Thompson SMG mags and pouch value

[artu44]

I know just this notorius pic pic from Signal Corps in Italy. This ranger used to be quite informal with uncle Sam stuff. As far as I saw in period pics, in ETO GIs got the 30rds mag ammo bag a la Tom Hanks.

[emmagee1917]

Cool pic with questions. He appears to have 3 30rd and 2 20rd mixed in his 5 cell pouch. He has a 50 rd drum slung under . The strap from the drum pouch is hanging to the rear and the pouch is too low for the loop to be through the belt...what's holding it up ? The Thompson is a 1928A1 model with the buttstock removed . Late production with the wingless fixed sight , being carried up-side-down.
Chris

[artu44]

Cool pic with questions. He appears to have 3 30rd and 2 20rd mixed in his 5 cell pouch. He has a 50 rd drum slung under . The strap from the drum pouch is hanging to the rear and the pouch is too low for the loop to be through the belt...what's holding it up ? The Thompson is a 1928A1 model with the buttstock removed . Late production with the wingless fixed sight , being carried up-side-down.
Chris

That pouch is a meat can pouch to be strapped to the M1923 haversck. Both rangers have no haversack so they hanged it on the pistol belt.

[emmagee1917]

Your right , strap vs lift the dot . I just saw the '28 and thought DRUM !
Chris

[LimeyCarbineLover]

Wow dont you just love pictures.....great pic look at the non standard "isms" in that picture.....the S/Sgt has a tanker jacket stuffed into his musette bag....the 5 x 20 rd pouch stuffed with 30rd mags....and the meat can pouch attached "somehow"....great spot on the M1928 Thompson with buttstock removed.

Great pic Artu

Regards

Lloyd

[Harlan (Deceased)]

You're so right, lloyd.

My son has done some WWII impressions over the years, mostly at our air shows. In doing so, we've met some of the 'serious' re-enacting groups and some of their members are so lost it's pathetic. They're anal about how their equipment, etc 'must' be. All has to be the right color, style, etc and be worn a specific way. When you try to explain that in real life the GI's were a mismatch of old, new, and improvised gear they think you don't know anything. Kinda funny people.

[LimeyCarbineLover]

Oh yeah Harlan that picture is enough to give "serious must have everything tan web" re enactors the fits.......

Heres a good reenactor picture......



This is called "The Ghosts of the 79th Infantry Division"

taken last year from an abandoned german bunker on top of Fort Du Roule overlooking Cherbourg (today)

Regards

Lloyd

[artu44]

Always I say that best source for the serious reenactor are period pics. Also for the haircut.

[LimeyCarbineLover]

100% agree Artu...original pictures cannot lie....thats where my reenactment unit takes its details and research from.

Regards

Lloyd

[Harlan (Deceased)]

By far, most of the re-enactors I've met at our air shows and events were really great people who shared the same interests most of do here and I've really enjoyed being around them. They send a lot of money on gear and restoring equipment such as jeeps and motorcycles and they really do add a lot to shows. The spectators really enjoy it and the old WWII vets really do seem to appreciate it.

It just seems there's usually that 'one guy' in the bunch (who learned everything he knows from other re-enactors and watching war movies) and he takes it upon himself to go around correcting everyone else. They're so far off base I wouldn't even begin to try and explain anything to them and they probably wouldn't listen anyway.

I have some pictures from some of he events and shows I'll try to find if anyone is interested. My son used to like to help when we went to shows but I was usually part of the air crew and couldn't dress-up for the impressions. I found a few from one event at our hangar on my hard drive where we didn't have to fly anyplace and I participated dressed as Korean War impression with my friends jeep.