white males — a large

portion of the traditional work force.To help meet the local demand for workers,

Cincinnati's vocational schools offered day, evening, and latenight classes that included machine design, aircraft engineassembly, and welding. Area companies and firmsnationwide kept workers who were past retirement age, andrecruited women and minorities.

Resistance to women, black, and Appalachianworkers sometimes led to harassment and strikes.


PERMANENT JOBS

FOUNDRY WORKERSICOLQRED'

NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY

PLANT TRANSPORTATION PLAN GOOD SALARYGROUP INSURANCE PLANS VACATION WITH PAYMODERN WELL-EQUIPPED PLANT CONVENIENT LOCATION

THIS IS ESSENTIAL WORKTHE WILLIAMSON HEATER CO.

DOWNTOWN OFFICE, 337 W. 5th St. PLANT OFFICE, 4558CINCINNATI, OHIO MARBURG AVE., OAKLEY

Black women traditionally hadworked outside the homewhile raising families, butmiddle-class white womenand older women entered thepaid labor force in largenumbers for the first time dur-ing World War II.

The "E" banner, was part ofthe federal government'sefforts to encourage speedand quality in war work.

Fashion Frocks' production ofparachutes and other warequipment was so effectiveand innovative that the com-pany won an Army-Navy "E"award in 1944, receiving an"E" flag and pins for everyemployee.

Queen City Heritage

The battle begins

with your job!

DO IT RIGHT

American industry was des-perate for workers, and takinga war job was a patriotic andgood-paying option for womenwho were single, whose hus-bands were in the military, orwhose children were grown.For women with young chil-dren, taking a war job wasoften necessary to supple-ment their husbands' salariesor military allotments.

Working mothers relied onfriends or family for child carebecause the few federally-funded child care centerswere rarely near plant sites. A48-hour work week meantshopping on lunch hoursbecause stores were rarelyopen Sundays or evenings.

As war production boomed,many companies trained newemployees and hired non-traditional workers, mostnotably women and AfricanAmericans. Firms also urgedolder workers to postponeretirement.


in the m


A Crossroads of the Nation's RailSystem

Railroads played a major role in the successof the United States' war effort, and Cincinnati's UnionTerminal and rail yards were a crucial link in the Americanrail system for both travelers and freight.

Because major rail lines from the south, east,and west met in the Queen City, local factories shipped muchof their products and supplies by train. From mid-1941 tomid-1945, an average of over 55,000 freight cars were loadedor unloaded at plants and warehouses in Greater Cincinnatieach month.

During the same period, area rail yards dealtwith an even larger volume of through traffic, switchingabout 110,000 cars each month from trains arriving inCincinnati to other outbound trains.

Cincinnati was also a junction for passengertraffic; thousands of people changed trains at UnionTerminal to complete journeys to other cities. The city wasone point where African American passengers heading southhad to switch to segregated "Jim Crow" cars, while thosecoming north could leave them.

Millions of troops- are on the move

Is YOUR trip necessary?OFFICE OF DEFENSE TRAi

At its most active point inWorld War II, Union Terminalhandled about 420 trains perday, around 20% of whichwere special trains for troops,government personnel, andPOWs. The number ofscheduled commercialpassenger trains changedlittle from the late 1930's.

The need to move warpersonnel and restrictions onauto travel increasedpassenger traffic on therailroads. In 1944, anestimated 34,000 peopletraveled through UnionTerminal each day.

66

War Boosts the River TradeQueen City Heritage

The Ohio and the nation's other rivers becameincreasingly important supply routes during the war, asbarge companies moved strategic materials and inlandshipyards built vessels for the military.

Shipping and ship building increased with thecoming of war. The Cincinnati-based Ohio River Companybarge line hauled just under 2.5 million tons in 1939 andrecorded profits of $160,000. Those figures rose in 1944 to4 million tons and profits exceeding $1.7 million.

The barge companies were a significant link

in America's wartime transportation network, hauling bulkcargoes such as coal, coke, petroleum, and constructionmaterials to defense plants and military facilities on or nearrivers.

Military vessels — mostly landing craft anddestroyer escorts — traveled from the shipyards where theywere built, down the Ohio to the Mississippi River, andeventually overseas. Cincinnati had no shipyards, but it washome base for Coast Guard personnel who helped thepermanent crews of these warships navigate down the Ohio.

