New Jersey's Role in World War II
Not only did New Jersey supply over 560,000 soldiers to the war effort, but this small state gave a huge impact, as it was an important center of industrial production, military training, and related activities.
New York SHipBuilding
The Tuscaloosa present for its outfitting in the port
In spite of its deceiving name, the New York Shipbuilding Corporation was actually located in Camden, New Jersey, on the east shore of the Delaware River. It was founded in 1899 and opened its first shipyard the following year. Originally intended to be built on Staten Island, the shipyard was bought by American International Corp. in 1916, but struggled during and after the World War I effort. After it was sold to American Brown Boveri in 1925, and the U.S. Navy invested about $25 million into the company for World War II, the shipyard expanded to its full capability. It once was the world's largest and most productive shipbuilder and, throughout the 1940's, it built over 500 ships for multiple maritime concerns: the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, and more. Able to employ around 30,000-35,000 people, this corporation produced numerous battleships, cruisers, light aircraft, and various other watercraft, living up to its name. During World War II, New York Ship produced a majority of ships that partook in the D-Day Invasion at Normandy. Additionally, this corporation built the ship Richard M. Barclay was assigned to, the USS Tuscaloosa.
As time went on, New York Ships' influence decreased, but it still continued in both naval and merchant shipbuilding. Eventually, it closed in 1967. Today, the shipyard's site is part of the Port of Camden, and it handles break bulk cargo. Its reputation as an extremely influential shipbuilding site that supplied the U.S. Navy with heavy combatant ships will forever remain.
As time went on, New York Ships' influence decreased, but it still continued in both naval and merchant shipbuilding. Eventually, it closed in 1967. Today, the shipyard's site is part of the Port of Camden, and it handles break bulk cargo. Its reputation as an extremely influential shipbuilding site that supplied the U.S. Navy with heavy combatant ships will forever remain.
Military Installations: camp Kilmer
Camp Kilmer
The New Brunswick area of New Jersey was selected by the United States War Department in 1941 to act as an ideal staging area to serve the port of New York. Construction began in January 1942 and, later that year, Camp Kilmer opened. Camp Kilmer was the main staging area for the principle ports on the Eastern Seaboard, with over twenty division staged at this location to prepare to go to Europe. There was 29.8 miles of road and a mile long of unpaved road spanning throughout the camp, though they were not used on a daily basis. Camp Kilmer took the responsibility of the command, training, and operations of the First U.S. Army units and activities assigned to it.
Military Installations: fort dix
Fort Dix
During the war, Camp Kilmer would prove to be the primary transportation hub of soldiers. However, after the war, Fort Dix in southern New Jersey is awarded that title. Although it was not as influential as Camp Kilmer, Fort Dix was also a training facility for active Army, Army Reserve, and National Guard units. Ten divisions and many smaller units trained and staged here before engaging in battle during the war. Camp Kilmer and Fort Dix were among the major military installations in New Jersey that were expanded to process an amazing total of three million plus members of the armed services who fought overseas.
Industrial production: singer factory
Singer Factory
In 1945, New Jersey employed nearly one million workers with the intention to fulfill war and military related government contracts. Surprisingly, this is roughly double the amount of workers in New Jersey industries in 1939. Because a majority of men were enlisted to serve in the military, many industrial jobs belonged to women. Production factories that were hiring often targeted ads toward women while the men were away fighting the war, an example of which is shown below.
Among the many production factories located in New Jersey is the Singer Factory which supplied a variety of resources that contributed to the war effort. This factory, located in Elizabeth, New Jersey, began as a small, self-sufficient plant engaged in the war effort. The Singer Factory not only met the increasing demands for family sewing machines (shown below), parts, and needles, but also increasing their volume of war work and equipment for the military. On June 15, 1942, an order became completely stopping the manufacturing of sewing machines to pursue the war production effort. The items manufactured by the Singer Factory in New Jersey after this included .45 caliber automatic pistols and ammunition boxes. This factory was awarded the Army-Navy Production Award "E" Pennant in recognition for its outstanding production of necessary war material. A flag was flown over the plant and a lapel pin awarded to every single man and woman employed at the plant. The factory not only directly helped the production of war materials, but also of materials to help other manufacturers engage in the war effort. The Singer Factory was cited for its fifth time in July of 1945, acquiring a total of four stars on the pennant.
