National Archives at Atlanta

RG 156 - Office of Chief of Ordnance, Historical Reports - Milan Ordnance Arsenal


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Historical Reports, 1943-1948

National Archives Identifier 7040048
This series consists of circular letters, general orders, office memoranda, plans, and historical reports of the Milan Arsenal in Milan, Tennessee. Records in this series concern subjects related to civilian contractors, war fraud, embezzlement, budgets, military and civilian personnel, intelligence, security, subversive publications, procurement planning, criminal conduct, communist activities, housing, production, operations, construction, and administrative activities at the arsenal. Also in this series are photographs depicting workers at the arsenal, including African American men and women.

 

Box 3: Historical Reports, 1940-1943

Folder 1: Historical Report of Wolf Creek Ordnance Plant, 1940-1942

▪ Contracted Proctor and Gamble Defense, Co. to produce ammunition, amatol, and nitrate from ammonia

- Outline of Activities

▪ Began construction in January 1941 and production began in the spring of ammunition lines

▪ Detailed report on the property, layout of lines of production, railroads, roads, storage areas, equipment, housing

▪ Policy on Historical Reports

Transportation a great problem for employees

▪ September 1941 the Ordnance Department took control

▪ Correspondence between Procter and Gamble and the Ordnance Department

 

Folder 2: Historical Report of Milan Ordnance Depot, 1941-1943

▪ Construction began on June 20, 1941 and full production in February 1942

▪ Ship, receive, and store ammunition

▪ Adjoining Wolf Creek Ordnance Plant

▪ Report on Construction Dates of Completion

▪ On April 24, 1943 Milan Ordnance Depot and Wolf Creek Ordnance Plant were consolidated into Milan Ordnance Center

▪ On July 11, 1943 the Ordnance Center passed back to Proctor and Gamble, thus ending their duties with the Ordnance Department

▪ List of Buildings

 

Folder 3: Historical Report Supplement 1, January-March 1943

▪ Hours of Work and Overtime Compensation

▪ Rationing Board Notices

▪ Plant Alteration Projects

▪ Recreation Council Established

▪ Production Reports

 

Folder 4 and 5: Historical Report Supplement 2, April- June 1943

Training women operators for ammunition production

Photographs (4) of M52-Fuze Conveyor Assembly

▪ Plant Alteration Projects

▪ Production Reports

▪ Comparative Cost Statement Charts

▪ Monthly Production Graphs for 155mm and two Fuzes- proposed, actual, and daily production

 

Folder 6: Historical Reports Supplement 3, July-September 1943

▪ Contracts

▪ Production

▪ Summary of Manpower Savings

▪ Safety Audit

▪ Actual and Standard Man Hours/Unit Charts for each ammunition production line

▪ Comparative Cost Statement Charts

▪ General Information Manual for Employees

 

Folder 7 and 8: Historical Report Supplement 4, October-December 1943

▪ Book II Exhibits

- Photographs (88) of each step of Ammunition Production Process

▪ Use of X-Ray Machine for HE Ammunition Acceptance

▪ Comparison of Earned v. Actual Man Hours

▪ Actual and Standard Man Hours/Unit Charts

▪ Comparative Cost Statement

▪ Employment is almost 50% female

▪ Personnel Data

▪ Production Volume

 

Box 4: Historical Reports, 1944-1945

Folder 1: Historical Report Supplement 5, January-March 1944

▪ Employee Recruiting Drive in the community

▪ Storage capacities

▪ Personnel Data

▪ Production and Renovation Volume

▪ Accident Report

Photographs (24) of ammunition production processes

▪ Actual and Standard Man Hours/Unit Charts

 

Folder 2: Historical Report Supplement 6, April-June 1944

▪ Storage capacity evaluations

▪ Personnel Data

▪ Production and Renovation Volume

Photographs (13) of ammunition production process

▪ Work Load Charts

▪ Report of Visits

 

Folder 3: Historical Report Supplement 7, July-September 1944

▪ Personnel Data

▪ Production and Renovation Volume

Photographs (36) of ammunition production process

▪ Work Load Charts

▪ Unrest in morale because of the improving military situation

▪ Expansion of TNT reclamation facilities cancelled

▪ Report of Visits

 

