Transmission / axle wind up !!! Cmp

[motto (RIP)]

In my (non Blitz) experience it's not unusual to find that when you try to disconnect the front axle (Jeep, GMC, Studebaker, Dodge) it is not possible whilst stopped or driving forward. Disconnect is easily achieved in every case by reversing the vehicle a short distance, sometimes only a few feet.
Recently at an event a long time HMV owner asked me if I could help him as he couldn't get his '42 Jeep out of four wheel drive. Once again, a few feet in reverse did the trick.
I think the wind up in soft conditions is due to the load and/or traction differences between axles. On hard going simply going around a corner will do it as will any variation in tyre circumference.
In answer to the question about the loud bang being associated with any damage, I would say most likely not. If the vehicle ran fine after that it would have been the dog clutch disengaging and they are very robust.
Just as an aside, White scout cars were permanent four wheel drive, no disconnect, no power divider. The vehicle weighed around four ton and the drive line coped with it so a bit of windup is no big deal.

David