G.I. with adjustable sight in combat

[frankderrico]

Bob I know you were just funnin. I say go for the resto.

mpd, Korea?

In the intrest of collecting
Best Regards.....Frank

Information

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[frankderrico]

More info on the photo.
TR, I went back and looked at the ad. It says PFC Billy Downs assigned to the 89th. ID peers around a street corner in Werdau, Germany searching for German stagglers on 4-24-45.
So now we have identified the G.I. Wonder if he is stll with us?.....Frank

[Tired Retired]

Some of the National Archieves info is on line and searchable. I believe that most of the Army induction records are. Unfortunately, I am dealing with a loss to the family and I don't have the time to do the research. But I will give it a shot later next week if someone else doesn't want to do it first. Does anyone know where the 89th ID was based out of?

[frankderrico]

TR, sorry to hear about your loss, you have my condolences. Fully understand.

Respects.....Frank

[imarangemaster]

My dad had an Inland with a type II rear sight on Iwo Jima in February, 1945. No bayonet lug, though. Sadly he passed in 2003, so I can't get more info. He had a Saginaw, also, but that was for a short time on Saipan, I believe.

About 4 years ago, I actually had a transitional Inland (12-44) that had a Type II rear sight and front band. The bore was terrible and the muzzle swallowed an M1 ball round (NOT counterbored). Accuracy was dismal (minute of milk jug at 50 yards!), so I sold it for one that shot well.

[firstflabn]

Too bad it had to be an Inland since that doesn't tell us whether it was new production or a replacement sight. Saw an after action report somewhere in my travels that was complaining about the poor quality of replacement weapons being issued for the build up for Okinawa. Seems like it said something to the effect that the replacement weapons weren't in much better shape than what was turned in. This report didn't say anything about rear sights, but it surprised me that badly worn repaired rifles were being issued for combat that late in the carbine's production program.

To my knowledge there is neither a comprehensive (or even near comprehensive) number for how many carbines survived WWII nor how many were rebuilt (at least in major arsenal rebuild programs). I'm a logistics type and it kills me when I can't find such a fundamental number. War Baby has an estimate from an Ord guy guessing 700 k were expended during WWII and Korea, but doesn't say what the guess is based on.

[phil441]

Ed, sorry about the loss.

[Bill Hollinger]

The knee is better. I'm still just hanging around the house. I did go out and take a short walk uo in the mountains with my girl on Saturday. Probably did a little too much. Thanks for asking.

[imarangemaster]

The knee is better. I'm still just hanging around the house. I did go out and take a short walk uo in the mountains with my girl on Saturday. Probably did a little too much. Thanks for asking.

Glad to hear it Bill. I drove by your area (California City) Friday night on my way in the state on my big move back to California. Thought about you and wondered how you were doing. Good luck and speedy rehab.