Cushman made 4,734 airborne scooters for the military beginning in 1944. The rugged, simple Model 53 could travel through a foot of water, climb a 25 percent grade and had a range of approximately 100 miles.
Technical notes:
Engine: Cushman 1-cylinder 16M71 of 4.6 hp
Maximum speed: 40 mph
Weight: 255 lbs
In the later stages of the war in Europe, Allied paratroopers used these scooters to maintain contact between units, increase their mobility and haul small loads. The Cushman Motor Works designed the Model 53 Airborne Scooter to be airdropped by parachute or carried by glider. Some scooters, like this one, had a hitch to pull a model M3A4 general-purpose utility cart. By adding certain equipment, the cart could be converted to carry a .30-cal. or .50-cal. machine gun or even an 81mm mortar.
for further reading...
http://www.ima-usa.com/original-u-s-wwii-1944-model-53-airborne-motor-scooter-accessories-fully-restored.html
