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WW2 effects: Nebraska

Discussion in 'WWII Today' started by JJWilson, Jul 4, 2018.

  1. JJWilson

    JJWilson Well-Known Member

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    Hello everyone, happy 4th of July to all of my fellow Americans! Today I'll be talking about the land of the Cornhusker's, Nebraska. I've never been to Nebraska, but I know a few people from there, and before I made this thread, I knew only a little of the state's history. Hopefully you enjoy and learn something new from this thread, and if any of you are from Nebraska, please add what I missed or inaccurately told.

    Nebraska Pre-WW2
    Nebraska was born immediately after the Civil War in 1867, and the new state changed it's capitol's name from Lancaster, to Lincoln, in honor of late 16th President. Nebraska became a state because of the fortitude and drive of the homesteaders and merchants who bravely settled the territory, when it was full of hostile Native Americans, and incredibly harsh winters. Nebraska was the center of the Great plains, thousands of square miles of flat, soil-rich, grassland. This made the state fantastic for farming, and it's land was highly desirable. After the Civil War, the U.S Government kicked out all of the Native American tribes and forced them Westward (Unfortunate part of our past), and began the homestead acts, which essentially made any land in the Nebraska territory, free for anyone. This became known as the "land rush", and Tens of Thousands of Americans risked it all to claim their own land, many succeeded, other did not. Many of the 'homesteaders' were poor and had never had access to land before, some were recently freed slaves looking for a chance to begin a life of their own, and others were massively rich cattle farmers and successful businessmen. This diversity of backgrounds and cultures at times caused issues, but in time, it did not matter whether you were rich, poor, black, white, Catholic or Protestant, if you were from Nebraska, you were a Cornhusker, a title that unified and brought together people who normally would be incompatible. As the nickname, "Cornhusker" suggests, Nebraska was and is known for it's corn production. Nebraska, even before it became a state, was the leading producer of Corn in the nation. Nebraska was not limited to just corn, beef, pork, soybean, and grain were all raised and grown in the state, and in the late 19th century, natural gas was discovered in parts of the state. The powerful Union Pacific railroad, which helped along the development and migration to the western part of the country, was based out of Omaha, the state's biggest city. Nebraska was primarily an agriculturally based economy, but with the beginning of the 20th century, industry and manufacturing, along with the railroad and natural gas industries, allowed the state to be significantly more diverse than most other great plains states at the time. Despite the fact Nebraska was more better prepared for economic success or failure, there was little the state could do to prepare for the utter destruction and desperation the Great Depression would cause. The price of Corn and beef, plummeted, the railroad companies laid off thousands of people, the few factories in the state either shutdown or drastically reduced production, and natural gas was still to small an industry to make up for the losses across the board. Along with the economic downturn that faced the state, a natural disaster of massive proportions decimated the western and southern parts of the state, the dust bowl. If there would be one thing that would keep Nebraska's head above water during the crisis, it was corn, and when the dust bowl came in all of it's destructive power, Nebraskans could do nothing but watch as 30% of their corn, grain and soybeans crops withered away, and with it, their chances of an economic recovery. From 1930 to 1940, 60,000 Cornhusker's of abandoned ship, and left the state to find work elsewhere.

