Paratrooper.be

The December issue of Militaria magazine features an article about WW2 escape maps. Escape maps and compasses are fascinating gear and not so much is known about their origins, how many were made, etc. I have the book of Clayton Hutton, the inventor of a lot of escape equipment. I learned a lot from that book, but this article ads new details. It gives you a list and examples of all maps that existed, when they were issued, in what numbers, and so on. That makes it a valuable reference for collectors interested in escape maps.

The article will be continued in next month’s Militaria magazine. I hope that part will go into some more detail on the escape map pouches and their other contents, such as escape compasses, saw blades, phrase cards…

Like the set of Normandy books, the long-awaited book Orange is the Color of the Day has become a 2-volume set: D-Day Minus 17 September 1944 (49 euros) and Orange is the Color of the Day (75 euros). The first volume covers the preparations and the second volume the operation itself, which would last much longer then anticipated.

If these books are as good as the first two volumes on paratroopers in Normandy, they are worth the investment. And better get them before they’re gone… The volume on the invasion of Southern France is long gone and fetching high prices on the second hand book market.

Preview volume 1
Preview volume 2

I just got this book that I’m so excited about. It’s no recent edition (2008), but I never bought it because I had rather low expectations of it due to its low price (only £16.99 at SOF instead of £30.99 at Border’s). I was wrong. It’s a great book.

Richard Windrow is a life-long military modeling hobbyist and Tim Hawkins is an experienced military photographer. 144 pages, full color front to back with professional full-page photos of re-enactors wearing all kinds of original US Army uniforms, weapons and equipment. The makers have gone out of their way to shoot the photos on location. So mountain troop uniforms are in the mountains, with snow, and the Rangers are on a beach and assembling a ladder against a cliff. I particularly like the photos of GI’s on leave in Britain. This book does exist in hardcover, but I think it’s out of print. It’s a great book to drool over and if you’re a re-enactor, it will probably give you ideas. Worth every cent (or penny)!