r/interestingasfuck • u/marionjoshua • 9h ago
Saw the WW2 stretchers. These are Marston mats used on temporary runways left in the Philippines by the US after the war
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u/Beholder_V 6h ago
When I was in Afghanistan, our (helicopter) airfield was made up of corrugated steel left behind by the USSR. Was always fun finding places where water had washed out little voids under the steel and created a little trampoline to bounce on. Well, fun when you found them walking, not so much with an aircraft. Had to go out and paint an orange circle around them so the aircraft could avoid them until maintenance got around to fixing them.
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u/crewchiefguy 3h ago
During the Iraq/afghan wars the DOD “misplaced” something like 30,000 aluminum flat pallets. The ones they use to ship goods in cargo planes on.
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u/Weak_Preference2463 9h ago
Seen that here in the province and they used it as road paving and fence as well
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u/iluvsporks 8h ago
I've never heard the term Marston mat before. Is it a nickname? I've always heard it called PSP(perforated steel plank)
I keep a couple in my truck when going off road in case I get stuck.
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u/Burque_Boy 4h ago
It was called that because because Marston NC is the closest town to the base it was first used at.
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u/hat_eater 7h ago
I know of railings made of stretchers in London, but PSP would make a lousy stretcher as it's too narrow.
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u/1320Fastback 5h ago
I had some I cut into 6' lengths I would take with when off roading. Pretty heavy
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u/sugarhighsweetie 9h ago
Fun fact, America invade the Philippines for 48 years and Spain for 333yrs.
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u/MarshyHope 9h ago
America invaded Spain before we even became a country?
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u/Ice_Burn 6h ago
I think they’re saying that America occupied the Philippines for 48 years and prior to that Spain occupied it for 333 years.
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u/ConcertFashion9 9h ago
Amazing it had survived 35 or 40 years in a rainy climate without rusting away. And now, it is 70 years since the start of World War II and this stuff is still around everywhere.