In 1942, the federalDefense Plant Corporation(DPC) contracted with severalinland rivers shipyards tobuild twenty-one powerfultowboats and 535 barges. Thegovernment then leased theDPC towboats and barges toprivate companies.

67

Despite the limitations ofCincinnati's main airport,wartime commercial andmilitary air activity was heavy,as frequent flights carriedpassengers and cargoesrelated to the war effort intoand out of the city.

Lunken Airport had beenimproved in the late 1930'sand easily accommodatedsmall planes such asAeroncas. But commercial

airlines used craft such as thetwin-engine DC-2, andmilitary flights could rangefrom light courier planes toheavy bombers.

Members of the Army AirCorps worked at Lunken Fieldand flew in and out of thatairport on a regular basis.Cincinnatians providedsupport services for thesepersonnel, including groundtransportation and a canteen.

Serving Uncle Sam

The Manpower Demands of theArmy

Queen City Heritage

The service branch that needed the most menand women was the U.S. Army and U.S. Army Air Force.Over 70,000 Greater Cincinnati men, among them most ofthe area's draftees, and 4,000 women served in some part ofthe Army.

By late 1941, Selective Service and themobilization of the National Guard had expanded the Armyfrom a peacetime force of several hundred thousand men toa force of more than 1.6 million. After the United Statesdeclared war, the Army's growth accelerated. In the springof 1945, more than eight million men and women wereserving in the Army.

Army air and ground units engaged in combatfrom the Aleutian Islands off Alaska, to Europe and NorthAfrica, to Asia and islands in the Pacific. Army supporttroops, including administrative, medical, supply, engineer,intelligence, training, and transport units, were likewiseassigned to duties around the world.

A Greater Cincinnatian who went into thearmed forces during World War II generally served in theArmy.

Spring 1991 Cincinnati Goes to War: Serving Uncle Sam 69

Prepare in Duplicate

APR 1 2 1945

ORDER TO REPOBT FOR INDUCTION

The President of the United States,

GREETING:

Having submitted yourself to a local board composed of your neighbors for the purpose of deter-mining your availability for training and service in. the land or naval forces of the United States, you arehereby notified that you have now been selected for training and service therein.

You will, therefore, report to the local board named above at City Hall, Norwood, Ohio _(PUo. of nporttec)(PUo. of nporttec)

This local board will furnish transportation to an Induction station. Yon will there be examined, and, if accepted fortraining and service, you will then be inducted into the land or naval forces.

Persons reporting to the induction station in some ins* a now may be rejected for physical or other reasons. It is wellto keep this in mind in arranging voor affairs, to prevent any undue hardship if you are rejected at the induction station.

y < m r enlpi<^er o f $fa notice and of the possibility that yon may not be accepted atT can then be prepared to replace you if you are accepted, or to continue yourto this local board at the hoar and on the day named in this notice is a violation of the

. 1940, as amended, and subjects the violator to fine and imprisonment.your own local board that reporting in compliance with this order will be a seriousi a local board in the area of which you are now located, go immediately to that localtransfer of your delivery for induction, taking this order withv"""

To wage war on such anunprecedented scale, the fed-eral government needed mil-lions of men and women,thousands of whom camefrom Greater Cincinnati. Peo-ple were needed for service inthe armed forces and to staffagencies of the growing fed-eral bureaucracy.

*

Every member of the Army,whether a non-combatantsuch as the medic above or arifleman in a foxhole, had ajob to do so that the massivewartime military organizationcould function.

For every soldier trained tofight, the Army employedabout five service people insupport roles. Of those whoprepared for combat, perhapsonly half saw action, likethese infantrymen leavingtheir landing craft at Omahabeach in Normandy.


Caring for the sick andwounded was a specializedArmy support job. More than300 doctors and severalhundred nurses and medicaltechnicians from this areaserved in Army medicalfacilities both overseas and inthis country.


an. <

Most men who saw actualfighting in Army ground unitswere in North Africa andEurope, though a significantnumber also took part in thecampaigns in the Pacific.

America's armed forcesassigned members of differentracial groups to segregatedunits. Both African Americanand Japanese AmericanCincinnatians served in suchsupport and combat units.


