Hi all, I took these just outside of the south gate at West Point last December. It is in front of the West Point Museum, which is now off post. There wasn't any information available about this particular tank but it looks brand new, at least on the outside. Scene looks like it could be in a village in Normandy today. Dave
With a little googling - General Abrams's personal vehicle, or at least the paintjob if not that specific tank. tanks AFV NEWS – Military Armoured Vehicles & Warfare Army Life M4 Medium tank | Allied Archives | » AFV Forum You can get a kit of her: Dragon M4A3E8 Sherman "Thunderbolt VII" Interesting additional armour on those shots. (Might be an earlier 'thunderbolt' - not read the whole thread.)
Some colour film of the original. Lt. Col. Creighton Abrams' 4th Armored Division M4A3E8 Sherman Medium Tank, "Thunderbolt VII," during World War II.
Congrats both! Looking pretty, I bet it gets better care that the ones in the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, which I undestand only stand by the tickness of the paint coat.
Hi all, I took these just outside of the south gate at West Point last December. It is in front of the West Point Museum, which is now off post. There wasn't any information available about this particular tank but it looks brand new, at least on the outside. Scene looks like it could be in a village in Normandy today. Dave Hello all, I grew up in Harper Woods Michigan. The tank at Abrams gate was reclaimed from memorial (Johnson) park in Harper Woods in 1991 for restoration. I am 48 and remember climbing all over this tank (circa 1970-1982). It was tradition for the High School graduating class to paint the tank at night with their year. I don't know if it is truly Abrams last tank? Still trying to research. If the tank could talk? It would have many stories including many kids cracking their heads on it and lots of partying on it. It had to have 100 coats of paint on it when the government reclaimed it.If you google "harper woods high school alumni" there is a brief mention of it. I would have to think there are 1000's of pics of it in residents of Harper Woods photo albums.
Hi FW, Welcome to the forum. Great story. Do you have any pictures of it in the park? I'll bet there are some in the yearbooks over the years. Re your research. The services now maintain records of all the equipment they have on 'loan' for display at parks, VFW halls, ball fields, etc. around the country. Every year or two they send a non fast tracked leiutenant or captain out to make sure that they are painted, hatches are welded shut and the important 'Keep off' signs are posted so the little treasures don't skin a knee. Local VFW might be able to provide a government contact to point you to the right direction. I doubt that they had this policy in the fifites and sixties but they might have at least kept records. Dave
I'm sure that between myself and 2 brothers that there is a yearbook pic. I will have to look thru mine. I had be meaning to find out where the tank went? And finally started a little i-net research. I'm suprised that there is not more info. I know of 2 others at VFW's. Armada MI and St Helens MI. Funny that the sign in front of the one in St Helens used to say SHURMAN TANK. So I remember asking my dad to take us to "tank park" as a little kid. I was born in 64, so this musta been circa 69-72ish. Then of course it ws there all through high school years. Have not been back in that neighborhood since 1995.
I remember in the Harper Woods secondary schools all the agreed upon after class fights were at the tank. "Of course"...No one wanted to fight at the eternal flame..So "I'll meet you at the tank" was a phrase everyone in the junior or high school understood from 7th grade on.. I thought of the tank when watching a YouTube video about multiple paint layers on different objects...As another ex Harper Woodser commented, the tradition of painting the tank (at least yearly) brought it to mind at once. Not to mention the fact that most of the paint jobs were thick and dripping..That tank had a ton of old paint on it...I do not know when it was placed in its dirt ring at the park but I can remember it being there in the very early 60s. I think most locals who grew-up in those days felt a bit sad when finding out it was gone, as though a touchstone of their childhood had been removed...I did..I'm glad it went to a place it will be cared for. I also pity the folks who had to clean out the inside. At least one of the openings on the commanders hatch was left unblocked. Over the years all kinds of garbage found its way in there..I don't know if you have spent much time in Windsor Ontario..They pulled a whole WWII RAF bomber ( I do not remember the make.) out of their memorial park post 1996. I would be interested to know where that went if anyone knows...Peace.
See.. Lancaster bomber project still four years away from completion | CBC News Lancaster project is 'ahead of schedule' after 14 years | Windsor Star Google "windor ontario lancaster bomber" Quite a bit out there about it.
