M1A1 Carbine drop bag

[browningautorifle]

a mag pouch stitched to the flap

Yes, they would get the unit textile tech to sew up things to improve their lot. Ours would do anything from sew rank on for field promotions to make a complete rucksack bag from better material...anything.

You see M1 cartridge belts that had oversize pockets to hold double load...made by the textile techs.

[Wineman]

The Ambrose book "Band of Brothers" describes the Leg Bag as a British invention to carry more stuff and the GI's thought it was a great idea. However, none had ever tested them on a real jump. On D-Day the combination of speed, low altitude and an extra 70# of weight dangling in the slipstream was almost catastrophic. They probably would have been a hit in Holland where is was more a serene jump situation but in Normandy they caused more issues than benefits.

Dave C

[DaveHH]

[QUOTE=mrclark303;520090]Great picture, absolutely facinating, that cast iron look of grim determination sums up the legendary generation....The guy in the middle is certainly loaded for bear, looks like he's planning to raise some serious hell!![COLOR="black"]

My late friend Eddie was a pathfinder in the 101. He said that everyone was loaded with gear and as the last man out in his stick, he felt the parachute open and his feet hit ground seconds later. A great book on this event is "Night Drop" by SLA Marshall. The number of men shot and killed in those first few days is stunning.

[lboos]

[QUOTE=mrclark303;519916]Hi all,

I've started trawling for accessories for my M1A1.

mrclark,
Here's a few accessories I have for my carbines, 1st pic. top: a WW2 M4 imperial.
1st pic. bottom a Korean/Viet-Nam era M4 Conetta.

2nd pic. both

I'm still looking for a M3 knife to go with my M1A1, they have really went up in price, and will only go higher I guess.