Army Fliers Win Air Superiority Retaking the Pacific: The Unitedfor the Allies States Marines

The U.S. Army Air Force (AAF) was not anindependent branch of service during World War II, butmembers had a distinct identity within the Army. Men andwomen of the AAF also felt that they played a special rolein the war as Allied air superiority proved vital in defeatingthe Axis.

Allied air power grew as American industryquickly turned out tens of thousands of airplanes. But menand women were needed to fly those planes and keep themflying.

The AAF recruited many pilots, aircraftcrewmen, and support personnel in the Cincinnati areabecause the universities, Civilian Pilot Training Program,vocational schools, and machine shops created a pool ofindividuals with skills the air force needed.

Marines had major roles in land combat in thePacific as the Allies attacked and retook Japanese heldislands; units saw hard fighting and often suffered highcasualties in campaigns for the Solomons, Marshalls, Guam,and Okinawa. Greater Cincinnati sent about 9,000 men tothe Marine Corps and about 350 women.

Known for their tough training, Marinesmounted amphibious assaults and, with the Navy, providedfliers for the Pacific theater. Women Marines were not sentoverseas but performed support jobs at bases in the UnitedStates.

KEEP 'EM FLYINGIS OUR BATTLE CBY!

FIRST CLASS FIGHTING MEN NEEDEDAVIATION CADETS , SOLDIERS Aggressive,Young Men, 18 to 26 Yearsoi Age Inclusive, fox air CrewTraining as Bombardiers,Navigators and Pilots.

Alert, Patriotic, Young Men,18 and 19 Years of Age, WhoWant to Fight for TheirCountry, Especially Desired.

WANT ACTIONp

U*S*Narine Corps/APPLY TO NEAREST RECRUITING STATION

APPLY TODAY AT ANY II. S. ARMY RECRUITING STATION

The Army Air Force did avariety of jobs and flewdifferent planes — transportand observation planes,bombers and fighters.

The U.S Marine Corps tookonly volunteers during WorldWar II, at least, in theory. Inpractice and particularly laterin the war, the USMCarranged to include some"selectees" in its ranks,though technically these menwere considered volunteers.

74

The U.S. NavyQueen City Heritage

While the greatest number of Cincinnatianswere drafted into the Army, the U.S. Navy received the next-largest number of servicemen from this area — about 11,000.The Navy worked in all theaters of the war, moving suppliesand troops, taking part in assaults, bombarding enemypositions on shore, sending planes from carriers to attackland and sea targets, guarding convoys, fighting enemywarships, and disrupting enemy shipping with submarines.

The Navy considered the region that includedOhio, Indiana, and Illinois one of its best sources ofpersonnel, most of whom received their initial training atfacilities on the Great Lakes.

Among the Cincinnatians who volunteeredfor service in the Navy were James Ferguson, an anti-aircraftgunner who served from Pearl Harbor until his ship wassunk in a 1944 campaign off the Philippines; RobertCunningham, a crewman on transports on landing craft; andJim Coomer, whose ship coordinated communicationsduring island assaults.

7HUU SUB

A number of GreaterCincinnatians serving in theCoast Guard during the warwere not called upon to helpwith assaults on enemy-heldbeaches or to hunt down U-boats, but that did not meantheir jobs were unimportant.These men on one of theUSCG's boats on the OhioRiver helped keep crucial rivertraffic moving safely andefficiently.

Spring 1991

Cincinnatians Go to War inWashington, D.C.

Cincinnati Goes to War: Serving Uncle Sam 75

As the United States prepared for war,thousands of Americans served their country in the growingnumber of federal agencies created to oversee and regulatemobilization. Theodore M. Berry and Charles Phelps TaftII were among the Cincinnatians who responded to thenational emergency by going to Washington, D.C.

Wartime called for new federal agencies anddepartments to organize war production and transportation,regulate supplies of materials and labor, provide housingand child care for war workers, oversee security andintelligence operations, and involve the government in more

areas of daily life than ever before. This new, larger federalbureaucracy drew thousands of men and women and womenfrom Cincinnati and across the country to Washington andto work in the regional offices of federal departments.

Some local businessmen became "dollar-a-year men," taking temporary federal posts for a $1 annualgovernment salary while receiving regular paychecks fromtheir peacetime employers. Other Cincinnatians broughtlegal or political experience to Washington to deal with newwartime concerns.

