Pictures of surplus military equipment after the Second World War. 1945-1948 (14 photos)

When World War II ended in 1945, the military the machine was still running. Estimated cost of military surplus in The United States was estimated at between $25 billion and $150 billion.

These surpluses included all conceivable and unthinkable types of technology and goods - from little applicable in civilian life to extremely necessary the civilian population of the United States and other countries.





During the war years, the United States alone produced 294,000 aircraft. From this numbers 7.34% (21,583) were lost during testing, transportation, training flights and for other reasons, and 43,581 aircraft died on the way to war and in military operations overseas.

After the war, the surplus of aircraft was 150 thousand pieces. Thought about how to store this bunch of cars, but the understanding of how much the cost of their conservation will pour out, led to the decision to put part of the aircraft for scrap or sell.

The transfer of part of the American aircraft remaining in Europe to The USA was too expensive, so they were buried, crushed by bulldozers or drowned in the sea. But most of them were returned to the USA. From many of valuable equipment was removed from them, and aluminum was sent for remelting. On the airbase Kingman (Kingman) in Arizona were stored and were launched on scrap metal in 1945-46 5,500 aircraft.

Most of the ground vehicles were sold for scrap and spare parts, but some were adapted for civilian needs. FROM tanks and all-terrain vehicles removed their weapons and turned them into tractors and bulldozers.

Warships that were out of work were kept in reserve, dismantled for parts, sunk to the bottom, creating artificial reefs, and also used as targets in nuclear tests in the Pacific ocean.

During the war years, 650,000 jeeps were manufactured. They were used everywhere, from Africa to Europe and the Far East. After the end of the war many jeeps have been sold or donated to local residents, many are simply abandoned, unable to return them to the United States.



Armored vehicles stored in the open. 1946





18 million pounds (more than eight thousand tons) of scrap copper is stored in an army warehouse of unnecessary equipment. 1946






Obsolete M3A1 light tanks in stock. 1946






Excess motorcycles in England tied up in fives to be sold for scrap



Heavy bombers awaiting disassembly at Kingman Air Force Base. Arizona, 1947



Engines taken from mothballed aircraft at Kingman Air Force Base. Arizona, 1947



A pile of aluminum is all that's left of the planes. Kingman Air Force Base. Arizona, 1947



800 military jeeps are waiting for auction in a warehouse in England. 1946








American tank plows the ground on a farm