A very rare collection of World War II Army Airborne equipment and implements have recently been put on display at Heartland Acres in Independence, Iowa. Thanks to the commitment and passion of collector Ken Cerra from Florida, Heartland Acres now has on display the most complete and accurately restored collections of World War II Army Airborne equipment in the world. The collection is one of two known to exist with the other collection in Europe.
The collection includes multi-purpose built military versions of commercial equipment including a: Clark Dozer, La Plant Choate Pan Scrapper, Military Grader, Case VAI-W Tug and Case SI tractor with a very rare Hough Loader. The equipment was restored over the last 6 – 8 years and was on display in several museums across the Midwest. This is the first time the equipment has been located in the same location since being restored.
The rarity of this collection is in part due to the design and purpose of the equipment. The small size of the equipment allowed it to fit on many of the transport planes. This allowed for the equipment to be delivered near the front lines in theaters across the globe during World War II. The equipment served dual purposes in civilian roles it could be found on farms and in factories. “Specially built equipment for war use usually meant painting it drab olive and sending it to the front lines with some armor on it. This equipment had narrowed axles and other features which allow for transport on military transport planes.” commented Craig Johnson, Executive Director at Heartland Acres.
The role of agricultural equipment manufacturers turned quickly from civilian needs to military needs at the start of World War II. The unique and rare equipment now found at Heartland Acres is an example of peacetime production manufacturing companies changing production lines to support the war effort in the 1940’s.
You can find this and many more interesting items, stories and ever-changing displays about our agricultural heritage on display at Heartland Acres Agribition Center in Independence, Iowa.
For more information about Heartland Acres please call (319) 332.0123 or find us on Facebook.
A part of the latest new display at Heartland Acres in Independence, Iowa; the World War II military Airborne Case SI is part of a new display which includes four other military pieces of equipment. This is one of only two known collections in the world and may be the most complete and accurately restored.