• \ , •> :••: V f •- '' ».

The new larger federalbureaucracy drew men andwomen from across thecountry to Washington, D.C.Cincinnatians accepted posi-tions in the numerous agen-cies created to organize warproduction, regulate suppliesof materials and labor, andoverseer security and intelli-gence operations. Theybrought their business, legal,

and political experience toWashington to deal withnew wartime concerns.


WAR DOGSK-9 SECTION • • • U.S. ARMY

KemarksServed as Sentry Dog U.S. Army

November 1942 — September 19hU

SUJtL 2993 THE QV.

In addition to the Cincinnatimen and women who wentinto the Army, several dozenfamily pets also served. In1942, the Phillip Finkelmeierfamily of Clifton donated theirdog, Brutus, to the Dogs forDefense organization. TheArmy trained Brutus forsentry work in the AleutianIslands.

Brutus was trained inCalifornia, and after theAleutians were retaken in1944, the Army shipped himback to the U.S. He arrivedhome unexpectedly and justin time to ride along as theFinkelmeiers picked up thechildren from Sunday School.Brutus enjoyed six more yearsof civilian life.

Spring 1991

VICTORY!: Joy, sadness, and 200tons of paper

Cincinnati Goes to War: Serving Uncle Sam 77

The Allies defeated the Axis powers in 1945.Germany surrendered on May 7, Japan on August 14.Euphoria swept over Cincinnati and the nation. War's deathand suffering had finally ended. Celebrants remembered theAmerican men and women who had died to win the peace,and some worried about the future.

Germany's surrender in May brought a crowdof teenagers and servicemen to Cincinnati's FountainSquare, singing and shouting; an evening celebrationincluded working adults.

But V-Day was V-E day — Victory in Europe.Japan had not surrendered.

The U.S. dropped two atomic bombs on Japanon August 6 and 9; President Harry S Truman announcedthe end of hostilities with that nation at 6:02 p.m., TuesdayAugust 14, 1945.

Peace — at last!A crowd of 15,000 gathered at Fountain

Square, blowing horns, singing, and shouting, under ashower of paper tossed from office windows above. Citycleaning crews collected an estimated 200 tons of paper thatnight.

Thousands attended services at churches andsynagogues. The Cincinnati Enquirer wrote, ". . . ourthoughts are not centered upon the exulting crowd . . . .Instead, they turn to the men who have nothing to say, themen who are asleep forever in the soil of a hundred far-offplaces, on Tarawa and Guadalcanal . . . in Normandy andTunisia, at Casino and Aachen . . . ."

Economic concerns for the post-war worldtroubled many Cincinnatians. Government contracts werecancelled. Could returning veterans find jobs? Would thisdearly-won peace bring better times that would last?

• '•^BPf 1̂ t .""" "' —• .^WE—i— _ _ Z ^ * » " ~ V

I |91i |j|i \

•"^•^•8882\m

•

• m


The Allied and Axis forcessuffered 17 million deaths;United States forces recorded407,000 casualties, and some2,300 of these men andwomen came from HamiltonCounty. Greater Cincinnati'smemorials did notcommemorate the battles, buthonored the husbands andfathers, sons and daughterswho had served their country.

World War II memorialsgenerally rejected heroic orromantic themes. Instead,communities and institutionsrecorded the names of "theirown" who were in themilitary.

80

The Cincinnati Historical Society is pleased to recognizethe following individuals, firms, and institutions thatworked together to create the exhibit:

The Cincinnati Historical Society expressesits thanks and appreciation to the following individuals,firms, and institutions that contributed to the exhibit:

Principal Staff

Ruby RogersCoordinator

Geoffrey J. GiglieranoHistorian

Deborah A. OvermyerHistorian

David C. ConzettCurator

Jack ScallyPhotographer

Robert E. MillerAdjunct Historian

Adjunct Staff

Peter J. BahraLinda J. BaileyLaura L. ChaceJim CoomerBarbara J. DawsonJonathan DemboCharlotte FlanaganScott L. GampferCourtney HessBronwen M. HowellsJudy HutchinsonJerry RaisorSusan Redman-RengstorfKaren ReginaSylvia W. ReidGregory L. RhodesJeff B. SheppardDaniel L. Wolverton

Advisors

Roger Daniels, History Department, University of CincinnatiAllan M. Winkler, History Department, Miami University

