Paratrooper training photos Camp Mackall, NC
This set of WW2 postcards depicts paratroopers and glider troops training at Camp Mackall, North Carolina. These look like pictures from 1942-43 because the paratroopers no longer wear the early boots with a reinforcing buckle around the instep, and they use the T-5 parachutes instead of the T-4’s used in the early days. Or do they? Picture No. 1672 shows a second rip cord at the paratrooper’s right shoulder, so it’s a free-fall parachute and neither a T-4 nor a T-5, which were both static line parachutes. Can anyone enlighten me on that one? Only the photo marked No. 1679 seems to be from an earlier date. These even look like the so-called air infantry. The men wear the old M-1917 type helmets and no jump boots (looks like they wear gaiters) and I don’t think I see any parachutes. Maybe someone can tell by the markings on the plane?
Click here to view the gallery
View related post of very early paratrooper training pictures
Found the history of the C-47 118415 on this site: http://users.rcn.com/jeremy.k/serialSearch.html
18415 (c/n 4477) to USAAF Jun 30, 1942 – USA – 5th AF, Australia Nov 10 to Dec 12, 1942 –
RFC Sep 20, 1945. To civil registry as NC51881 (Nationwide Airlines – Puerto Rico Air
Transport),
I am looking for a great uncle and the history he has in wwii. I was told by my grandmother, his sister that he was in the 82nd but she said he was at camp mackall and i know that 82nd is at fort bragg. She has passed on and I dnt know enough to support what he has done for this nation. If anyone at this site could help, i would truly appreciate it. I can be reached at the attached address
He might have been in the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion which was formed at Camp McCall and was ultimately wiped out in the Bulge, having taken their objective. Survivors, including my Dad, were reassigned to elements of the 82nd. I have a lot of historical info on the 551PIB if you are interested.