[ARC5] RAT and RAT-1: The Arizona Connection

[Kenneth G. Gordon]

On 9 Jan 2012 at 14:01, David Stinson wrote:

> the boneyards?  Don't know why that would be, since
> none of the other still-crated stuff seems to have gone 
> that route; it got sold-off where it was or bulldozed under.
> 
> Speculations welcome.

I think your thoughts here somewhat mirror my own on a slightly 
different experience: when I was in the Montana National Guard in the 
1960s, during one summer camp at the old fort in Helena, Montana, one 
night when I was Charge of Quarters, about 2:00 AM, I watched some of 
the older and higher-ranking men of our battery walking in a group 
past my post. 

All were carrying shovels. I stuck my head out of the door and asked 
the nearest one, a regular army First Sergeant who was my direct 
boss, what was going on. He simply told me to shut up and come with 
him.

Since he was my superior, what could I do but obey?

So, out we went....to an old dump near the fort, and everyone started 
digging. 

We uncovered many, many items still in their original packing, 
ranging from crates to those metalized waterproof covering that radio 
were originally shipped in.

Among other things, we uncovered a brand new Ford GAA engine which 
was used in our own battery's self-propelled artillery (and which we 
badly needed), new .50 calibre machine gun barrels, new first aid 
kits, etc.

At that time, I was too young to look for radio gear, but I am sure 
there was some there.

I still have the first aid kit I dug up.

Ken W7EKB