NY Central Donated B-26 to War Effort; Other RRs?

[tommyboy]

During WWII New York Central employees raised money to purchase and donate a B-26 bomber to the US Army Air Force. The plane was named "New York Central System" and purchased in mid-1942 at a cost of some $170,000. That aircraft was shot down, sad to say, over North Africa in February 1943.

Employees raised more money for a second plane, "New York Central II," a B-26 Marauder. This plane was presented to the USAAF in September 1943. This airplane flew combat missions over Italy, Africa and Germany with the 17th Bombardment Group.

On January 1, 1945 the New York Central II was on its 103rd combat mission, the lead ship in a bombing run over Germany. Just after dropping its bombs the aircraft was hit by German anti-aircraft fire and exploded. At least some of the crew were seen parachuting out and one crew member was reported to be a POW. To my knowledge, however, none of the crew survived.

I would like to know what (or if) other railroads may have done something similar? I have not been able to find any.  I can't believe Central employees were the only ones who did this. I can believe they might've been first but surely some other group of employees must've done it too.

[BigJim]

A P-40F built with money donated by the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen.

[tommyboy]

Wow, outstanding thanks!

Here's a link to some photos of the two bombers donated by New York Central employees and named New York Central System and New York Central II.

http://www.b26.com/page/wwii_new_york_central_combat_crews.htm

(Might have to copy and paste.)

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

This was not an unusual practice in WW2 for any number of groups.  I have been told that Lane Tech HS in Chicago sold enough war bonds to have a B-29 named for the school.

[wjstix]

http://www.b26.com/page/wwii_new_york_central_combat_crews.htm

Just making your link live.

Many of the Army railroad battalions were directly sponsored by railroads, and often had employees of those railroads as members.

[tommyboy]

From the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society message board I learned that employees of all four British mainline roads donated Spitfires to the RAF. LNE named their's the Flying Scotsman. When it was shot down LNER donated another, named Flying Scotsman II. Britain's Southern Railway donated a fighter and named it Invicta.

 Maybe not American roads but donated equipment.

(Maybe sponsored railway battalions should have a separate thread?)

 

Thanks WJ Stix. How do you make links live? I've got another.

[garyla]

According to the Summer 2010 edition (vol. 24, #3) of the Streamliner, published by the Union Pacific Historical Society,  UP employees donated enough to cover the cost of a new Boeing B-17 bomber. 

There's more to the story, but the plane which got named for this was lost in the Schweinfurt raids of late 1943.