Ilion High School - Class of 1944

Utica Observer - February 17, 1944

Ilion's Big Part in War Work Told in Report

Article 11

Source pdf file is here Utica NY Observer 1946 - 1453.PDF on fultonhistory.com

Utica Observer - IHS 1944 - Ilion's Big Part in War Work Told in Report

Ilion's Big Part in War Work Told in Report

Ilion - The part that Ilion played in the war work of the Remington Arms Company is described in a special report to stockholders of the company received here yesterday.

The report is in the form of a 30-page pamphlet and details for the first time the important task that the Remington Arms Company had in assisting to arm the Allies during the years from 1940 to 1945.

In opening its description of the company's war-time achievements the report states:

"The program undertaken in World War II far exceeded any similar activities in the past. It necessitated the complete discontinuance of the company's normal business in order to devote its entire facilities and organization to production for the government alone. It required a 20-fold expansion of personnel. It resulted in output of war material having an aggregate value of over $1,200,000,000."

In telling of the production work for the government, the report mentions that "the Springfield rifle rendered valuable service in this war. At its Ilion works the company manufactured over a million of these famous weapons, together with spare parts and accessories."

In detailing the work accomplished at the Ilion plant, the report told of negotiations for the transfer of equipment in storage at the Rock Island Arsenal to the Ilion works in order that production might be started on a British contract.

"Production operations began in 87 days. Thousands of additional employees were hired and trained. As a result, rifles were already being produced when, a little later, urgent U. S. orders replaced the British contract which was thereupon terminated."

In order to increase production of the American Springfield rifle, the company undertook an extensive change in the design and process, the report adds, mentioning that the company also developed a special model for use by snipers.

"The number of employees at Ilion grew from 900 to a maximum of 9,000. Production rose to a maximum of 85,000 rifles in a single month and exceeded 3,000 on individual days. The plant also delivered large quantities of spare parts for rifles.

"The entire Springfield rifle program presented unusual problems due to the fact that up-to-date manufacturing data were not available, to the pressure of time that prevented a complete engineering study in advance of productive operations and to the use of equipment which has been in storage for over 20 years."

"Other production at Ilion included 68,600 shotguns and 85,200 caliber 22 rifles for Army and Navy marksmanship training."

Although not mentioned in the report, the Ilion plant and several individual employees have been cited by the War Department for work during World War II in research development and production of small arms.

Created and maintained by Aileen Carney Sweeney - Class of 1974