Red Ruffensore
04-17-2004, 08:35 PM
Just got back from the AAF Tank Museum in Danville, VA. They had a lecture and display by Mr. Phillip Eckman on "The Bicycle Goes To war" today. Chris Wilson (Donovan) came up with his pal Taylor and they spent a good deal of time with Bill Glasser, the owner of the museum. I had my kids, so had to leave way earlier than I would have liked to. Chris got some good shots of the Panzer PF, Bill even open the dooirs and let him take some inside shots.
But I took some shots of a vehicle that was used extensively in both World Wars and by the NVA in Vietnam too. Being a cyclist, I spent a full third of my time talking to Mr. Eckman and tellin' army lies (er stories)! :lol:
Anyhow, hope you treadies enjoy this little side piece; it ain't armor, it ain't figure, and it ain't aircraft. but it's importance has been fairly undocumented in the annals of war.
http://www.mindspring.com/~cazmodel/posters.jpg
1896 Peugeot: one of the first bicycles used by the military, this bike was invisioned by the French as sort of a rolling calvary. The seat was mounted directly over the rear wheel so that a soldier could dismount and have both feet on the ground in a shooting position. Needless to say, the slaughter by machine guns in the first World War put this concept to rest.
http://www.mindspring.com/~cazmodel/1896peugeot.jpg
1900 and 1904 Colombia: Colombia was the premier bike manufactorer at the turn of the century in the US. These two were used by US Army messengers.
http://www.mindspring.com/~cazmodel/1900colombia.jpg
http://www.mindspring.com/~cazmodel/1904colombia.jpg
1914 Peugeot: Used by the French as messengers and scouts during the Great War.
http://www.mindspring.com/~cazmodel/1914peugeot.jpg
1942 Arnold Schwinn: used by general staff messengers to carry documents to other staff officers.
http://www.mindspring.com/~cazmodel/1942arnoldschwinn.jpg
1942 Colombia: used by US forces in England for messenger service.
http://www.mindspring.com/~cazmodel/1942colombia.jpg
1944 Colombia Folding Bike: Offered to Paratroopers and Marines, the Marines were the only outfit to use them (in the Pacific Theater). The bikes had folding handlebars and frames so that a grunt could carry it on their backs for landings and portage.
http://www.mindspring.com/~cazmodel/1944foldingbike.jpg
1944 Schwinn Navy Transport Bike: used on ships and on shore to transport small items and messages.
http://www.mindspring.com/~cazmodel/1944navyporter.jpg
1968 NVA transport bike (maker unknown): Used by the NVA, these bikes would sometimes be loaded with trailers of ammo for NVA troops. Charlie had to have some powerful legs to pull the 100 + pounds these bikes were used to pull.
http://www.mindspring.com/~cazmodel/nvatransport.jpg
Red
But I took some shots of a vehicle that was used extensively in both World Wars and by the NVA in Vietnam too. Being a cyclist, I spent a full third of my time talking to Mr. Eckman and tellin' army lies (er stories)! :lol:
Anyhow, hope you treadies enjoy this little side piece; it ain't armor, it ain't figure, and it ain't aircraft. but it's importance has been fairly undocumented in the annals of war.
http://www.mindspring.com/~cazmodel/posters.jpg
1896 Peugeot: one of the first bicycles used by the military, this bike was invisioned by the French as sort of a rolling calvary. The seat was mounted directly over the rear wheel so that a soldier could dismount and have both feet on the ground in a shooting position. Needless to say, the slaughter by machine guns in the first World War put this concept to rest.
http://www.mindspring.com/~cazmodel/1896peugeot.jpg
1900 and 1904 Colombia: Colombia was the premier bike manufactorer at the turn of the century in the US. These two were used by US Army messengers.
http://www.mindspring.com/~cazmodel/1900colombia.jpg
http://www.mindspring.com/~cazmodel/1904colombia.jpg
1914 Peugeot: Used by the French as messengers and scouts during the Great War.
http://www.mindspring.com/~cazmodel/1914peugeot.jpg
1942 Arnold Schwinn: used by general staff messengers to carry documents to other staff officers.
http://www.mindspring.com/~cazmodel/1942arnoldschwinn.jpg
1942 Colombia: used by US forces in England for messenger service.
http://www.mindspring.com/~cazmodel/1942colombia.jpg
1944 Colombia Folding Bike: Offered to Paratroopers and Marines, the Marines were the only outfit to use them (in the Pacific Theater). The bikes had folding handlebars and frames so that a grunt could carry it on their backs for landings and portage.
http://www.mindspring.com/~cazmodel/1944foldingbike.jpg
1944 Schwinn Navy Transport Bike: used on ships and on shore to transport small items and messages.
http://www.mindspring.com/~cazmodel/1944navyporter.jpg
1968 NVA transport bike (maker unknown): Used by the NVA, these bikes would sometimes be loaded with trailers of ammo for NVA troops. Charlie had to have some powerful legs to pull the 100 + pounds these bikes were used to pull.
http://www.mindspring.com/~cazmodel/nvatransport.jpg
Red