    Nebraska WW2
    Before hostilities began for the U.S in WW2, Nebraska and the other 48 states were hard at work preparing for a potential conflict. Nebraskan's began building and repairing bridges, paving roads, constructing and modernizing power lines, and building airfields. When war finally began, Nebraska was more than ready for the wartime burden it was expected to carry. 12 airfields were constructed, as well as 3 military installations, and one massive ordnance plant. All 11 airfields took part in training and preparing American pilots for combat and non-combat roles for the war. 7 airfields were designated for Bomber training with B-17's, B-24's, B-29's, and A-20's, 3 were meant to train transport and paratroop squadrons flying C-47's and C-46's, and the last 2 were used for fighter squadrons using P-51's and P-38's. Two rather unfortunate and potentially tragic events occurred in two different towns, Tarnov and Dickens Nebraska. These two small towns were located within only a few miles from target practice sites for Bomber groups, Tarnov was near a B-24 drop site, and Dickens B-17's. In 1942, Dickens was hit by 6 dud practice bombs in broad daylight from a B-17, and Tarnov was hit by 10 bombs from 2 B-24's in the middle of the night. Thankfully, nobody was hurt, if the bombs were real however, it is very likely the whole towns would have been obliterated, and it's inhabitants with it. One of the military installations near Scottsbluff became a POW camp for German and Italian prisoners in 1943, at it's peak it held 1,600 prisoners. The rail industry played a huge role in the war effort, and Nebraska was at the center of it all. 9 rail companies were based in Nebraska, and with tracks going to just about every major city, Nebraska was the ultimate train hub during the war. In North Platte Nebraska lies the world's largest rail yard, the Bailey rail yard. During the war, on average, 43 trains fully loaded with food, war materials, and sometimes people went through the yard each and every day.The rail industry played a huge role in the war effort, and Nebraska was at the center of it all. 9 rail companies were based in Nebraska, and with tracks going to just about every major city, Nebraska was the ultimate train hub during the war. In North Platte Nebraska lies the world's largest rail yard, the Bailey rail yard. During the war, on average, 43 trains fully loaded with food, war materials, and sometimes people went through the yard each and every day. The Martin aviation plant in Omaha Nebraska built 1,000 B-26 Marauders during the war. Nebraska's biggest contribution to the war effort came from the Cornhusker ordnance plant in Grand island. The Ordnance plant was one of the biggest in the nation by war's end, and employed 5000 people in 1945. The plant made everything from 20mm Ant-aircraft rounds, to 2,000 pound bombs. "Eventually, McKee reports, the plant grew to 645 buildings with 15 miles of electric distribution lines and 12 miles of sewer lines. Until the plant closed in 1945 at the end of the war, the government kept it open for future use. In 1950, the plant was reactivated to produce rockets and artillery shells for the Korean War and in 1965, it was the only American bomb-loading facility for the Vietnam War."(NMAC). The agricultural sector of Nebraska was given new life, Corn, beef, Pork, and soybeans. By the time the war ended in 1945, 325,000 Nebraskans had served in the military (more than 10% of the state's population at that time), 2,976 of whom never came back home.

    Nebraska Post WW2
    When WW2 finally ended, servicemen returned home, and the burden of producing massive quantities of food, ordnance, and natural gas naturally slowed down. However, the kick start Nebraska received from the war in virtually every industry, set the stage for future success and prosperity the state had never seen before. Industry now had a relatively large place in the state's economy, while the natural gas and railroad industries also grew. The state made up for it's loss in people from the Depression during the war, and the state's population has steadily increased since then to about 1.9 million people, it is projected that by 2020, Nebraska will reach 2 million people. Nebraska's economy is thriving, and the state boast's the lowest unemployment rate in the U.S at 2.8%. Needless to say, Nebraska is doing just fine in nearly every category, and that's not expected change any time soon.
    Did You Know?: Nebraska’s Involvement in WWII Manufacturing
    Bombing of Dickens, Nebraska in WWII
     
    Last edited: Jul 4, 2018
  2. JJWilson

    JJWilson Well-Known Member

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    upload_2018-7-4_16-54-2.png
    Some of the first homesteader's who braved the dangerous unknown in the 1860's
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    Farmers working on their crop of Corn in 1939
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    Dust Storm in Naponee Nebraska during the Dust Bowl in 1935
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    A moment of ease shared during an uneasy time between a grandpa and granddaughter in a Corn plantation, unknown year
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    locations of Army Airfields in the state during the war
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    Martin plant 1944
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    Cornhusker ordnance plant worker 1945
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    Corn field
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    University of Nebraska Cornhuskers
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    A Cornhusker in it's natural habitat
     

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