Harley-Davidson
Motor Company in World War Two
Milwaukee, WI
1903-Present
This page updated 7-8-2019.

Harley-Davidson won the Army-Navy "E" Award
four times during World War Two.
The first time was May 12, 1943.
Harley-Davidson motorcycles were first used by
the U.S. Army when it ordered twelve motorcycles with sidecars with
mounted machine guns on them for the General Pershing's 1916 Mexican
Excursion. During World War, One Harley-Davidson supplied 20,000
motorcycles. Supposedly, the first American soldier to enter
Germany after the signing of the Armistice was riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

This original 1917 Harley-Davidson served
with American military forces in Europe during the First World War.
It is on display at the National WWI Museum and Memorial at Kansas City,
MO. Author's photo added 10-22-2018.

Author's photo added 10-22-2018.
Harley-Davidson
World War Two Production Statistics: A minimum of 62,558
motorcycles of seven different models as documented below. Another
estimated 12,000 were also purchased by Canada.
Harley-Davidson World War Two
Motorcycles Accepted by Detroit Ordnance, US Army
The information below comes from "Summary Report of
Acceptances, Tank-Automotive Material, 1940-1945"
Published by Army Services Forces, Office, Chief of
Ordnance-Detroit, Production Division, Requirements and
Progress Branch
January 21, 1946. |
Type |
1940 |
1941 |
1942 |
1943 |
1944 |
1945 |
Total |
42 WLA 45 Cu. In. |
656 |
4,731 |
17,380 |
23,438 |
8,560 |
5,721 |
60,486 |
U Model 74 Cu. In. (Navy use?) |
|
|
|
|
100 |
|
100 |
WLS 45 Cu. In. |
|
|
|
|
50 |
|
50 |
U Model 74 Cu. In. w/Sidecar (Navy use?) |
|
|
|
|
50 |
|
50 |
45 Cu. In. Shaft Drive (Model XA) |
|
|
1,000 |
|
|
|
1,000 |
Motorcycle, Chain Drive, w/Sidecar (Unknown H-D Model) |
844 |
|
8 |
|
|
|
852 |
Motor Tricycles (Unknown H-D Model) |
|
17 |
3 |
|
|
|
20 |
Total |
1,500 |
4,748 |
18,391 |
23,438 |
8,760 |
5,721 |
62,558 |
Author's Note
and Disclaimer: The Detroit Office
of Ordnance of the U.S. Army was the primary purchasing entity for vehicles for the U.S. Army during WWII. It also purchased
vehicles for the USMC, US Navy, and Lend-Lease. However,
there were other organizations that also purchased vehicles
including the Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army Air Force, U.S.
Army Signal Corps, Navy Bureau of Ordnance, Navy
Bureau of Aeronautics, and foreign countries making direct
purchases.
The U.S. Navy used a 74
Cu. In. motorcycle during WWII. One source quoting
Harley-Davidson production figures indicates that the Navy bought
(580) 74 Cu. In. U models during 1944. The source also
indicates that in 1944 HD produced 11,531 WLAs, 2,771 more than what
was purchased by Detroit Ordnance that year. Other sources
indicate Harley-Davidson built over 80,000 or 90,0000 motorcycles.
We do know that the US Army accepted 62,558 Harley-Davidson
motorcycles during World War Two.
The Canadians purchased
the WLC model from 1941 to 1944. Numbers for this are
incomplete, but it appears that a minimum of 12,000 of those were
produced.
Of the 34,000
motorcycles that went to the Soviet Union under Lend-Lease, 26,000
were Harley-Davidson 42WLAs.
The Harley-Davidson
Museum in Milwaukee, WI:

The Harley-Davidson Museum in downtown
Milwaukee, WI opened on July 12, 2018. It is home for more than 450
historic motorcycles in a 130,000 square-foot building.
Author's photo added 7-8-2019.

I was pleasantly surprised to find
that the museum has a dedicated room for three World War Two era
motorcycles and information relating to the company's war effort.
I spent most of my visit in late May 2019 in this area. Author's
photo added 7-8-2019.

Author's photo added 7-8-2019.

There were three XS prototypes built with
an opposing cylinder engine.
This is the sole survivor of the three prototypes.
Harley-Davidson and the Museum has done a great job finding this
one-of-kind motorcycle for display. Author's photo added
7-8-2019.

Author's photo added 7-8-2019.

Author's photo added 7-8-2019.

On display is one of 50 Model U's with
sidecar built for the US Navy Shore Patrol. Author's photo
added 7-8-2019.

