Jerry, that was a different era. The terminology used in the Military was "Field Expedient." The emphasis was to get it back in service as quickly as possible.
Here's a clip from the 48-51 Service Manual.
STRAIGHTENING FRAME
In the case of a collision or accident when the bending or twisting of a frame is not excessive, it is permissible to straighten the frame. Use of heat is not recommended when straightening frames as heat weakens the structural characteristics of frame members. Therefore any straightening of frame members should be done cold. Frame members which are bent or buckled sufficiently to show strains or cracks after straightening should be reinforced or replaced.
