503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment.

[painter777]

GI-Bob,
Is it POP QUIZ TIME ?
Gotta be 20 or 30 rd Thompson.... or maybe M3 30 rd Grease gun mags.... Or both.... because they look like round nose .45's.
I don't think the bullets look long enough to be .30 cal for the BAR.
And I don't know much about the Johnsons, but I think they had a Rotary mag...... not sure about the caliber without looking it up.

Read where the Carbine was a concern when fired:

From page 95 in the Book linked below-
They found the report of the Carbine closely resembled that of the Jap .256 rifle.
They had contemplated replacing the Carbine with the M1 because of the confusion.

Blossoming Silk Against the Rising Sun: U.S. and Japanese Paratroopers at ... - Gene Eric Salecker - Google Books

[USGI]

When I wrote that, I hadn't figured out how to get to those (6) stills quickly - was just pausing the video. Some of the ammo looked too "slim" - more like .30 Carbine and had me confused. Hmmm... maybe they had Pedersen devices for their '03 Springfields? That shouldn't have been possible, so just wanted to check what you thought they were. I figured Thompsons, but never even thought of the "Grease Guns." I think all of the Johnsons and others mentioned in the book were chambered for .30-06. - Bob

[shadycon]

Could be TSMG.

[Bruce McAskill]

The magazines are for the Thompsons. There is a couple of carbines shown too and what do we see but one M1A1. Now the question is was this the real footage of the preparations for the jump or a later reenactment? I can see the brass not wanting cameras there in case of a major screw up as this was the first try with paratroopers.

[painter777]

Hi Bruce,
First try with Paratroopers ?
There are numerous pics of M1A1's, 2 there as they load mags.
This was the first jump @ Battalion strength in the Pacific. Not counting the guys who couldn't jump when their door hung up on the outside of the plane.
Lots of pressure because the US Brass wasn't impressed with our earlier jumps in 1942-1943. Did you read where Gen MCarthur and 2 other top brass flew above to view the action?
Kinsler jumped with his men.

1942
12 September Sardinia USA, U.K OSS
8 November Tafaraoui, Morocco USA 556 men, 509 PIB
15 November Youks les Bains, Algeria USA 350 men, 509 PIB
24 December. El Djem, Tunisia USA, France 30 men, Hqs Co, 509 PIB; 2 French

1943
26/27 January Myitkyina, Burma USA, Burma 30 men, OSS Det 101
7/8 February North Burma USA, Burma 12 men, OSS Det 101
24 March Lawsawk, Burma USA, Burma 6 men, OSS Det 101 'B' Group
14 June Tours, France USA, UK 2 men, SOE
9 July Gela, Sicily USA 3,406 men, 3 Bn, 504 PIR; 505 PIR; 456 PFA; 307th Para Eng. Husky I Invasion Sicily
10 July Gela, Sicily USA 2,304 men, 1 & 2 Bn, 504 PIR; 376 PFA Husky II Invasion Sicily
August Naga Hills, Burma USA Air Medic Evac, USAAF Aid Aircraft
10 August Loir-et-Cher, France USA, France 3 man Jedburgh team
13 August Saint-Gilles-les-Forêts, Fr USA, France 3 man Jedburgh team
16 August Le Crevsot, France U.K., USA SOE-OSS Team
17 August Clearmont-Ferraud, Fr. USA 2 men, OSS
17 August Le Creusot, France U.K., USA 6 men, SOE
18 August Clermont-Ferrand, Fr. USA 2 men, OSS
21 August Doubs, France USA 1 man, OSS

*** 5 September Nadzab, Markham Valley, New Guinea USA, Australia 1,700, 503 PIR; 17 men, 2/4 Aust Field Regt Alamo Seize Valley ***

The Rest can be found in this link:
http://www.specialforcesassociation....03.07.2013.pdf

[Bruce McAskill]

Charlie,

I was referring to the first jump in the Pacific theater not the first for the paratroopers on a whole.

[painter777]

Yeah,
I figured as much after reading it again this morning.
-1 for me

[Mikey 52]

Hello Charlie. I have long been interested in the U.S bases in Northern Queensland, Australia, during WW2. General MacArthur was for a time based in a town called Atherton and the overall area is now called the Atherton Tablelands. I went up there in early May to have a look, that's when I got interested in the 503rd. I'm trying to find out more about places there called White Field, Gordonvale and Edmonton. where they trained. M1A1s, of course, where in the back of my mind as I am keen to find out where those first shipments went. I had heard that General MacArthur held a few briefings at Hides Hotel, in Cairns, so while I was up there I went and had a couple of beers there too!. More as it develops. Mike.

[Paul S.]

There is, or was, a website that listed all the WWII bases, Aussie and Allied, and their locations and current data. You'd have to google it since I haven't looked for it in a number of years.

[Mikey 52]

Hi Charlie. I forward this for historical and research reasons only, not for any fundraising purposes whatsoever . https://monumentaustralia.org.au/the...chute-regiment. Cheers, Mike. N.Z.