August/September 1995
Larry ''Airborne'' Powell
#3711 Military Cushman Club 129 East 13th Junction City,
Kansas 66441
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Pictured is my 1942 MDL:32 with side car military scooter. The
engine is a 4 HP cast iron with an oil pump. They were made for the
United States government in 1942.
The Cushman Company was in the business of making engines for
industrial and farm use. Around 1936 they decided that they could
sell more engines if they made a scooter to put it on. The company
grew slowly until WWII. During WWII they made the model 32 as
shown, a model 39 three-wheeler, and a model 53 airborne that was
parachuted out of aircraft.
I am restoring a 1944 airborne at the present time. Only 7,534
of these were made. Mine is the 387th unit made. After the war the
scooter business boomed until 1966, when the Japanese bikes came
into being. In 1966 Cushman made 100,000 Eagles. They still make
three and four-wheel units for schools, governments, golf courses,
and industrial plants. My scooter was used at the Wichita Boeing
Aircraft plant during WWII. My father was a machinist there during
that time.
The photo was taken at the Eisenhower Library/Museum in Abilene,
Kansas, during the 50th Anniversary of the D-Day invasion of WWII.
The scooter was obtained in a trade with John McDermott of Colby,
Kansas. It was restored over a six month period by me and my 12
year old side kick Roy Martin. It is an early 1942 model as shown
by the early ' round kick stand; later model 32s had the 50
Series type kick stand. The body mounts differently to the frame.
Four hundred and ninety five of the Model 32 with side cars were
ordered by the military in WWII. They were issued with 7',
8' or 9' tires. This unit was issued with 7' tires (to
save rubber). I changed it to 8' tires. Our scooter was used at
the Boeing Aircraft Plant in Wichita, Kansas. My father was a
machinist with Boeing from 1940 through 1946, so this scooter has
special meaning to me. You will note that there is no headlight or
taillight on this unit. To save materials during the war, scooters
that were to be used in war plants in the United States were
ordered without lights. The body has no holes, mountings for
taillights, or license plates. I obtained a copy of the military
manual for this scooter, as none were available at the time.
Carpenter's has the manual available like the one I paid $46.50
to have copied.
The scooter was a joy and a challenge to restore. Hours were
spent in research. This scooter was painted many times in its life.
Paint colors found were original OD, flight line yellow, white,
civilian green and finally State of Kansas orange (the last
used).