The pictures below were sent to me by Paul Reijnders some 10 years ago, and only now do we discover it’s true origin. The flashlight has the crookneck shape, it’s green and looks old enough, but otherwise can’t be identified … Continue reading →
Laurent Gardiau, who also sent me photos of an orange transparent whistle (see below), sent me a picture of a pink whistle, also US Army 1943 marked. It is otherwise identical to the green ones. While we could think of … Continue reading →
Philip Hoyle sent me this clipping of a wartime Fort Benning Bayonet newspaper. It mentions gold jump wings that were not officially authorized to wear but were given to Sgt. Karl N. Best, 542nd Parachute Infantry Regiment and 501st PIR … Continue reading →
Laurent Gadreau alerted me about this orange-transparent 1943 dated US Army whistle sold at Lux Militaria. It looks identical to other OD green whistles in my article about US Army issue whistles. Not sure why they would have made them … Continue reading →
Photos of this smooth-bodied unmarked TL-122 shaped flashlight were sent to me by Éric Lagache. He bought it at a flee market in the Norh of France. The body is made of brass and the neck of aluminum. He has … Continue reading →
This jump wing is unmarked and seems to have been made from a sand cast mold. The pin is peculiar too. These pictures were sent to me by Beau Harper. Some people told me this could be an Italian theater … Continue reading →
I just added these photos of TL-122-B flashlight with different manufacturer markings. The one with GITS on the battery cover was sent to me by Joseph Deak. The one with the Bright Star brand comes from Greg Quays. His father … Continue reading →
Daniel Woditsch sent me these photos of a Taylor wrist compass he found by metal detecting at Gossersweiler by Dahn, Germany. This would have been on the way to the Rhein river for the Americans, although I don’t know about … Continue reading →
This 1941 movie was filmed with members of the 501st Parachute Battalion performing the actual jump scenes. It is a pre-Pearl Harbor propaganda film about young Americans, from various social backgrounds, who undergo parachute training at Fort Benning prior to … Continue reading →
This magazine from November-December 1940 is the earliest one I have about the beginning of the parachute troops. The feature article is called ‘The Tentative Parachute Battalion’. Here we can see the earliest parachutist uniforms and equipment. Most parachutists in … Continue reading →