Among the many production factories located in New Jersey is the Singer Factory which supplied a variety of resources that contributed to the war effort. This factory, located in Elizabeth, New Jersey, began as a small, self-sufficient plant engaged in the war effort. The Singer Factory not only met the increasing demands for family sewing machines (shown below), parts, and needles, but also increasing their volume of war work and equipment for the military. On June 15, 1942, an order became completely stopping the manufacturing of sewing machines to pursue the war production effort. The items manufactured by the Singer Factory in New Jersey after this included .45 caliber automatic pistols and ammunition boxes. This factory was awarded the Army-Navy Production Award "E" Pennant in recognition for its outstanding production of necessary war material. A flag was flown over the plant and a lapel pin awarded to every single man and woman employed at the plant. The factory not only directly helped the production of war materials, but also of materials to help other manufacturers engage in the war effort. The Singer Factory was cited for its fifth time in July of 1945, acquiring a total of four stars on the pennant.
Battery 223, Cape May, New Jersey
As part of the 1940 Harbor Defense Program, Battery 223 was built in Cape May, New Jersey, with the intention of protecting the East Coast. Earth and sod covering it provided needed camouflage and protection. It was originally built 900 feet inland, with its top structure at ground level, but over 70 years of erosion pulled it closer to the beach. This massive structure is still standing today, despite its weakened wooden support.
During the war, naval gunnery crews were stationed within and were armed with various equipment, as to serve as defense should enemy ships come about. The crews constantly scanned the area, as German U ships were known to operate off these waters. Battery 223 even had a sister bunker located across the bay in Lewes, Delaware. Although this bunker did not receive any direct action, its existence in New Jersey was not unnecessary, given that only 35 miles off the coast of Cape May, a rival ship, Jacob Jones was sunk, and further out, about 100 miles off the coast, the first German U boat surrendered after the country surrendered. Therefore, it was vital to have this bunker staged in New Jersey, prepared for any attack. Regarding the pictures above, starting in the top left, a Google Earth view of Battery 223 in Cape May is shown. In the top right, bottom left, and bottom right, pictures the west, north, and east entrances to the bunker are shown, respectively.
During the war, naval gunnery crews were stationed within and were armed with various equipment, as to serve as defense should enemy ships come about. The crews constantly scanned the area, as German U ships were known to operate off these waters. Battery 223 even had a sister bunker located across the bay in Lewes, Delaware. Although this bunker did not receive any direct action, its existence in New Jersey was not unnecessary, given that only 35 miles off the coast of Cape May, a rival ship, Jacob Jones was sunk, and further out, about 100 miles off the coast, the first German U boat surrendered after the country surrendered. Therefore, it was vital to have this bunker staged in New Jersey, prepared for any attack. Regarding the pictures above, starting in the top left, a Google Earth view of Battery 223 in Cape May is shown. In the top right, bottom left, and bottom right, pictures the west, north, and east entrances to the bunker are shown, respectively.
The Millville army airfield: "America's first Defense Airport"
The Millville Army Airfield, located in Cumberland County, was dubbed "America's first defense airport," on August 2, 1941, before construction of military base facilities even began. This construction was ultimately completed in January of 1943, opening as a gunnery school to train pilots. Although this training began with Curtiss P-40F "Warhawk" aircraft, it took not much time after the P-40s were gone for the Republic P-47 "Thuderbolt" to rule the skies over the county. Over the course of three years, over 1500 pilots acquired official advanced fighter training in the Thunderbolt. Although this Airfield was necessary to prepare these pilots for the war, it was decided by the government to have no further use as an airport and was converted into apartments for returning World War II veterans.
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