Monday, April 8, 2019

Gasoline Rationing During WW2


World War II gas ration cards were distributed to individuals to limit the amount of gasoline one could purchase at a time. They were created by the Office of Price Administration during the war, and different people may have be allowed larger amount of gasoline; for example, someone in the military would have been able to use more gallons of gasoline than a civilian. This was to benefit the war effort, as the gasoline was needed by United States troops at home and overseas. The cards were not only for cars, but also had limitation on boats as well; the owner of the car could only fill up one vehicle per rationed amount. On the back of the gas ration card, instructions were listed out to prevent confusion for both the user and the gas attendant; one instruction did include making a visit to the local ration board in case there were problems or if a new card was needed.
Other types of ration cards included motorcycle limitations, where gas usage was terraced by miles driven. The mileage card suggested to the rider to cut down on how often he or she rode their vehicle, and to also buy war bonds and stamps to benefit the war efforts. The cards could not be transferred or used for more than one vehicle at a time, despite of the owner has more than one car or boat. The gas mileage car included information that if the owner should sell their vehicle, the new owner would not be able to use the gas mileage card; all of the cards and unused stamp and coupons would have to be given back to the local ration board.

           

Charles Walder Parke WW2 Collection, ca. 1940, MSS 1510; Box 2, Folder 3. Ohio History Connection, Columbus Ohio.
War Ration Books. Motorcycle Mileage Rations, 1941-1945, Published material; VFM 4862. Ohio History Connection, Columbus Ohio.
War Ration Books. Gasoline Ration Card, 1941-1945, Published material; VFM 4862. Ohio History Connection, Columbus Ohio.
War Ration Books. Gas Ration Stamps, 1941-1945, Published material; VFM 4862. Ohio History Connection, Columbus Ohio.

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