U.S. Army Airborne Units of WWII

Private, 82nd Airborne Division, Normandie Jump:

82nd ABN. Glider Trooper:

Now the next couple of uniforms are newer to me- than those in the 'Part Two' album that follows this, but it’s a matter of making room for these uniforms now and fitting them onto the site itself, so rather than retell the 82nd and 101st Airborne stories-that is told already and re-told you'll see as you got through the collection.      

This troop's uniform does tell a story nonetheless, and a group that no longer exists, the Glider Troops! A fantastic prospect- of dropping soldiers behind the front line- silently and quickly, with some light gear, and loads of paratroopers that did not get their parachutes to use. It was a very dangerous proposition, and it proved to be very much so in practice.    

I realize now, that the helmet netting is maybe incorrect, it has been pointed out it was smaller mesh and green or (olive), I followed the movies, I guess, someday I’ll try to change it to the other, but I’m moving very fast.

2nd Lieutenant, 82nd ABN. Normandie:

The division later served in World War II where, in August 1942, it was reconstituted, the first airborne division of the U.S. Army and it fought in numerous campaigns during the war.     

This uniform is the type worn in Operation Neptune the initial airborne operation for the invasion of Normandy, on the morning hours of June 6, 1944.   

The 82nd Airborne was assigned the task of destroying vital German supply bridges and capturing causeways leading inland across the flooded areas behind the Normandy beaches where seaborne forces would land to gain control of roads and communications.    

The 82nd's patch went through some changes albeit small ones, mostly in the manufacture and then into the subdued forms, it still looks much like this as it did 70 some years ago.    

As stuff is added to the site, and this section I soon expect, within months, there will be more to add here to this story as uniform get on the site in a better order to tell the rest of the story.... I'll take the time to explain some of the Paratroopers Kit. The men were loaded down and ready for bear, maybe too much so in hindsight, many would drown in the flooded lands of France because of this and the complicated harness for their parachutes.   

The 45 in its holster, was a fine weapon in its time, and still is I think the size of the round, auto mechanism, and several rounds perfectly applicable to military use, and self-defense, the Beretta, 92 took its place of some time but the old knock-down power and dependability of the 45 hold true, and many are going back to them. the 45. auto pistol, 2 spare magazines, officers like the lieutenant here were issued these, and other groups like MP's, machine Gunners, etc., also got them. we also see his entrenching tool.   

The paras were issued line to come down a tree with on the Normandy jump, loaded down with like another 80 pounds than they trained with, they had a drop bad to-supposedly to keep them from swinging-but just to get them to have more supplies with them, this backfired though, breaking kegs, fouling up and in many just tearing away from them and falling like rocks-they would kill someone if they landed on the guys on the ground already.   

Some of the paras ripped their clothes upon the training jumps or something, and had taken to doubling up the elbows and knees, these were a good idea, even though a soldier may not survive the fight- you want to gear him up the best you can before the event! Some added pockets to the back and legs and whatnot.   

The Jump Helmet M1c. The Americans had a great piece of kit, it could be used as a washbasin, or cooking in... your food may taste a bit like paint though. But no, a 2-part assembly, the fiber-liner adjustable to all heads, had the special chin strap in it as opposed to the Infantry M1- without it the single strap without the y-straps and chin cup.   

The shell of the helmet was universal to some extent with the infantry liner setup, but after 30 or more years in use, the re-re-issues were rough much toward the end of their use in the US. Army.   

M1 carbine with folding stock, was a great assault weapon at the time, designed in this configuration for paratroopers, it maybe was a bit light, I had one and hated it, but heard quite the contrary from those who used it in battle, and civilians who owned them, I may have got a poor copy, now we have several, real and reproduction. 

The flag may be incorrect. I don’t think so, but, I know now whatever arm a flag is on it should have the stars on the blue square at the forward part of the arm as if flowing in the wind as you move, but not necessarily so if you look in photos of WW2.     

82nd Abn. Div. 2nd Lt. Macana Jacket:

A month of fighting in Normandy had reduced the Division to a shadow of its former self. Three parachute drops and the subsequent battles meant that many of the men who had been Privates in Sicily were now leading squads. Sergeants received battlefield commissions, and former company commanders were now leading Battalions.    

The 507th Parachute Infantry was transferred out and the 504th rejoined the Division's ranks, and in September of 1944, the 82nd Airborne Division took part in the ill-fated Operation Market Garden, in which three Allied Airborne Divisions were dropped behind German lines, into Holland, to secure a direct highway over the Rhine.    

