I remember reading in one of Dan Malloy’s bi-monthly posts about Hopedale history that during World War II, Draper Corporation manufactured small howitzers for the military. His post said that reportedly one of the howitzers was now at the V.F.W. In York, Maine. Today while my wife Suzan and I were driving around the Wells, Maine area on a drizzly, foggy day we happened across this! (See photos below.) Bob Gannett, October 9, 2017 The caption above gives the year as 1945, but the middle picture below shows that it was 1943.
The following message came with the pictures below it.
My name is Jim Barrow. I’m currently the Jr Vice Commander VFW Post #9503 Bayville Nj.
I had the pleasure of being assigned a project to cleanup and create a display for a 75 MM Pack Howitzer. As you can see we received the howitzer looking a little rough. After a good cleaning I noticed it was manufactured in 1943 by the Draper Corp Serial #2713.
I did some researched and found your website. Not sure if your still posting but I hope the family will appreciate the new home for one of it howitzers.
Semper Fi James M Barrow Jr Vice Commander VFW Post #9503
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Draper War Work – The Howitzer
Draper Corporation produced several different items for the government during World War II, but from what I’ve read, the “gun job” seems to have been their largest contract.