What military treasures have you found at your local surplus store?

SFC Mark Merino — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 16:00:59 -0400

I have become addicted to the show 'Mysteries at the Museum' and saw a very creative use for WWII surplus gear. Following WWII, the military surplus stores were flooded with parachutes. Well, leave it to the former paratroopers from the Greatest Generation to solve Idaho's beaver repopulation efforts in the most remote areas in the early 1950's.

Enter the era of the Airborne Beavers. (You can't make this stuff up.)

They just found this lost 1950's footage from Idaho's fish and game department. It is 15 minutes long (the Airborne mission commences at the 8 min mark).

The name of the first airborne beaver, was Geronimo. No beavers were harmed in the making of this documentary......

http://www.therecord.com/news-story/6032424-video-lost-footage-of-idaho-beaver-drop-found/

Video: Lost footage of Idaho beaver drop found

Overpopulation forced wildlife managers to relocate animals using special travel boxes attached to parachutes

Response by SSG Richard Reilly made Oct 23 at 2015 4:12 PM

SSG Richard Reilly — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 16:12:51 -0400

I found a great rain poncho in good condition.

Response by SSG John Jensen made Oct 23 at 2015 5:29 PM

SSG John Jensen — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 17:29:50 -0400

slinkies were created from surplus piston rings

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Oct 23 at 2015 6:33 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 18:33:43 -0400

I saw a Browning 1919A4 in .308 (former Israeli service) on a German MG3 Tripod in a Gun shop. The owner was stunned, he said I was the first one who ever got it right. He asked me how I knew the tripod was German, told him I had actually served alongside with German Army and got to use their equipment, that's how I knew what it was. The 1919A4, I recognized from Shotgun News, as it had the funky check rest. I did not guess it was former Israeli, I mean I couldn't get that close to read the caliber on it.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Oct 24 at 2015 1:44 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 01:44:48 -0400

20mm ammo boxes. Great for range boxes. (Yeah, I know these are 7.62)

Response by PO3 Sherry Thornburg made Oct 24 at 2015 9:38 PM

PO3 Sherry Thornburg — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 21:38:12 -0400

I saw this today too. Wonderful idea for getting beavers into remote places.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Oct 25 at 2015 10:50 PM

PO1 John Miller — Sun, 25 Oct 2015 22:50:33 -0400

In your opinion what is the best surplus store in Tucson?

Response by MSgt Chris Adams made Jan 11 at 2016 6:14 PM

MSgt Chris Adams — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 18:14:49 -0500

Not a surplus store been to a few good DRMOs. At little Rock, 95-97ish, they still had a couple rows of old Wiley's jeeps in our DRMO. Would have been sweet to get my hands on one of those.

Response by CPT Andrew Wright made Sep 24 at 2017 7:36 PM

CPT Andrew Wright — Sun, 24 Sep 2017 19:36:47 -0400

Found some almost new Field Jacket liners for five dollars each. They also work well with Goretex. Winter is coming!