Design Craftsmen, Inc., Midland, Michigan, designed, fabricatedand installed the exhibit

The following provided photographs:

Frederick M. BauerThe Cincinnati Area Chapter, American Red CrossThe Cincinnati EnquirerThe Cincinnati Historical Society, Photographs DepartmentThe Cincinnati Historical Society, Manuscripts DepartmentThe Cincinnati PostEdwin B. Dooley, Jr.The National Archives and Records AdministrationThe Procter & Gamble CompanyThe Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton CountyUnited States Air ForceUnited States ArmyUnited States Coast GuardUnited States Marine CorpsUnited States Navy

Oral IntervieweesFrancis L. AppleFerd R. AvrilTheodore M. BerryRuth D. BoenkeJoan K. BollenbacherRosemary E. BurkeDorothy L. ChatmanJim CoomerJoyce A. CraigWilliam H. CraigJohn F. CroninRobert E. CunninghamRobert DoepkeBrent R. FinchPhilip R. FinkelmeierIrma A. FreyTheodore H. GardnerRichard E. GuggenheimThomas C. GriffinGene IglauerWilbur D. JonesSachiko KariyaTakashi KariyaArthur G. KingJohn H. LeahrHerman A. LippsPatrick LovingM. Eileen LutzFred MoriokaRobert NelsenWilliam L. NimmoJulie NortonBenny T. OkuraJo OkuraHerbert PastorCharles A. PiersonRobert SchletkerOscar SchmidtDorothy SchottsS. Arthur SpiegelBobbie SterneJames M. TakeuchiW. Arthur TheobaldFrances TojoMasagi S. TokiErnest Van LloydSamuel B. WardSidney WeilRobert F. WhiteheadBarron E. WilsonCharles WoleverMary Wolever

ContributorsBauman CommunicationsEric BevinsCharles BondRichard CampCarlisle & Finch Co.Cincinnati Air Conditioning Co.Cincinnati Chapter, Japanese

American Citizens' LeagueCincinnati Park BoardCincinnati Time Corp.Coca-Cola Bottling Group, Inc.,Confederate Air Force MuseumEdwin P. Dooley, Jr.82nd Airborne Museum, Ft. BraggDover/OPW Corp.Hillshire Farm & Kahn's Co.Alan E. HoewelerDan JanquittoMark MagistrelliWilliam MyersNational Scouting MuseumOrion 7 Firearms Co.Osborne CoinageWilliam Powell Co.Martha P. Rowe

Betty Ann SmiddyJohn SteinleE.A. StengerJohn J. and Joan StraderTokheim Pump Co.Truck Cab ManufacturersUnited States Air Force MuseumUnited States Army Center of

Military HistoryU.S. Playing Card Co.U.S. Shoe Co.Robert F. WhiteheadThe Charles Wolever familyWooden Nickel AntiquesWVXUGibson R. YungblutMark Yungblut

Aeronca RestorationAeronca, Inc.Air Mod., Inc.Ed and Bernadine AlderferBud BaldwinWally BaldwinErnie BucklesCrown Metro Aerospace Coatings, Inc.Dayton Plastics Co.Bill DeatonJames ElizerCatherine DiDanatoPhillip EckhartJames ElizierCarl FryFry SteelLouis GastonEmmett GrainierHartzell PropellersRon HollenHelen HollenbaughRobert HollenbaughJohn HouserHarry HuttonPaul KurtzCharles MorganDavid MorganCasimer PorowskiHarry PrattDavid PikeCub and Kathy StewartStits Aircraft CoatingsRay StitsErnie StreifthauChester TrentWaynesville AirportWeber ManufacturingRichard E. WeberHoward WellsWilliams Co.Kathy WilsonDennis WolterExperimental Aircraft Assn.,

Southwest Ohio Chapter

Machine Tool RestorationRudy Schneider, coordinatorGeorge AllendorfArthur BaumannCincinnati MilacronJames GeierCharles Weisbrod

Streetcar RestorationJohn C. Niehaus, coordinatorBesl Transfer Co.Cincinnati Transit Historical Assn.Gary SkoraSouthwest Ohio Regional

Transportation Authority

Cincinnati Goes to War - cincymuseum.org

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Transcript of Cincinnati Goes to War - cincymuseum.org