US ARMY BICYCLES IN USE DURING WW2

 

'Hawaiian Patrol'

 

 

US Army Signal Corps Photo via Jerry Cleveland

 
 

Members of the Intelligence Platoon, HQ Company, 34th Infantry Regiment on patrol in Hawaii. Rifles are carried in leather scabbards on the front forks.

Note the Willys MA Jeep in the background

 

 

 '82nd AB Division in Fort Bragg'

 

Private Image via Dave Thomas 

 

PFC Aaron of the 82nd AB Division Military Police Company rides a Columbia in Fort Bragg, ca 1942.
Note the sign on the frame which indicates the bicycle belongs
to the 82nd HQ Company

 

 

 

'Two Army Air Forces Sergeants'

 

 

 US Army Signal Corps Photo via Nelson Dionne Jr

 

Two Sergeants of the Army Air Forces

Note the pointed 'Elgin Style' handlebar grips and tool bag attached to the saddle.

 

 

 

 

'Women's Army Corps'

 

 Image from a Private Collection

 

 

A Pfc of the Women's Army Corps (WAC) on a bike somewhere in the USA during WW2.

The bicycle is the standard Westfield-Columbia Women's model.
The Persons toolbag has been strapped to the handlebars along with a length of chain and a padlock.

The top cover of the Delta Winner headlight is missing and the rear fender carries a marking 'AUTO TEST CO' most probably painted in blue-drab color.

The uniform worn is the standard Women's Wool Service uniform. The insignia sewn to the left shoulder is that of the 'Army Service Forces

 

 Entertaining Children in Wartime Britain

 

 

Still from "Color of War", Crlton DVD

 

 A GI takes two British kids for a ride at a US Camp in Britain in early 1944. A sign identifying the unit is mounted between the upper frame tubes

 

 

 

 

'A great way to conserve Gasoline'

 

 

US Army Signal Corps Photo via Jerry Cleveland

 

 

This Lieutenant uses an early Columbia (Note the curved front tube on the frame) to ride around Fort McPherson, Georgia, thus lowering gasoline consumption to zero!!

 

 

 

 

'A day out in England'

 

  

Picture from an unknown source via Pierre Verbreyt

  

Behind this American Serviceman in England during WW2, two US Army bicycles can be seen. Note the headlight on the right is held together with a wire string or an elastic band, indicating the loss of the thumbscrew which keeps bottom and top of the light together.

The fender of the bike on the right has its tip painted white for more visibility in the British Black-Out

 

 

 

 

'Getting back in shape'

 

 

US Army Signal Corps Photo via Gerald Mlynek

 

 

Two wounded war veterans from the US Army's Welch Convalescent Hospital are riding Army bicycles as part of their therapy on Florida's Daytona Beach

Both bikes appear to be Huffman models, evidenced by the chain guards

 

 

 

 

 

'The 9th Air Force in France'

 

 

 

 

US Army Signal Corps Photo

 

A USAAF Mechanic is working on a P61 'Black Widow' Night Fighter of the 425th Night Fighter Squadron stationed at Vannes, France in October 1944. He left his bicycle on the ground underneath the wing. The close-up below clearly shows it is a standard Men's bicycle. The chain guard seems to be missing 

 

  

 

'Motorpool Mechanics'

 

 

 

Photos from the Webmaster's Collection

 

These mechanics of HQ/796th Military Police Battalion pose for pictures on two Columbia MG bicycles somewhere in the ETO in 1944-1945.
Note how on one bike the light is missing and on the other there's only one screw left holding the light to the fender

 

 

 

'Riding out'

 

Photo from the Webmaster's Collection

Two GIs take their bikes for a ride in occupied Germany at the end of the war in 1945. Looking at the Gothic style front fenders, both bicycles appear to be Columbia models