FORT LEE, Va. - The U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum officially opened a new ordnance exhibit titled 'Subject to Recall: Collecting Intelligence' with a ribbon cutting ceremony June 17.
The exhibit highlights captured enemy materiel that helped the United States military develop advance weaponry, according to Claire Samuelson, Ordnance Museum director. Captured vehicles and weapons were tagged "subject to recall for intelligence exploitation" and stored in warehouses, where they could be placed back into action, if needed.
The educational display will allow visitors an opportunity to view rare ordnance artifacts from World War II and the Vietnam era. This, along with the quartermaster displays, will help educate both Soldiers and the local community on the history of the U.S. Army.
"The main mission of Army museums is to train Soldiers on the importance of history and heritage through exhibits, education, outreach, and public programs," said Brig. Gen. John E. O'Neil IV, Quartermaster General and commandant of the Quartermaster School. "This exhibit will help in achieving the museum's mission, not only for ordnance and quartermaster Soldiers, but for all visitors to Fort Lee and the local communities."
The items were captured and shipped to Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Md., throughout the wars for extensive testing. The focus of the testing was to determine their weaknesses and provide technology that could assist in developing better equipment for allied militaries.
Some of the artifacts on display include a Nebelwerfer 41 "Screaming Meemie" rocket launcher, one of the first operational rocket launchers used in World War II; a 7.5 cm Leichtgeschutz (L.G.) 40 recoilless launcher, the first developed, and effectively used, "recoilless" concept; and the Schwimmwagen, a small amphibious vehicle, more like a boat than an automobile.
"This gallery certainly gives the Ordnance Corps a venue to showcase our artifacts which are so important to our profession and the training of our Soldiers," said Col. John F. Haley, Chief of Ordnance and commandant of the Ordnance School. "But above and beyond even that, it showcases the camaraderie that exists between the functional branches encompassed by our consolidated Logistics Corps."
This display was made possible through a partnership between the Quartermaster and Ordnance schools to showcase key ordnance artifacts from its extensive collection. The exhibit will be on display for the next year.
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