Author's photo added 7-8-2019.

Author's photo added 7-8-2019.

Author's photo added 7-8-2019.

In the center of the World War Two
history room is a WLA. Author's photo added 7-8-2019.

Author's photo added 7-8-2019.

Author's photo added 7-8-2019.

There were several items in a display
case on Harley-Davidson's winning of the Army-Navy "E" Award.
All of the employees at the companies that won the award were
invited to the presentation of the award. This was mandated by
the military, as they considered the employees building the products
to be key to making production schedules. Author's photo added
7-8-2019.

This is the first time I have found an
"E" badge with the recipient's name associated with it. Again,
this was to give the workers pride in their work, and incentive to
keep production rates high. Author's photo added 7-8-2019.

Author's photo added 7-8-2019.

Author's photo added 7-8-2019.

On display were many of the spare parts
that were provided for maintaining the Harley-Davidson motorcycles
during World War Two. Author's photo added 7-8-2019.

This is a photo of a double knuckle head engine for
that was designed for a Canadian tank in 1943. It is unknown
what tank it was for. All of the tanks the Canadians built
during World War Two were of American or British design, and used
existing automotive or aircraft engines. This particular
Harley-Davidson design was never used in production of a tank.
Author's photo added 7-8-2019.

Out in the main display area was this
rare 1942 XA opposed engine motorcycle. It is one of 1,000
built. Author's photo added 7-8-2019.

Author's photo added 7-8-2019.

Author's photo added 7-8-2019.

Author's photo added 7-8-2019.

Author's photo added 7-8-2019.

The museum has a wall displaying many of the
engines the company has produced during it's existence.
Author's photo added 7-8-2019.

Author's photo added 7-8-2019.

Author's photo added 7-8-2019.

This is a replica of the 10 foot by 15
foot building, known as the "shed," where Harley-Davidson began in
1905. In 1906 the company moved across the street on what is
now Highland Blvd. in Milwaukee, which is the current location of
the Harley-Davidson Headquarters. Author's photo added
7-8-2019.
The UA: The
UA motorcycle below is on display at the Wright Museum of World War
Two in Wolfeboro, NH. According to the placard at the Museum,
the item was built in 1940 for the U.S. Army. The table above
shows no U models accepted by Detroit Army Ordnance in 1940,
indicating a lack of complete data on all of the Harley-Davidson
motorcycles that were built in WWII.

Author's photo.

Author's photo.

Author's photo.
The WLA:

This very well restored 1944 42WLA was
on display at the 2018 MVPA convention in Louisville, KY. It is
Serial Number 53146. It is the most complete restoration the author has
found. Author's photo.

On display are all of a World War Two's MP
gear, tools, weapons, and rations. Author's photo.

Author's photo.

Author's photo.

Author's photo.

Author's photo.

This WLA is part of the collection of the
National Armor and Cavalry Museum at Fort Benning, GA. It was
photographed in the Museum's maintenance shop awaiting restoration.
This particular motorcycle is of interest, as it is Serial Number 69317 built on June 11, 1945. It was one of the last ones built
before the end of the war. Author's photo added 10-7-2018.

Author's photo added 10-7-2018.

The unit has 109 miles on it. Author's
photo added 10-7-2018.

This
1941 42WLA Serial Number 68180 was also on display at the Louisville
MVPA convention. Author's photo.

Author's photo.

Author's photo.

Author's photo.

Author's photo.

This 1942 WLA with a Goulding LS-29 sidecar
is on display at the National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning, GA.
Author's photo added 10-2-2018.

Author's photo added 10-2-2018.

Author's photo added 10-2-2018.

This WLA with sidecar is on display at the
Indiana Military Museum in Vincennes, IN. Author's photo added 2-7-2019.

The sidecar appears to be of similar
manufacture as the Goulding LS-29 shown above at the National Infantry
Museum. However, this sidecar has been reinforced with an internal
structure for what seems to be the ability to operate a light machine
gun by the person in the sidecar. Author's photo added 2-7-2019.

Author's photo added 2-7-2019.

This 42WLA was one of 26,000 that went to
Soviet Union under Lend-Lease. In 1996 it was found in
Kaiserslautern, Germany. Today it is on display at the MP Museum
at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. Author's photo.

Author's photo.
The photos below are of three 42WLAs at the
2018 WWII Weekend at Reading, PA.

Author's photo.

Author's photo.

Author's photo.

Author's photo.
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