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Gents, would anyone have photos of the type of canister or crate used for Bren gun air drops to French Resistance in 1944.
A friend of mine was offered a wooden box that supposedly had a Bren in it. But to me it does not look military at all. More like home made.
I would like some proper info so I can prevent him buying an expensive piece of fire wood!
30Three,
Well hopefully I can fill in a small part of that. In our Parachute Regiment Museum at Duxford we hold several such containers, which I can best describe as long circular metal containers that come apart into two halves once the parachute straps were undone.
If they were EVER made in wood I have never seen one, well not in this man's Army anyway.
Could have been in another country......but not to my knowledge. Hope that helps.
I will try and post a container when I can find it on my database. ;)
Here you go.............metal two halves
A really bold maybe that it was a transit chest, more likely a shipping crate made by a workshop to send it to storage or surplus even... Some of those were really shabby.Quote:
Originally Posted by 30Three
Wood breaks on landing if you parachute stuff in it. Splinters everywhere, damages contents, etc. Except if securely padded, etc, which makes is it too expensive. Except if you drop pallets and the wood is used to absorb shock, even then there are better and cheaper options even in WW II.
Thank you Gil. I suspected it should be metal (probably aluminium).
My friend is currently researching some of the local history of the French Resistance and this item was shown to him. It could be something that was made and used for storage after the drop; or it could just be an empty box!
I recently acquired a No4 rifle that was part of a local drop in 1944. Currently waiting for the paperwork to come back from the authorities. I'll post details of the rifle when all the legal details are sorted.
30Three,
Sorry, so are you saying your friend has a wooden copy of the standard British weapon cannister?? I think it is a normal Bren or Rifle wooden chest which he is talking about.
I bet you chuckled at the thought of a wooden air-drop container Gil! Jeeeees...... Can you just imagine it?
I found this picture. Were not all the British containers a standard size?
Even the famous WEL bike got dropped in New Guinea air drops were often perilous for the aircraft due to terrain and low flying usually a only a 100'+- then pushing stuff out wrapped in blankets for a padded landing or just straight out the door with some instances of troops being killed by the falling supplies. Imagine surviving the Japanese attacks, disease, mud & the cold just to be taken out by a can of Bully beef............................
Oops few dollars down the gurgler here..........
Humvees failed airdrop - YouTube
Thats precisely why you clear the DZ as quick as you can, once you have your kit on your back and your weapon out of its sleeve, as heavy drops are renowned for this type of incident and they follow the troop drop very quickly.
Was this a riggers course?? either way, its a major enquiry