The 82nd did a valiant job of seizing its objectives, but severe command and intelligence failures before the battle had resulted in the British 1st Airborne Division being dropped into a concentration of heavily equipped SS Panzer formations around the final bridge over the Rhine. Scarcely 2000 British Paratroopers were left to retreat across the river in boats. Some 10,000 had been dropped into Arnhem.    

The 82nd was withdrawn from the fighting in October and was refitting in Rheims, France when the call went out in mid-December 1944, to board trucks and head north. Hitler had launched one final offensive in the West, and the American Airborne Divisions were the only reserve left. While the 101st earned worldwide acclaim for their stubborn defense at Bastogne, the 82nd fought a bitter, cold battle on the northern shoulder of the Ardennes holding key river crossings until January, when the Division took part in the counterattack that drove the German Divisions out of Belgium.      

After a period of refitting, the 82nd was committed in the final drive across Central Germany towards the Elbe River, where it accepted the surrender of over 100,000 German troops. Note here the helmet’s colored potato-bag strips hung in the webbing are pretty effective in breaking up the outline of the helmet, so much so you can hardly tell the front from the back! but when running back to your lines, it's good to have the look of an American, camouflaged-on Americans proved not too favorable either.    

After the end of hostilities, the 82nd Airborne was given the task of occupying the American sector of Berlin until the troops, at last, returned home to a New York City homecoming parade on January 12th, 1946.    

Total wartime casualties for the Division stood at close to 2,000 men killed in action or died of wounds, having suffered an additional 6,500 men wounded in action. The Division made four combat jumps throughout the Second World War and remains an elite amongst the units of the present-day United States Army.

Staff Sergeant, 101st Airborne Division, E Co. 506 PIR. Normandy VJump, 1944:

This is an interesting uniform as it was a 1 jump, one campaign uniform, very specific time, June of 1944.   

The 101st Airborne Division and the 506th Paratrooper Infantry Regiment (PIR) go hand in hand as one of the most famous Airborne / Infantry units in the Second World War, even o the Present Day-there always involved wherever the US. Army Soldier is in action.   

 And Easy Company has had more written about possibly more than any Army Unit. It is just a fascinating story, and the story got written about what they did, many have not and are equally responsible for winning that war-and as in all wars much is lost because it does not get written down their stories. We’ll tell those stories too.   

All of them are famous and from the US Army. the company as the whole division's first jump, was into Normandy, in France in Operation Overlord.    

They Jumped into Holland and Germany too, they did what they called a tailgate jump (out of the truck) in Belgium, and served during the Siege of Bastogne, holding their position through the coldest winter in European history, until relieved by the 7th Armored Division.      

This uniform represents the typical style for the Normandy Jump. the color and pattern are unique to the first jump. the light olive color distinctly pointed out to the regular army "Dog-Face" foot soldiers that they were Airborne Infantry and were the ones walking right alongside them.    

 The US flag was to ID them to locals, not the enemy, many landing on the beaches would have a slip-on type of band with a flag on it, but this is sewed on, they didn't want to scare off the friendlies, nor get shot in the ass by a touchy trigger fingered FFI resistance fighter. The Staff Sergeant rank is carried on both arms, and the black/blue backing with olive stripe is a World War Two-and Korean war thing, a form of battlefield subdued insignia, The 101st Airborne Division known as the "Screaming Eagles" has been one of the most potent and the most tactically mobile unit of the U.S. Army. Sometimes called "the tip of the spear. “Able to execute brigade-size air assault operations from World War Two to the present day. The eagle's face is supposed to face forward regardless of the sleeve.

The left sleeve insignia represents the present unit, and the right sleeve, prior unit’s service. the eagle had several original faces and one with a white tongue, all served with great pride. During the famous operations in Belgium, when they arrived many still wore this lightweight puffy jacket, but its design allowed movement with liners worn underneath it, only later came the green 4 pocket jacket and heavy wool overcoats, as supplies got into Bastogne. The coat was designed very much with the jump in mind and through trial and error in training in the States, they designed a useful jump uniform. Not some of the kit here, I dolled the uniform all up with grenades, gloves canteens, knives, and the lot.     

The uniform had large pockets to carry everything from toothbrushes and apples or spoons to bandages or Bullet clips and hand grenades.     

The trousers were very loose-fitting and had matching pockets, they knew they might not receive ammunition, or supplies for a while-so they jumped ready.      

The WWII Fragmentation Grenade is a very effective weapon, I think this is how they looked, of course, are not wise, don't play with them outside looking like this.... blue handle identifies it like a dummy, and they don't have paint on them. These were heavier than the new baseball and egg hand grenades, which are concussion types.   

