Interesting Picture

[Mikey51]

There was some interesting discussion about this subject on Culvers a few years back as I posted a similar pic of a T3 band on what I thought, at the time, was a late WW2 Carbine. Turned out the pic was taken a few months after the "official ending of WW2". It's any interesting subject which has yet to be finalised. Mike.

Information

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[Rustship]

I have magnified and looked closely, I dont think that is the rear sight! I think it is something in the background. Look closely and magnify up to 400%. I think you will see what I mean, the object in not in the same plain of the rifle.

[DaveHH]

Figure the war WAS Tinian, P.I. and Okinawa at this time. They got huge amounts of material all of the time. It is very likely that some late model carbines came directly into these Islands, either as material or with newly deployed troops. I believe they were actively building troop strength in anticipation of a home island invasion. Or let's say a new fighter group of Mustangs was deployed to Iwo, new planes, new pilots, new men, new weapons to guard them?

[rpw7351]

It's not about the sight.... First pic I've seen of WW2 T3 band. They did get out into the field.

[browningautorifle]

First pic I've seen of WW2 T3 band. They did get out into the field.

Yes...we've established this here some time ago...

[firstflabn]

Until someone produces a dated photograph, personal account, or supply document, it's all speculation. When properly used, speculation is a useful tool in getting to the right question, but by itself leads to no more than walking in circles.

Start the clock; this photo appears about once every six months or so - and to date no one has managed to move the ball forward.

[Bubba-7]

You can see fly boys in the water.

[DaveHH]

I have no proof. There are probably very few places where B29s were ditching and can be seen from an island. Not Korea, but maybe, This could be Iwo or Tinian, but they were flying for quite a while after the war ended. I worked with an old B29 pilot and he said that after the war, the government wanted the left over B29s on Tinian flown home. This guy said almost to a man everyone refused as they were just so much worn out junk after those 3000 mile flights over and over again. So you can bet there were months of changing engines, test flights and that kind of activity going on. But that is just speculation.

[Bill Hollinger]

I don't know what happened to it but somewhere here on Milsurps is that same photo with the original caption that places it at Iwo Jima in the spring of 1945.

[firstflabn]

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread....arbine+okinawa

Reply #13 in the above linked thread appears to be the source of the photo. No mention of an exact date, just the dates of Pacific service of the unit. There could well be another source for the photo (unless the authors the photo was taken by a unit member), but until a dated photo is produced, we're right back at square one (cue the 60 Minutes clock ticking intro).

Still no basic direct evidence (though I'm certain the Type 3 band made it to the field before the end of the war). There's evidence and there's belief. No matter how strong the belief, it doesn't add up to evidence. Statistical and logical arguments only establish an event was possible, but also fall short of proof.

Delivery of replacement items to the Pacific could easily take 150 days; the supply chain was filled by 1945 (either 60 or 75 days of average usage), and if the Pacific operated like the ETO, replacements were armed after arriving at the replacement depot in theater, so even if you have a late war item available, the quantities are small and, accordingly, the chances of it showing up in a photo are slim.