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1949 Jeep Trip from South America to Alaska

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images, Old News Articles • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

An October 18, 1949, article in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram announced Daniel M. Towns decision to drive a jeep from Magallanes, Chile, to Fairbanks, Alaska, then drive to Washington, D.C. He is hoping to be able to cross the Darien Gap rather than boat around it. He plans to use tracks on a jeep to get through the Gap. As of the date of the article, Willys-Overland (or a dealer) had already agreed to supply a jeep.

1949-10-18-fort-worth-star-telegram-jeep-trip-SA-to-Alaska-lores

A few weeks later, Towns received some advice from Frank Buck, as described in a November 07, 1949, article in the Forth Worth Star-Telegram. Frank Buck died a few months later.

Clipping from Fort Worth Star-Telegram - Newspapers.com

The February 14, 1950, issue of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram noted the endorsement of the US Junior Chamber of Commerce:

1950-02-14-fort-worth-star-telegram-jeep-trip-SA-to-Alaska

Apparently, eighty women wanted to join him, some of whom were married:

1950-05-26-fort-worth-star-telegram-jeep-trip-SA-to-Alaska

The June 03, 1950, issue of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram noted Daniel had managed to get interviewed on network TV.

Clipping from Fort Worth Star-Telegram - Newspapers.com

So, what happened to Daniel M. Towns? In a July 20, 1950, article Towns announced he was stopped from going because the draft board would not permit him to leave due to the outbreak of US involvement in the Korean War. It appears that was the end of his attempts to complete a Pan-American trip:

1950-07-20-fort-worth-star-telegram-jeep-trip-SA-to-Alaska

 

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