While the bayonet assault has in a large way been considered obsolete no one who ever lived through one will ever say it’s not effective, since rifles were issued to armies the bayonet charge is one of the most effective terrifying, and fast-moving ways to assault- up against automatic weapons, still the

AK-47 comes with a knife that can be stuck on the front of it, The Infantryman's 'Web Gear' as it was, basic, simple canvas web, tough, equipment was clipped onto the belt and interlocking cross traps. Basic, but it worked, it went through several complete changes from 1917 to the present.    

Serving much the same purpose, but of new light material, Velcro adjustments, and the layout often part of the armored/flack vest, and the same color as the uniform. The WWII Canteen, aluminum, and durable- the water could be heard splashing around in them and the weight.  There were several near the same makers for these so there were some variations, like a metal lid, Bakelite, and even a black bottle. The marine used a different cross-over closure flap on the canteen bag.     

The infamous Carlisle Aid Kit, which contains some sterile, gauze bandage, to cram into the wound.... some paras carried 2, just planning on staying a while anyway, not that 2 were enough for a bullet wound, in the day of rifled barrels, and heavy 7.92mm metal jacketed bullet, and dum-dum rounds, etc..... there is all bad now aren't they really.    

The gloves, simple leather things, wore out quickly when repelling, but every Para has a set of them.   I've done nothing to tell the story of the 101st operations during Normandy or the rest of their time in the war, I figure their legend alone is enough, most of what you hear is true, and the story has been told many times by far more capable than I, but so the uniform must be in the collection, and then the US Section began to grow......massively. They have a very impressive history indeed. And he carries an M1 Garand Rifle, in short, it was a game-changer, and ahead of its time, I came at just the right time too, and helped turn the odds in the allies’ favor.    

505th Pathfinders started their work on the day before D-Day. These Airborne Infantrymen were literally the ones who led the way, they were the first into France, to mark the way with special lights and radio signals to home for the main jump, before the beach landing at Normandie.    

The spit-shined Corcoran jump boot, in their WWII Brown Color, was part of the Airborne products pieces of kit, great for jumping to earth in, maybe less so on the ground.       

The helmet to have a special modification in the way the chin strap was applied and tightened up, that was a good thing, and they wanted that helmet tight.     

The uniform often receives riggers pouches sewn onto the sleeves and back of the jacket for added ammo., and patches added to the knees and elbows. The helmets for the 101st trooper were, covered with olive-colored netting material.to break up the outline, in this case, an added medical dressing has been tied onto the front. Easy companies spade marking on the side. Most of us know this stuff if you’re looking at the site, but the helmet and the shell are what we see all the time in movies, or just the liners, but there 2 pieces, and not held together by much.  

They were not designed to stop bullets, though some did, on the side of this is the spade insignia of Easy Company for this jump. The helmet went to a Kevlar Version and at that point, they did away with the helmet something more like the foreign method of sizing closet or your head size with just a little adjustment, they would prove to be heavy as well, and now there is a very light version. The resin and fiber-liner in its rough form could be covered with lacquer, but that was only used on the inside surface, the outside was painted up by different units’ preferences-many never got paint. The liner was made in an interesting early fiberglass resin and cloth material. the Marines had come from a company that made them from a type of pressed cardboard!   

 I got these 'Rigger Pouches' from a friend when I grabbed a uniform from him, that uniform became my Airborne-Medic! so these will get with one of the Airborne infantrymen,. These pouches might fit 2 grenades, or like 4-5 clips of 30.06 rounds.    

These 2 pouches were not an issue either- but a custom-made-ammo bag, one could maybe get 5 to 6 grenades in one of these, a bunch of M1 clips, and guessing 4 BAR Magazines. I will have to load these up and put on of these jump uniforms- to show the value vs weight attached to them it's always good to have plenty of ammunition, provided you don't have to hump it 20 miles a day, and... they did, had to, they’re being behind the line- and there was no supply.      

With the pouches turned over, you can see how they easily slipped right on the cartridge belt. A guy with these pouches had a great advantage over his enemy without.      

Medic, 101st ABN. Normandy Jump, 1944:

Now I thought I had an Airborne Medic purchased many years ago, that has not been found, so a friend offered me his old uniform, and I filled that spot in the collection, I may make a 'Medic' Album in itself down the road as I think this makes 3 now for the US. WWII Medics in the collection.      

Having been through the Medic Training School, and Airborne Jump School to boot, even extra training in England prior to the Normandy Jump, he had been assigned a platoon, and it was his job to take care of and examine his platoon's troops, issue quinaldine and water tablets, and get to know the men in his outfit.         

