https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...anding_C-1.jpg
D-Day Invasion Glider Pilots On Landing Craft Return 1944
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...landingc-1.jpg
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https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...anding_C-1.jpg
D-Day Invasion Glider Pilots On Landing Craft Return 1944
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...landingc-1.jpg
did anyone find the M1?
More than one, too.
2 rifles. One in the foreground, down low on the picture, the other one on its right. You see the stock on the rope.
Few Glider Pilots had issued M1's, as Brit/Canadian Glider pilots didnt have 303's. Every Glider pilot I ever interviewed were Browning pistol wearers.
This is a great photo, taken at a time of guys chewing the fat, and caught without any posing......totally natural...brilliant;) The guy in the foreground with a cigarette appears to have a PARA wings on his shirt???
Can't really say, since I don't know exactly how that looks like, but I enlarged the picture and found a third rifle. Just behind the first one.
Really great picture!!!
Gil, the collar dog is actually a winged propeller, WWII USAAF officer collar 'brass'.
Their air force was part of the army until 1947, so USAAF personnel wore 'branch insignia'.
That Sir, is the sum total of everything I know about WWII US uniforms.
note the three Gi's with helmet scrim, leather gloves and one with rigger made leg pouch another with a gas brassard - perhaps pathfinders?
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...assardEB-1.jpg
Glider pilots were part of the USAAF. They were withdrawn after landing and sent to the rear. Pathfinders were all infantry with additional skills. They remained in the fight with their units and were detached back to make up Pathfinder sections when another drop was planned.
BEAR
No date on the photo, but judging from the face hair they were in the field a day or so, fighting to stay alive.
all true but how do you explain the apparent paratrooper equipment?Quote:
Originally Posted by BEAR
on the far right Gi has leather gloves and wire cutters on cartridge belt
To the left GI sitting appears to have a US flag arm band
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...laggauze-1.jpghttps://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...earmflag-1.jpg
So sorry guys, just reaffirm the winged collar dog on the guy in the landing craft, are we saying he was a Glider Pilot of the USAAF, wearing Paratroopers kit, with what looks the exact size of a British Parachute Regiment collar dog?
Only reason I raise it is, I am not sure I have seen a silver collar dog worn by US Glider pilots on their collars!!
I am sure someone knows the answer.
I suppose this guys collar dog who was JOKER of one of the U.S. Squadrons is the same?
The two chaps behind the GI at the combing rail one with a cig the other with goggles they do not look a day over 18 if at all 18.
Wonder how many of those 18 are still with us? It is a timeless photograph.
Why wouldn't the pilots be equipped to fight? After all a drop is almost always behind enemy lines and the enemy isn't going to let them pass just because they are the glider pilots. I suspect they expected to have to fight till linkup before they can be withdrawn.
WW2 Glider pilots
Attachment 89947
Attachment 89948
Attachment 89949
Notice the shoulder insignia of the group of pilots and the shoulder insignia of the guy in the lower right of the landing craft.
As it says on the photo description, "being recovered" and the relaxed atmosphere on the LC is fairly evident. Nearly every man with a cigarette on the go.
I suspect the enemy weren't the only ones they had to fight to get back. Think of a sergeant watching a guy heading to the rear and yelling,"Hey soldier! Where do you think you are going?" So the pilot carried airborne troops who ended up sealed on the airbase with him. Maybe they fixed him up with some proper jump gear and he stuck his wings on the collar to identify himself to his own leadership. Plausible?
Bob
Highly probable Bob ;)
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...npad1JPG-1.jpg I see one GI with these
also found this "What did the glider pilots who flew troops to Normandy on D-day do after they landed?"
Craig Simons, Project Manager
They fought their way back with the airborne troops they carried. The mission of the parachute and glider infantry units were to drop behind enemy lines, capture their designated targets or attack the enemy from behind, and hold until relieved by standard infantry or armored infantry troops. The glider pilots, if they survived their own landings (and many of them didn't), would fight along side their airborne passengers until they could be relieved to re-join their army/aviation units.
Those that weren't injured fought with the troops they delivered. There is a documentary on these guys, who were in mind one many groups of unsung heroes. There weren’t many of them, less than 3000 if memory serves, and they’ve formed an a veteran’s association.
NWWIIGPA-Official Website NWWIIGPA-Official Website
It appears that the airbornee and the glider pilots returned at the same time “Give me 3 days and nights of hard fighting and you’ll be relieved and sent back to England”
Until I saw this video, I always thought they selected the glider pilots from the ranks of the glider units. Silent Wings: The American Glider Pilots of World War II (2007) - IMDb
And concerning the wear of the airborne kit of the pilots. If you had a choice of going into combat with the uniform of a "leg" doughboy or an Awesome, elite, tougher than nails PARATROOPER..... what would you wear? :D
If you had a choice of going into combat with the uniform of a "leg" doughboy or an Awesome, elite, tougher than nails PARATROOPER..... what would you wear?
Do you really think they had a choice or the elites tolerate them wearing a badge of office they did not earn? Then again if they fought there way back with the airborne that may explain the equipment but It appears they came back together.
Who cares what they wore as long as they did not funk it when the lead started flying who gives a rats ar*e what the hell they were wearing just return fire and advanced where possible..........
When I have been involved in scraps as a civie when the sh*t hit the fan with a bikie mob the last thing you want to see is a so called mate bailing on ya when your getting planted by a couple of rat bags, the rat bags were dealt with!
Just joking gents.