Tear Gas Gun Or Flamethrower?

[dalbert]

All,

 

This post will probably draw interest in 3 different forums, namely the Tear Gas Gun, Flamethrower, and Combat Shotgun forums. I will post links from each to it once I have completed this initial post.

 

First, a little background...In 1960, riots took place in Panama due to tensions with the U.S. As a result, President Eisenhower ordered that flags of both nations fly at equal staff in front of the Canal Zone Administration building in Balboa, C.Z., in order to portray an equal acknowledgement of the two nations. It was decided that flags would not be flown at the various Canal Zone schools. However, in January, 1964, a group of students at Balboa High School in the Canal Zone hoisted the U.S. flag onto one of the empty flag poles in front of the school. The situation in Panama was already tense, and the flag issue acted as "the match" to light an already stoked tinderbox. Rioting occurred on both ends of the Canal Zone (Atlantic and Pacific), and I believe 4 U.S. soldiers were killed, along with 19 Panamanians. Lots of potshots were taken, cars and buildings were burned, and general chaos occurred for several days until it subsided.

 

I have a personal connection to the Canal Zone , and to the 1964 riots. My late father was a doctor at Gorgas Hospital, doing his internship there from 1962-1966. Gorgas is just a few hundred yards from the former Canal Zone/Panama border in Ancon. My Dad was shot at while getting into his car during the riots. As a family, in 1973, we moved to the Canal Zone when my father returned to Gorgas Hospital as a doctor in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. We lived on Ancon Hill, and I attended Ancon Elementary School for 4 years, from 2nd through 5th grade. The Ancon Elementary School grounds formed a section of the border between the Canal Zone and Panama, namely the town of Ancon in the Canal Zone, and Panama City in Panama.

 

While attending elementary school at Ancon, I joined the Safety Patrol in 4th and 5th grade. By that time, flags were being flown on school grounds again. I was one of the flag raisers. I can say from personal experience that there was considerable attention paid to the whole flag raising process. Both flags flew at the same staff, on two separate poles. We always put up the Panamanian flag first, with the American flag raised immediately afterwards. The flags were less than 100 yards into the Canal Zone, and were clearly visible in Panama. We never had any issues, but the riots of 1964 were cautiously considered by the powers that be, including my father. In 1977, Panama and the U.S. entered into another, potentially turbulent time as the Panama Canal Treaty was being negotiated in the U.S. Congress. The Congressional proceedings were broadcast live throughout Panama, and the outcome was very uncertain at that time. (Omar Torrijos, the Panamanian dictator at the time, had TV's taken to villages throughout Panama so that as many Panamanians as possible could view the proceedings.) During the last few months of 5th grade, tensions were high, and at school we practiced getting under our desks in case of gunfire, and we also practiced evacuating the building into a series of buses that I remember were there constantly at the ready. One day, just as we were getting out of school, a bunch of Canal Zone policemen with riot helmets and shotguns came into and around the school because Panamanian students were demonstrating on the avenue between the school and Panama. It was decided after that point that Ancon would be closed as an elementary school, since it was so close to the potential action. It became an administration building in subsequent years after my last year there. In August 1977, we moved to Hawaii, so I was not there for the Canal Treaty vote. Our friends told us that they had boarded up their windows, and armed themselves in the weeks leading up to the vote. Since the vote went in Panama's favor, no conflict occurred. If the U.S. had not voted to return the canal to Panama, I'm sure another series of riots would have happened.

 

So now that I've bored you with the personal history, here's the real reason I'm posting. I recently acquired the Associated Press photograph below on Ebay. It is dated January 14, 1964, and shows U.S. troops in the Canal Zone responding to the rioting in Panama. The caption says, "Panama City, Jan. 12--TROOPS USE TEAR GAS AT CANAL ZONE BORDER-- U.S. troops wearing full battle garb and gas masks use tear gas to rout a group of Panamanians from the Canal Zone after they crossed the border to plant flags on a hillside. This is the third picture in a series made Saturday by Associated Press staff photographer Bob Schutz." ”

 

My main question regarding this photo has to do with the crouching soldier on the right side of the picture who has what appears to be a flamethrower on his back. Is it a flamethrower, or was there something similar used to dispense tear gas? My second question has to do with the shotgun slung on the back of one of the soldiers in the foreground. I think it's a Winchester Model 12 Trench Gun. What do you think?

 

Most of the soldiers are carrying M1 Garands. Life Magazine featured the Canal Zone Riots on the cover of a January 1964 issue, and the photos inside featured U.S. soldiers armed with M1 Garands and M1 Carbines. The ringleader of the Balboa High School students who raised the flag over the school that started the riots was pictured sitting atop stacks of M7A1 Tear Gas Grenade crates.

 

 

Any comments are appreciated.

 

Thanks!

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

[copdoc]

Fascinating family history. I'll read it again and get you more info if you need it but the device is likely the M3 riot agent dispenser. It is a spay gun that fit on the flamethrower tanks and was used for tear gas in the 60s. I have a friend who owns one. I'll see if he will post a picture. There is a picture in Gunner Swearengens's book. You probably need a copy with your interest.

 

More later, gun show today...... Maybe I'll find one.

 

 

Edit

Snagged a quick pic for you

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMG_14862.JPG

Edited January 23, 2011 by copdoc

[dalbert]

copdoc,

 

Thank you for your insight! I have the Swearengen book, and should have consulted it.

 

From what Swearengen says, the M3 Portable Riot Control Agent Disperser is a modified M2A1 Flamethrower. The fact that this is a gas gun versus a flamethrower makes much more sense under the circumstances of the Panama Riots.

 

Thanks Again!

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

[copdoc]

You are welcome David,

 

It is a great old book. I have thought of conspiring with someone like Fred Pickler and do an update of the book but we are both too busy. If you even need info on Riot control agents he is THE one to ask. He finished his book on the Hermit of Fort Fisher and now working on another about his travels. I wish he would just take the time to do a book on riot control agents.

 

The story of your Dad's service is very interesting. My wife is a history major and wanted to read it so now she is on machinegunboards. LOL Now maybe she will buy me a Colt 21 overstamp for Valentines Day.

 

 

 

[dalbert]

I wonder whether there are any other instances besides the Panana Riots where the M3 Portable Riot Control Agent Disperser was used in a real riot situation?

 

I found a manual available for the M3, which should arrive soon. I'lll post more information about it when I get the manual.

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

[copdoc]

I remember the National Guard Sgt saying they had them available in the 60s but don't know of them being used.

 

I was looking for an M3 manual, could not find it and forgot to look again. I was tied up at the longrifle conference. Since I can not find mine will look forward to seeing yours posted.

[dalbert]

I remember the National Guard Sgt saying they had them available in the 60s but don't know of them being used.

 

I was looking for an M3 manual, could not find it and forgot to look again. I was tied up at the longrifle conference. Since I can not find mine will look forward to seeing yours posted.

 

copdoc,

 

Here is a picture of the M3 Disperser manual. I'm going to start a new thread covering it in particular.

 

http://www.sturmgewehr.com/dalbert/MGBoards/TearGas/TM_3-1040-214-12_Web.JPG

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com