Not shown are the medical packs wherein the Navy attached to the webbing crossed in the back and over the shoulders, the Army tended to have the 2 medical bags carried by a single strap each and crisscrossed over the body and under the arms.    

He would have been loaded up for the jump as well with the Gas-Scarf, you were to pee on it in a pinch, and hold over your own face.... he had a May-West flotation device, for if he fell in a stream or the lake (Many did fall into flooded areas). He had medical supplies and bandages, a .45 Automatic, I think, and the supply bag attached to his leg- that almost lost the second they stepped into the airstream!     

(At 101srt Eagle here) His other form of identification as a medic- nearly all the Army Medics carried a Red Cross Arm Band, they were not really 'The Red Cross' which lends international aid, but i is a universal identification for Medic or help as well.     

Most Medics were the -immediate first aid step of the process of saving lives, they were the initial trauma team in the field- controlling the bleeding and shock and moving them to where they needed to go, not to perform surgery. So many never even had the item left issued to them, the basic stethoscope, some were acquired by various means.     

Here are some forecasts, handy to have to stop the bleeding from an artery say, but you don't see a lot of these out there at the time, I think bots Stethoscopes and forceps were much more likely to be carried in Vietnam. This was the style of trousers that would have been with the uniform.   

The Overseas cap is in a rare Chocolate Brown, with the blue and white version of the Paratroop / Glide patch over it. and around the edging of the side, the medical piping colors are red and white. This does not need showing, but you can see the other side.  and the interesting interior.    

The Helmet here, I used, depicting a different paint scheme. Most have a, or 4 large white circles with a centered red cross in each. This may be more of a "'Pacific Theater thing” and I believe the single-red cross was used there. But I've seen something like 2-3 variants in the same picture, so I don't know.

   Note: The Morphine skratte that all Paratroopers were issued 1 prior to the jump. The Medics were known targets by the Japanese., However, the Germans and Russians were no different there, and really often the Americans as well, who did not take a lot of Japanese or German, soldiers, especially those of the Waffen-SS.    

The helmet is extremely 'Minty' better than new maybe even... I have a thing about helmets and often have more money into them than the uniform. We've had many of these get sent to a friend who does them (Like here) or My or another friend do what we can do, I have some god-offal amounts of time invested in these things, sometimes over a year in the works.    

101st ABN. DIV., 506 PIR. Belgium, 1944 “Major Winters”:

There are volumes written on the history of this man, many interviews, his own written accounts, and others by famous authors written about him and his historic actions in the Second World War, far more than I can write here, literally a legend in his own time. This is my tribute to recognize this man, his effort with his men to keep Europe and America Free and safe, a Man we should all inspire to follow.

The uniform, in its simplest form here, shows the officer’s jacket and helmet at the end of his military career, it is my tribute to this man, I never met.

101st ABN. DIV., Captain, ‘Ike Jacket’:

He has the Combat Infantryman’s Badge over his “Paratrooper Qualification Jump Wings and jumped into the 3 main jumps of WWII in Europe. He has the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Miniature Medal, with Campaign Star and Arrowhead device, The American Defence Medal, and the American Campaign Medal, on the other pocket he has the units Presidential Citation. On the lower sleeve, he has 3 1/2 years in this war that all you could have-obviously all his training was in before the war started for the US., and the French Croix De Guerre Fourragere (Shoulder Lanyard,) That is about what we have on this guy t this time.

101st ABN. DIV. Colonel, Dress Uniform:

OK, another Easy Company member….that’s a Full Colonel, that may be a bit of a reach, He has all the 101st insignia on the uniform, on the sleeve, and the DUIs on the shoulder straps. He wears the Presidential Unit Citation, on his Right Chest, The CIB, which Every Army soldier admires, and equally the precious ‘Jump-Wings’. Having the WWII Victory and the Occupational Duty ribbons, put it in a very post-war place, as it took a while for these to come out. The single Star indicates he served in the European Theater of the War, in at least 1 Campaign-like the German Campaign, and may have ended up there for a while, Still, this ribbon would contradict the 2 1/2 years of war shown by the series of 6-mont service, battle-bars. Perhaps he had prior overseas deployment(s) with another unit earlier during the war with the 82nd ABN.

506 E Co., Captain, Khaki/Silk shirt:

101st Airborne Division, Staff Sergeant, MP:

This style of MP Uniform, of the Second World War, The Military Police Corps, represents the uniformed law enforcement branch of the United States Army. Investigations are the Military Police Investigators’ responsibility, and the Army Criminal Investigation Command (USACIDC), both of which report to the Provost Marshal General.      

