Military

Frank Brownell's Medal of Honor

The Museum's superb military collections document the history of the men and women of the armed forces of the United States. The collections include ordnance, firearms, and swords; uniforms and insignia; national and military flags and banners; and many other objects.

The strength of the collections lies in their enormous depth. Some 3,000 military small arms and 2,400 civilian firearms document the mechanical and technological history of the infantryman's weapons from the beginning of the gunpowder era to the present. Among the 4,000 swords and knives in the collection are many spectacular presentation pieces. The collections also include Civil War era telegraph equipment, home front artifacts from both world wars, early computers such as ENIAC, Whirlwind, and Sage, and materials carried at antiwar demonstrations.

Date: 1930s

Normandy Invasion (A)

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1944-06-06
maker
Capa, Robert
ID Number
PG.007451
accession number
255885
catalog number
7451

Women Guide National Policy

A poster sponsored by the League of Women Voters supporting women working for social welfare.Currently not on view
Description
A poster sponsored by the League of Women Voters supporting women working for social welfare.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
League of Women Voters
ID Number
PL.294057.56

Normandy Invasion (H)

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1944-06-06
maker
Capa, Robert
ID Number
PG.007449
accession number
255885
catalog number
7449

Normandy Invasion (D)

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1944-06-06
maker
Capa, Robert
ID Number
PG.007452
accession number
255885
catalog number
7452

S/42 P08 Luger Semiautomatic Pistol

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1937
maker
Mauser
ID Number
AF.59451M
catalog number
59451M
accession number
214893

Order to Report Pre-Induction Physical Examination

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1945 01 13
ID Number
AF.79532M
catalog number
79532M
accession number
318025

"Defend Your Country, Enlist Now in the United States Army" Poster

Physical DescriptionFour-color print on paper.Specific HistoryA proliferation of colorful recruiting posters emerged in World War II, with the army targeting particular occupational specialties like infantry, Women's Army Corps, Signal Corps, Army Nurse Corps, and the U.S.
Description
Physical Description
Four-color print on paper.
Specific History
A proliferation of colorful recruiting posters emerged in World War II, with the army targeting particular occupational specialties like infantry, Women's Army Corps, Signal Corps, Army Nurse Corps, and the U.S. Army Air Forces. As in World War I, Congress found it necessary to instate the draft, as posters and other incentives were not enough to entice enlistees.
The use of the Uncle Sam image by James Montgomery Flagg created a strong and appealing poster soliciting recruits for the army. This poster was later used on highway billboards and in edited form was the first poster on an express truck for Railway Express.
General History
The Division of Military History and Diplomacy collection has been collecting recruiting posters for more than fifty years. Recruiting as an activity of the military is important to the understanding of who serves in uniform, during both warand peac, and the visual materials used to market military service.
Posters during World War II were designed to instill in people a positive outlook, a sense of patriotism, and confidence. They linked the war in trenches with the war at home. From a practical point, they were used to encourage all Americans to help with the war effort. The posters called on every man, woman, and child to endure the personal sacrifice and domestic adjustments to further the national agenda. They encouraged rationing, conservation, and sacrifice. In addition, the posters were used for recruitment, productivity, and motivation as well as for financing the war effort. The stark, colorful graphic designs elicited strong emotions. The posters played to the fears, frustrations, and faith in freedoms that lingered in people's minds during the war.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1940
associated date
1941 - 1945
ID Number
AF.70505M
catalog number
70505M
accession number
276931

Clark Gable's Uniform Coat and Cap

Physical DescriptionDark olive-drab cap with gold-colored cord piping. Light olive-drab officer's coat, single-breasted with four buttons, belted. Captain's insignia on shoulders; United States and air corps insignia sewn on collar and lapel.
Description
Physical Description
Dark olive-drab cap with gold-colored cord piping. Light olive-drab officer's coat, single-breasted with four buttons, belted. Captain's insignia on shoulders; United States and air corps insignia sewn on collar and lapel. Insignia of Eighth Air Force on left arm. The coat's label is marked in black ink, "E. ABINGTON & SONS/RUSHDEN & KIMBOLT/Capt. Clark Gable."
Specific History
The coat and cap were worn by actor Clark Gable.
General History
Clark Gable enlisted in California on August 12, 1942. He told the news media: "There is a war to win, and I consider it my right to fight." On October 27, 1942, Gable was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army Air Forces. He was issued serial number 056-5390 and transferred to Tyndall Field in Florida.
associated date
1941 - 1945
enlistment date
1942-08-12
user
Gable, Clark
maker
E. Abington & Sons
ID Number
AF.79691M
catalog number
79691M
accession number
321728

German vehicle identification flag

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1941 - 1945
ID Number
AF.84319M
accession number
1978.0398
catalog number
1978.0398.01
84319M

MP34 Submachinegun

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1938
ID Number
AF.59747M
catalog number
59747M
accession number
219700
serial number
13001

Brevette Bergmann Schmeisser MP-28/II Submachinegun

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930
ID Number
AF.69461M
catalog number
69461M
accession number
267516
serial number
1186

MAS-38 Submachinegun

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1939
associated date
1943
ID Number
AF.65470M
catalog number
65470M
accession number
227249
serial number
F22986