Folder 4: Historical Report Supplement 8, October-December 1944

▪ Termination is focused on excessive absenteeism and the necessity for female employees to devote more time to families

▪ Personnel Data

▪ Production and Renovation Volume

Photographs (21) of ammunition production process

▪ Work Load Charts

 

Folder 5: Historical Report Supplement 9, January-March 1945

▪ Gradual decreases in employment and clerical staff

▪ Personnel Data

▪ Production and Renovation Volume

Photographs (15) of ammunition storage process

▪ Work Load Charts

▪ Monthly Bulletin began for workers

 

Folder 6: Historical Report Supplement 10, April-June 1945

▪ Personnel Data

▪ Production and Renovation Volume

Photographs (14) of ammunition storage process

▪ Work Load Charts

▪ Reduction in force continues

 

Folder 7: Historical Report Supplement 11, July-September 1945

▪ After VJ-Day reductions in production and employee termination became rapid

▪ Personnel Data

Photograph of Hot Probe Apparatus

▪ Report of Investigation of Explosion

▪ Work Load Charts

▪ Production and Renovation Volume

 

Box 5: Historical Reports, 1945-1946 and Photostatic Copies of Correspondence 1-599

Folder 1: Historical Report Supplement 12, October-December 1945

Photographs (6) of ammunition storage processes

▪ Buildings placed at operating position for manufacturing practice ammunition and renovating ammunition

▪ Housing facilities are not adequate

▪ Organization Chart, 1945

▪ Production Volume Chart

▪ Termination of contract with the government and Proctor and Gamble Defense Corporation

▪ Maintenance of Production Equipment during Government Operation

 

Folder 2: Historical Report Supplement 13, January-June 1946

Photographs (15) of ammunition storage processes

▪ All production is focused on demilitarization of ammunition

▪ Organizational Chart, 1946

▪ Report of Proceedings of the Supplement Review Board

▪ Obsolete Ammunition

▪ Work Measurement Record

▪ Depot Operations Report

 

Folder 3: Wolf Creek/ Milan Ordnance Depot DUPLICATE Photographs

 

ALL Photostatic Copies of Correspondence contain: Correspondence with Ordnance Department, Wolf Creek, Milan Ordnance Depot, and Proctor & Gamble Defense Corporation

▪ General Production

▪ Personnel Matters

▪ Ordnance Policies and Procedures

▪ Funds and Budgets

▪ Employee Welfare—recreation, housing, food, etc.

 

Folder 4: Photostatic Copies of Correspondence 1-100

 

Folder 5: Photostatic Copies of Correspondence 101-199

 

Folder 6: Photostatic Copies of Correspondence 200-299

 

Folder 7: Photostatic Copies of Correspondence 300-399

 

Folder 8: Photostatic Copies of Correspondence 400-499

 

Folder 9: Photostatic Copies of Correspondence 500-599

 

 

Box 6: Photostatic Copies of Correspondence 699-865 and Field Progress Reports

ALL Photostatic Copies of Correspondence contain: Correspondence with Ordnance Department, Wolf Creek, Milan Ordnance Depot, and Proctor & Gamble Defense Corporation

▪ General Production

▪ Personnel Matters

▪ Ordnance Policies and Procedures

▪ Funds and Budgets

▪ Employee Welfare—recreation, housing, food, etc.

 

Folder 1: Photostatic Copies of Correspondence 600-699

 

Folder 2: Photostatic Copies of Correspondence 700-799

 

Folder 3: Photostatic Copies of Correspondence 800-865

 

Folder 4: Unnumbered Photostatic Copies of Correspondence

▪ Historical Report of Wolf Creek Ordnance Plant

▪ Memoranda Concerning Ordnance Purchasing

 

Folder 5: Unnumbered Photostatic Copies of Correspondence, 1941-1942

 

Folder 6: Statement of Operating Expenses

▪ Itemized Statements

 

Folder 7: Field Progress Reports, February 1941-January 1942

▪ Each weekly report contains—land purchase, survey work, railroad tracks, highways, administration area, electrical power distribution system, water and sewer system, plant buildings, labor, concrete

▪ After production starts each report evaluates the progress of each area of work

▪ Cost Estimates

▪ Progress Graphs

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