14-145 Garand Picture of the Day - Memorial Day 1942

[Mark in Rochester]

Army Parade Wash., Memorial Day

Date taken:May 1942

Photographer:Thomas Mcavoy

Information

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[browningautorifle]

All those acres of superbly expensive gear that we're currently fighting each other to accumulate. Top two pics for instance...helmets alone...

[SA M1Dom]

Someone has to explain the head gear in the first pic to me. Looks like infantry wearing fighter pilot gear. Am I right?

[RT Ellis]

The "flight helmet" worn by the soldiers in this formation in the first image was used by early parachutists as head gear, until it was figured safe to wear helmets during exit of the aircraft. Note that they all wear parachute jumper's boots, at a time when parachutists were the only troops authorized to wear them.

[SA M1Dom]

Ah yes i should have picked ip on he jumper boots. I was just puzzled by the look of the flight hats.

[browningautorifle]

They also tried football helmets for a time as Para helmets...that looked silly...

[SA M1Dom]

Lol they look a little silly in that pic too. At least they found he helmet to be safe. The helmet is bad ***.

[browningautorifle]

A year later they didn't look so silly...or on D-Day...

[SA M1Dom]

Yes thats exactly what i mean. I didnt mean to imply that our Airborne troopers were silly. Just the head gear.

[browningautorifle]

Agreed...