Did you know that the landing crafts used at D-Day and every major amphibious invasion during World War II were designed and built in New Orleans?
The story of the Higgins boat is chronicled in Louisiana Public Broadcasting's documentary Builders, Heroes & the Boats that Won the War for Us. This half-hour documentary not only looks at the history of the Higgins LCVP (Landing Craft Vehicle, Personnel) but also the construction of an exact replica of the landing craft that will be displayed at the National D-Day Museum when it opens in June in New Orleans.
The documentary features interviews with renowned WWII historian Stephen Ambrose and Higgins' biographer Jerry Strahan. Both scholars will provide historical details and insights into the crucial role that Louisiana played in World War II.
The show was written by award-winning producer Diana Baker. Baker won a first place National Educational Telecommunications Award for the LPB documentary, "Adrift In The System," and recently won an Edward R. Murrow award for writing. Gary Allen is the director for the project.
The Right Man, with the Right Boat, at the Right Time
Andrew Jackson Higgins was a bold entrepreneur hailing from Nebraska. He moved to New Orleans and jumped into the boat building business as an owner of a lumber company.
Higgins was fascinated by the special flatbed boats that the Cajun trappers used to maneuver into backwater areas that were not accessible to conventional boats. Soon he founded Higgins Industries and began to make flatbed boat designs. In the early 1930s Higgins' most successful design was called the Wonderboat. Its design featured the propeller and shaft housed in a tunnel to protect it from damage. The bow was so strong it could run full speed onto river banks and sand bars without damaging the hull. Despite these advantages, the Wonderboat suffered from a lack of power.
In the 1940's, as war loomed over the horizon, Higgins began to promote a modified, more powerful version of the Wonderboat to the U.S. Navy. At first, officials didn't want to take a chance on a small boat dealer from the Deep South. Finally, Senator Harry Truman urged the Navy to test a Higgins craft against a boat from the U.S. Bureau of Ships. While the Bureau of Ships boat nearly sank after reaching open seas, Higgins' LCP performed the test flawlessly again and again and Higgins Industries was awarded the Navy contract.
The LCP modified to include a retractable door and was renamed the LCVP or Landing Craft Vehicle, Personnel. This feature not only enabled troops to be put directly on the beach, but also allowed trucks & other vehicles to be landed in an amphibious assault.
The LCVP was so crucial to the Allied effort in WWII, Dwight Eisenhower proclaimed that without Higgins' boat, Allied campaigns would not have been nearly as successful. Adolf Hitler also commented the Andrew Jackson Higgins was the "new Noah," because Higgins' boat design changed the world.
The LCVP
When most people talk about the Higgins Boats they are referring to the LCVPs (Landing Craft Vehicle, Personnel) that were a major part of the assaults at Normandy, Guadacanal, Tarawa, Iwo Jima. Okinawa, and other major battles during World War II.
Higgins Industries, Incorporated built most of the Navy Fleet including PT boats and a wide range of other smaller crafts. In all, Higgins built an amazing 20,094 boats during World War II. At one time, more than 90% of the American fleet was either designed or built by Higgins and the New Orleans company. The company received the "E" for its efforts, the highest honor that the Army and Navy could bestow on a company.
For more on the design of the LCVP and other Higgins boats, go to the LCVP section of the
Higgins Boat Project website.
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