Pennsylvania in World War II
Pennsylvania held an important role in supporting the US during World War II, contributing both soldiers and materials. Pennsylvania is known as being an industrial powerhouse contributing to war effort.
Wartime Industries and Statistics
During World War II, Pennsylvania was an industrial powerhouse, and its contributions played a key role in the outcome of the war. The state produced 31 percent of the nation's steel, making 20 percent of the world's production. In fact, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania contained many of the state's steel mills, which influenced the popular football team name, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
These mills produced $19.3 billion worth of munitions, including more than 52 million shells, 1.7 million bombs, 2.3 million pounds of explosive chemicals and 245,000 small parachutes for flares and bombs. These factories were called the "boom-boom works" by the public, due to accidental explosions.
Bethlehem Steel Production in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania remained operational until 1995 and was the second largest steel producer in PA, after Pittsburgh.
In the small borough town of Berwick, Pennsylvania, 15,000 Stuart Tanks were manufactured, which established the small town on Hitler's potential bombing list. More than 9,000 people moved from Northeastern PA to work on these tanks in the American Car and Foundry Plant. In addition, Pennsylvania was also the nation's largest supplier of Portland cement and produced the highest quality lubricating oil and 100-octane gasoline, used for modern aircraft engines.
Many descendants of Quakers and German pietist settlers looked to maintain their pacifist nature, so they turned to alternative services to avoid military service. As a result, large scale agricultural production rose in Pennsylvania during World War II, as well as "victory gardens"- personal gardens aimed at alleviating food shortages.
Military Installations
During World War II, the US Army Air Force created many wartime airfields in Pennsylvania in order to train pilots and aircrews. The most instrumental examples are the 431st Army Air Force Base in Philadelphia and the 390th Army Air Force Base in Reading. A vast majority of these Army Air Force bases have been converted into current regional airports.
Other military institutions focused on distributive needs. The Philadelphia Navy Yard and the New Cumberland Army Forces Depot served to supply the needs of a growing military. Similarly, Letterkenny Ordinance Depot along with other military installations contributed to research and creation of new, more advanced weaponry.
Dauphin County map- labeled is Wiconisco, Pennsylvania, William Rolling's hometown.
Recruitment Centers
An estimated 1.25 million Pennsylvanians served in the military during WWII, with 33,000 casualties. The state contributed many famous figures, including Henry "Hap" Arnold, who commanded the Army Air Corps and George C. Marshall, Chief of Staff of the Army. In addition, Pennsylvania's National Guard, the 28th Infantry Division, saw action in Normandy in July of 1944, and became the first American division to enter Germany in September of 1944.
Pennsylvania's National Guard, the 28th Infantry Division, marches in front of the Champs Elysee in Paris, France on August 29, 1944.
Recruitment centers were opened all around Pennsylvania. William Rollings was a resident of Dauphin County, and he was one of many to attend a popular recruitment facility in Harrisburg, which provided transportation to New Cumberland Army Depot. Many men from Wiconisco traveled to further recruitment centers, including Joseph Maletich who registered at an Army Recruiting Center at Chester Post Office in Delaware County. The most popular naval recruiting centers were in Pittsburgh, PA, where men would travel and line the streets to enlist. The most popular recruitment centers were stationed in major cities.
Rows of men waited in line to enlist into the Navy at a recruitment center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
One of the most well-known military installations near Dauphin County, the home of William Rollings, was Fort Indiantown Gap. Originally founded by Native Americans, the name referred to the gap between the Blue Mountains used as a shortcut. It was used prior to World War II for military training when the National Guard outgrew the training facility at Mount Gretna. On September 30, 1940, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania leased out the training facility (for $1) to the US Army in preparation for the foreseen war. Today, this facility is used as a headquarters for the Pennsylvania National Guard and houses the Muir Army Airfield, Eastern Army Aviation Training Site, and many other aviation and tactical training centers.
Overhead map of Fort Indiantown Gap in Lebanon County during its expansion project just before World War II.
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