Well, I still have yet to get together the uniforms for the number of MP Helmets here, thing is they pretty near could all use this base uniform, but then, ya, they used the fatigue jackets too...so, there is more to be done here.   

Now ya know the story of the 101st Airborne, and the famous jumps, but traveling with the Headquarters Group, were MPs, and this could be one, it’s unique too, it some of its particulars.    

They worked with maybe escorting Officers’ motorcades, supplies or Parade work maybe, and this was the standard duty uniform in post-war Europe where US Personnel were still deployed on occupational Duty. The enlisted brass on the collar depicts his branch of service with the US. ARMY, the Military Police, these were a mandatory thing, and you had to have them polished like a mirror.    

The rank of staff sergeant on each sleeve, making him a mid-grad NCO, a man of some responsibility generally.        

The Currahee DUIs, this is the crest of the 506th Parachute Infantrie Regiment, a part of the 101st Airborne Division, started getting used I think about 1945. 'Currahee' one could say was their 'Battle Cry' it was a hill they had to run or march up and down all the time in their training, this hill is on the crest-as the parachutes.      

The white lanyard for his government-issue forty-five auto pistol hanging from the right shoulder. The official MOS - 31A - Military Police Officer, 311A - Criminal Investigations Warrant Officer; 31B (formerly coded as 95B) - Military Police, 31D (formerly coded as 95D) - Criminal Investigations Special Agent, and 31E (formerly coded as 95C) Internment / Resettlement Specialist, 31K - Military Police Working Dog Handler.     

His Military Police mission in combat responsibly along with law enforcement duties included Vehicle-mounted and dismounted patrols, damage control, route reconnaissance, cordon and search operations, critical site security, convoy duties, and road escort.

Note:  These are pin-on types of DUIs and made of un-chromed Brass, as newer ones with the double-pronged style of today.      

Here the brass whistle is attached to the buttonhole- not sure this is regulation, but these chains tend to be a bit short.     

The division insignia Story, The Bald Eagle's Head, has a golden beak on a black shield. The design was based on an American Civil War tradition. The black shield represents the "Iron Brigade", which was an element in the roots leading up to the making of the 101st Division. One of the regiments of the brigade possessed a war eagle as a mascot, "Old Abe", he is the Eagle on the shield, he actually was involved in 36 battles and was known for his fierce, screaming, very distinct to Eagles in an attack, the Bird was wounded twice. After their training and reformation, the 101st was re-designated in 1942, from then on - written in golden yellow, the word "Airborne" on a Black rocker would be attached to the insignia. The white tongue has been said to be the Reconnaissance group, or it was just a rare, odd patch-don't know, my troop has it, but the normal would be red. There are colored MP Bands, one would think, it might match the line around the helmet, but this does not seem to be the case really either, I would not argue with the MP that mixed it up.    

He has a year and a half of 'War-Time' Bars. Interestingly he does not have service bars, for his time in the Army, his number of re-enlistments represents 3-4 years then now it can be 1-4, these golden ones represent 6 months on the battlefield. I can see 2-3 easily here, maybe does not matter to the wearer.  The Overseas Cap has no DUI Crest on it and never did by the looks, and this may be something that was seen more and more in the later war years and into the Post War- Occupational Duty era.    

The 506th PIR has been involved since the end of WWII - they went to Vietnam and stayed there for the duration, they trained and were on call after the war, and they operated in South Korea.    

They've gone to Iraq (several times) and Afghanistan, and still a Current organization while-Parachuting into combat may now be questionable, they are current with helicopter operations as well, and the training is second to none the Airborne Groups are second to none, now the Ranger and Airborne and Air Assault qualifications, all overlap, the lines between the different purposes are far less clear, and they all work with each other, and troops can be trained in so many different forms of operations, they many are very elite soldiers.    

As with many of the helmets in my collection, this one is like what some do with old cars, a Restoration in itself, we matched up a whole lot of beat-up helmet shells with old (why go to all the trouble linnet's), and this on a paratrooper style liner, is a complete resurrection of what we started with, crediting my friend(s) that do this for me.   

White Helmets:

The white helmet was commonly seen around Military Installations, and Compounds, doing gate service, but they found their way into the field too, doing traffic control service, white so they would stand out and be observed.

Again this uniform is a good example of a 101st Troop, Olive Green Dress Jacket with the famous Screaming Eagle on the shoulder.. I am very happy with the helmet in its special configuration.