Collection # SC 3628

Collection # SC 3628 ALLISON ENGINE CO. COLLECTION, 1942-1944 Collection Information 1 Historical Sketch 2 Scope and Content Note 3 Contents 3 Processed by Stephen Good August 2020 Manuscript and Visual Collections Department William Henry Smith Memorial Library Indiana Historical Society 450 West Ohio Street Indianapolis, IN 46202-3269 www.indianahistory.org COLLECTION INFORMATION VOLUME OF 1 manuscript folder COLLECTION: COLLECTION 1942-1944 DATES: PROVENANCE: Gift from Marion G. Harcourt, Indianapolis, IN RESTRICTIONS: None COPYRIGHT: REPRODUCTION Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection RIGHTS: must be obtained from the Indiana Historical Society. ALTERNATE FORMATS: RELATED Allison Engine Company, Rolls-Royce Aerospace Group. HOLDINGS: HD9709.U54 A65; Allison Company collection addition, SC 3251; Allison Engineering Company collection, P0199 ACCESSION 2018.0359 NUMBER: NOTES: Indiana Historical Society Allison Engine Co. Page 1 HISTORICAL SKETCH James A. Allison founded Allison Speedway Company that later became the Allison Engineering Company. When Allison died in 1928, General Motors bought Allison Engine Company and the company became the Allison Engine Division. Its primary focus was the production of aircraft engines. Allison developed aircraft engines that were then used by the military in World War II. In 1946, Allison Engineering was divided into aircraft operations and transmission operations, and in 1970 merged with Detroit Diesel Engine Division, becoming Detroit Diesel-Allison. In 1983, Detroit Diesel Allison Operations and Transmission Operations was split into Detroit Diesel Allison Division (DDA) and Allison Gas Turbine Division. In 1987 the diesel portion of DDA was sold to Roger Penske, and the remaining portion of the company was reorganized as Allison Transmission Division. In the early 1990s, Allison split into Allison Gas Turbine Division and Allison Transmission Division. In 1993 Allison Gas Turbine Division became the Allison Engine Company, which was sold to Rolls Royce in 1995, but Allison Transmission remained a separate company. In the 1930s, Allison began experimental development on a 1000 horsepower reciprocating, liquid cooled aircraft engine. The V-1710 was finished in 1939 and was the first aircraft engine used by the military that was rated for 1000 horsepower. Allison produced more than 70,000 engines during World War II for the Allied war effort. Although it powered roughly 60% of the fighter planes in World War II, the V-1710 was controversial as an engine, with many critics accusing it of being a second-rate engine for use in the war. This was due to the poorer performance that smaller, cheaper versions of the engine had at higher altitudes. Once turbocharged, however, the engines performance was greatly boosted, and as the war progressed, steps were taken to fix this problem, making the engine much more reliable. Sources: Encyclopedia of Indianapolis Vee's for Victory! The Story of the Allison V-1710 Aircraft Engine, 1929-1948, Daniel D. Whitney (1998) Indiana Historical Society Allison Engine Co. Page 2 SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE This collection contains correspondence about a ceremony for the TA-1 boat that was powered by the V-1710 engine, a product of the Allison Engine Company. The collection also contains pictures of both the boat and engine, as well as a newspaper clipping of the article “Here’s What Hit the Japs at Subic Bay.” CONTENTS CONTAINER CONTENTS Correspondence and clipping, 1942-1944 Folder 1 of 1 Photographs, 1942-1944 Photographs: Folder 1 of 1 Indiana Historical Society Allison Engine Co. Page 3 .

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