American Airborne Ads book by Ken Peck

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Ken Peck with his new book

With his recent book ‘American Airborne Ads of the 20s Thru The 50s’, Ken Peck has really outdone me by finding even more period ads with paratroopers in them than I have assembled in my article about ads with paratroopers.

These colorful ads (and many black and whites too) are not only great for framing, but they give an interesting insight into the prestige of the early parachute troops, the evolution of their uniforms and equipment throughout their development during the war, and how corporations promoted their contribution to the war effort to the American public.

The book is written in English, Spanish, French and German and features 200 pages of period print ads, cartoons and magazine covers, all with paratroopers.

You can order his book here

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WWII ad with paratroopers Joyce Aviation

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I thought I had listed all known WWII period ads featuring paratroopers, but apparently not… Here’s one of the ads that surfaced on eBay last week. I have another ad from the same company Joyce Aviation, also with paratroopers.

In my article you can see an overview of all the ads with paratroopers I have been able to find over the years.

See full article of ads with paratroopers

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Airborne 8

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Number 8 has just been published, 10 years after number 1. It is still a great series, both for the fantastic drawings and the good script. Philippe Jarbinet manages to maintain the high standard he set with the previous albums. Although no longer centered around airborne soldiers in this fourth do-album, the selected subject of the crumbling Third Reich and German scientists and nazi gold make good ingredients for a fascinating story.

This album and the previous one remind me a bit of the style of François Boucq, another of my favorite comic book authors.

Let’s hope Jarbinet will continue this series for a long time to come!

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New 1942 ad with paratrooper

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I just came across this WWII period ad with a paratrooper in it. It has been years since I’ve seen one that wasn’t already in my overview of all ads with paratroopers.

This one is from Monsanto Chemicals, a company that still exists today. The ad promotes Monsanto’s vanilla flavoring ingredient for the army’s Field Ration D, which in fact does not come from actual vanilla seeds, nor from oil of cloves, but from an ingenious US made synthetic flavoring called Vanillin.

The first sergeant enjoying his tasty D-ration in the ad is wearing the M1942 jump suit and M2 helmet, with a Thompson M1928A1 by his side

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Replica escape map pouch and accessories

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On eBay I’m seeing copies of escape map pouches that are really well done, at least for re-enactment. There were different versions, but currently I see only one kind. You can also get the French banknotes, escape saw blade and escape compass to go with it. This is the link to the seller’s page if you’re interested. As long as these items are being sold as replicas, it’s quite harmless, and as such they are great for living history displays and re-enactment. But sooner or later these items will be ‘aged’ and passed off as originals, or ‘not sure how old this is’ etc.

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PFC Robert L Green 503rd PIR

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Years ago, I added this magazine cover in the article about this subject. With a story about the 503rd PIR in training, this is one of the best period magazines on this topic for collectors.

Some readers had already come forward stating they know the paratrooper on the cover as PFC Robert Green. Apparently this is documented in the January 12, 1943 Edition of Look Magazine on page 62 where Mr. & Mrs. L.H. Green of Stephens, Ark sent in a picture and a thank you to the magazine which states “The Paratrooper on your Nov 3, 1942 Cover is our son, PFC Robert L. Green. Thank You for giving him this honor!”. Thank you Kenneth Peck for sharing this!

Check out the article with all paratrooper magazine covers

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New militaria items for sale

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I have taken some time again to list the items of my collection I am selling. Mostly US of course, and some German items still remaining.

Click on the photo to see all items for sale

These are some of the new items:
Tank helmet with goggles, headphones and microphone
Tanker bib trousers
Tanker jacket
Tank periscope
Tank telescope
Various tank and armor related manuals
Distinguished Service Cross box
Mine detector
And lots more…

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Reproduction US escape compass on eBay

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I came across this US model escape compass being offered on eBay as a reproduction. It looks like it’s really well made, so beware of these coming up for sale by other sellers later. The may be ‘mistaken’ for originals.

The seller even uses a photo from my website to compare his creation with an original, but he kindly agreed to quote me as the source.

Read the complete article on escape compasses

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TL-122 -A USALite new in box

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David White kindly sent me a photo of a USALite brand TL-122-A, new in the original box. Absolutely stunning, and it gives as a good idea of the original paint finish. The box may be commercial, but the flashlight would have looked the same.

Note that the lens cover on the box is angular, whereas the actual flashlight has a round lens cover.

Read the full article about TL-122 flashlights

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French 3rd Zouave badge worn by 509th PIR

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I recently picked up this badge that I had been searching for a long time. This silver device features a snarling hyena surmounting a crescent that bears the motto “J’y Suis, J’y Reste” “Here I am, Here I Remain”.

The reverse has removable clasp over 2 rings (like for beret attachment) and is inscribed in raised relief with DRAGO, PARIS, H 131.

The US paratroopers of the 509th PIR are allowed to wear this badge (usually on the right pocket) because on November 15th 1942 the 509th (then 2nd Btn 504th PIR) parachuted into Algeria to take control of the Youks Les bains airfield. The airfield was 200 miles from any US reinforcements and was defended by the French 3rd Zouaves Regiment which where dug in. No weapons where fired as the French commander walked forward and pinned his regiment badge onto the tunic of Lt. Colonel Edson Raff declaring themselves comrades.

This badge was the first foreign award that was allowed to be worn by US troops in WWII. In the book “First Airborne Taskforce”, there are many photos of paratroopers wearing this badge during the invasion of Southern France. As far as I can tell, my badge is a WWII-period badge, but if anyone has more information about it, I would love to learn more about it.

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