[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Very valid point Hanno. However I can write from evidence I have about contracts with GM in New York 1940-41, and I suspect that Dearborn was the same. Basically GM had special offices in NYC, Detroit and Washington under James D Mooney, who was ahem! sidewase moved to head a special office with a view to turning GM factories over to military production in June 1940, having previously been President of GM Overseas Operations. The facts are that whilst Mooney was ultimatetly responsible for the militarisation and military production, it was in fact Graeme K Howard, who replaced Mooney as President of GMOO that handled all military sales from overseas plus the Allison aero-engine project with the British Government, and then US Army as an adjunct after the British invested millions in new facilities and development. Military sales by GMOO were handled through NYC and all transactions were in dollars that went through NYC as well. At some stage it is clear that sales shifted through to the QMG with Defence Aid and then Lend-Lease also going through the QMG. All other contracts for cash, and that includes Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, British & French, etc. went through NYC but must have had official Washington sanction because of the Neutrality Acts of course.

From what I have read in official papers, Henry Ford was not interested in DA and L-L until August 1941 when a deputation from the UK reported that they had been to a US Government-sponsored exhibition and trial of military vehicles of all types and from various companies. It was reported that Mr Ford had evidently changed his attitude by then which was a pleasant surprise to the Brits! That said how come Ford were involved with the Jeep programme..so nothing is cut and dry except that with the Jeep programme that was indeed a US Government project.