Ovilla receives donation of WWII 37 mm anti-tank gun

OVILLA – A donated piece of WWII military equipment from the Army Donations Program Office was installed earlier this month on a concrete pad at Heritage Park.

The donated piece, a M3 37 mm anti-tank gun, was installed next to the city’s Veteran’s Memorial.

Ovilla City Manager David Henley said, “The city has been trying to acquire a piece of equipment from the program for many years to no avail. We were recently notified of the opportunity to attain a piece of equipment and went through the process to take possession of a M3 37 mm anti-tank gun.”

The anti-tank gun was located at the American Legion Post in Picayune, Miss. and was in bad condition, according to Henley.

City staff members went and picked up the anti-tank gun and brought it back to Ovilla.

Since receiving it, the city has had it sandblasted, painted with powder coat paint, and put new tires on it consistent with the tires it would have had when it was in service.