WW2 Confidential 1942 Darby Corp Official Photograph of LCT Mk4 #287 Engine

Description: A rare confidential photo by the Darby Corporation showing a Gray Marine Diesel engine of the LTC-5 (Mark 4). Interesting to note that they call it an LTC, not a LCT as is usually seen. Definitely identified as LCT 287 and the production records I found online start at 288 so this is an update to the known pennant numbers for the production. This is likely the only known photo of it's time, given the fact that it was confidential and this is in September of 42. The first LCT was not delivered to Britain until September of that year, so this is also likely one of the first if not the first craft that they built. I have several others of these from Darby so be sure to look at my other listings. The caption reads: CONFIDENTIALOFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHNot to be released for publicationPhoto No 14447-N. Taken 9-28-42Barge LTC-5 View Looking Down on Engine 287DARBY CORPORATIONPhoto by Tyner Murphy Kanas City, Mo. "The Darby Corporation built and launched an ocean-going vessel a day for the U.S. Navy during World War II. Two thousand ships were built and went down the ways at the confluence of the Missouri and Kaw Rivers, and made the 1,000-mile trip to the Gulf of Mexico, where they were sent in convoys to points all over the world. After the war Harry Darby told the story of a crisis early in January 1944. It is recounted in City of The Future by Haskell and Fowler. Sixty barges built in Greater Kansas City and Leavenworth were tied up at Darby's docks by low water. Navy officials in Washington were frantic at the delay. The admirals looked at the map, saw Ft. Peck dam far up the river in Montana and ordered the water released. The water soaked along its way to K.C. but when it finally arrived the net effect on the river was 1 inch. The screams were heard all the way from Washington. Then came the grotesque order to put the big ocean-going ships on wheels. The L.C.T.s were wider than the highway, but wheels were provided. On second thought it occurred to local naval officers that they couldn't get through the bridge structures (because the barges were wider than the bridges). To that the high command responded with the order to cut off the bridge structures, tear out bridges and build temporary replacements, if necessary. Anything! Move the barges. Somebody was in a whale of a rush over something. As former highway commissioner of Kansas, Darby couldn't help thinking of the wreckage on Missouri's fine highway. But there was no time to brood. The Navy made its plan to destroy the bridges. Just one day before the demolition was to start, clouds rolled out of the west and the rains came. The river rose 4 feet almost overnight. Wheels were jerked away and the barges slid into the water. The following June 6 the reason for the frantic orders became clear. Over early morning radios came the news that it was D-Day. Midwestern barges were hitting the beaches of Normandy. Such was the intimate participation of Kansas City's home front in World War II. Three times during the war the Darby Corporation and the men and women employees were awarded the E flag of three stars, the highest award given by the Army and Navy for war production effort. Kansas City Times, July 13, 1974." "In 1938, Harry Darby Jr. purchased the failing Kaw Steel Construction Company from his father and organized the Darby Corporation, which would grow to become one of the largest steel plate manufacturers in the nation. During World War II, Darby operated the biggest shipyard in the region, at the junction of the Kaw and the Missouri rivers, in Kansas City KS. At one stage during the war, LCMs were being launched into the Kaw River at the rate of one a day. The company eventually built 62 LCTs and over 1,300 LCMs, which were sent downriver to New Orleans for shipment overseas. Darby was also a major wartime producer of locomotives and 1,000-pound bombs. After the war, Harry Darby became a U.S. Senator from Kansas and the Darby Corporation continued to produce steel products, including railroad equipment and water towers. It closed in 1989." Photo itself measures 8 x 10Photo with backing measures 8 x 11 J04172021Weight 1 oz

Price: 54.95 USD

Location: Alexandria, Kentucky

End Time: 2024-12-23T21:21:17.000Z

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