Moschetto Aut-Beretta Model 1938A-Patent Submachinegun

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1938
maker
Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta
ID Number
AF.68835M
catalog number
68835M
accession number
258560
serial number
8664A

Carl Gustaf Stads Swedish Model Kg m/21-37 Browning Automatic Rifle

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1937
ca 1930
associated date
1938
licensee
Browning, John M.
ID Number
AF.67304M
catalog number
67304M
accession number
241585
serial number
6838

United States M1 Rifle

Physical DescriptionUnited States M1 .30-caliber rifle.Specific HistoryJohn Garand was a civil service employee.
Description
Physical Description
United States M1 .30-caliber rifle.
Specific History
John Garand was a civil service employee. As the chief civilian engineer at the Springfield Armory in Massachusetts, he invented a semiautomatic .30-caliber rifle known as the M1 or the "Garand." His work on this rifle let the United States enter into World War II as the only country with a semiautomatic rifle as standard issue for its troops. Garand received no monetary award other than his modest civil service salary for the M-1 or his numerous other technical innovations related to weapons. A bill was introduced in Congress to grant him $100,000, but it did not pass. However, in 1941 he was awarded a Medal for Meritorious Service. In 1944 he received a U.S. Government Medal for Merit.
General History
The United States M1 Rifle, .30 caliber, is better known as the M1 Garand. This rifle made General George Patton state, "In my opinion, the M1 rifle is the greatest battle implement ever devised."
licensee
Garand, J. C.
maker
Springfield Armory
ID Number
AF.84450M
catalog number
84450M
accession number
1978.0623

Model 1943

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
used date
1943
associated date
1941 - 1945
associated
Rubin, Edward
associated institution
U.S. Army
ID Number
AF.79488M
catalog number
79488M
320748.111
accession number
320748

Model 1943

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
used date
1943 -
associated date
1941 - 1945
associated
Rubin, Edward
associated institution
U.S. Army
maker
Universal Sports Wear Mfg. Co.
ID Number
AF.79486M
catalog number
320748.109
accession number
320748
catalog number
79486M
designer number
PQD 370E

Order to Report for Induction

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1945 02 05
ID Number
AF.79534M
catalog number
79534M
accession number
318025

Model M3

maker
General Motors Corporation. Guide Lamp Division
ID Number
AF.81249M
catalog number
081249M
accession number
1977.0371
serial number
303287

Springfield Armory M1 Garand Rifle

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1943
licensee
Garand, John C.
maker
Springfield Armory
ID Number
AF.84453M
catalog number
84453M
accession number
1978.0623
serial number
2846864

Cap, Overseas

associated date
1941 - 1955
user
Gable, Clark
ID Number
AF.79705M
catalog number
79705M
accession number
321728

Certificate of Fitness

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1945 01 22
ID Number
AF.79533M
catalog number
79533M
accession number
318025

Daisy Pop Gun

Physical DescriptionWooden toy gun.General HistoryWorld War II brought hard times for Daisy, as it did for many other United States companies. With steel no longer available for domestic use, Daisy was forced to make wooden pop guns.
Description
Physical Description
Wooden toy gun.
General History
World War II brought hard times for Daisy, as it did for many other United States companies. With steel no longer available for domestic use, Daisy was forced to make wooden pop guns. The steel that had made the BB gun was now used by Daisy to make 37-mm canisters for the war effort.
maker
Daisy Manufacturing Company, Inc.
ID Number
AF.84663M
catalog number
84663M
accession number
1978.1028
catalog number
1978.1028.18

Japanese Arisaka Rifle with Bayonet

Physical DescriptionJapanese Arisaka Type 38 rifle, 6.5 mm with forged-steel bayonet; partially eradicated chrysanthemum stamp on receiver.General HistoryThe Japanese Arisaka Type 38 rifles were all turn bolt-operated, with five-round non-detachable staggered row box magazines.
Description
Physical Description
Japanese Arisaka Type 38 rifle, 6.5 mm with forged-steel bayonet; partially eradicated chrysanthemum stamp on receiver.
General History
The Japanese Arisaka Type 38 rifles were all turn bolt-operated, with five-round non-detachable staggered row box magazines. They were loaded with five-round stripper clips, a flat metal piece holding a five-round stack, which was inserted at the top of the magazine, the rounds thumbed down into position, and the metal piece sent flying when the bolt was closed. This rifle was named for Colonel Nariakira Arisaka. During the 1890s he headed a commission charged with developing a new rifle to replace earlier models such as the Murata. The Arisaka rifles were designated with the year of the current emperor's reign. Thus, the Type 38 rifle was designed in the thirty-eighth year of the reign of Emperor Meiji which would have been 1905. The rifle was stamped on the receiver with a sixteen-petal chrysanthemum, the symbol of the Japanese emperor. The chrysanthemum stamp showed the rifle was manufactured for the Imperial Japanese Army and therefore belonged to the emperor. As a face-saving gesture, Japanese soldiers who surrendered after the war made an attempt to grind the symbol off their rifles.
licensee
Arisaka, Nariakira
ID Number
AF.59478M
catalog number
59478M
accession number
214893

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