M-1 Rocket Launcher, "Bazooka"

Gift of Mahlon "Lonnie" and Lee Wallace, 2012.542.001

The bazooka was developed to give American troops the capability of destroying enemy tanks when support was unavailable. Significantly more portable and effective than earlier anti-tank rifles, the bazooka was named for a musical instrument invented by comedian Bob Burns. While early versions were ineffective, later variants were effective against medium tanks and light vehicles. Francis Currey used a found bazooka to inflict significant damage on advancing German armored units during the Battle of the Bulge.