Airborne Help

I believe equipment was pretty much the same, except few things:

1 - Operation Overlord/D-day, paratroopers were issued Thompson SMG extensively, but by the time Operation Varsity, M3/M3A1 Grease guns were issued to paratroopers (Thompson was very expensive and complicated to manufacture VS Grease guns were easier and cheaper).  I have seen many photos of paratroopers carrying Thompson during D-Day (and I haven't seen pictures of Greasegun being used at this time). 

2 - I believe uniforms were also different as well.  Paratroopers were issued with M1941, M1942 and M1943 field jackets during WWII.  Some were in different shades of Khaki.  I just don't know exactly which uniform was worn by which unit and which time frame.  But here are some photos for you to review.

This is the famous IKE photo prior to D-Day.  These 101st ABN Div paratroopers are wearing M1942 paratrooper uniform, which was standard issue from 1942 until fall of 1944. 

There were some issues with M1942 uniform, so riggers of 82nd and 101 ABN came up with Reinforced M1942 uniforms with heavy Olive drab canvas.  You can see the patch on elbow on uniform pictured below VS picture with IKE doesn't have the elbow patches.  Either one is correct for this time frame (D-Day) since there weren't enough modifications done to M1942 uniform.

photo below is M1943 paratrooper uniform, which was issued from Fall of 1944. Different pocket style and positioning. 

I hope this helps! AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY!

Thanks M1 Garand. One other thing, did the AB in Normadny have the M1 carbine with the wood stock and the collapsible metal stock. Also, did there bazooka have the metal shoulder rest or the wood one.

David

ww2modeler wrote:

Thanks M1 Garand. One other thing, did the AB in Normadny have the M1 carbine with the wood stock and the collapsible metal stock. Also, did there bazooka have the metal shoulder rest or the wood one. David

Paratroopers did not use M1 carbines (which is full stock), but they used M1A1, which was the folding (not collapsible)stock.   Also, this was earlier version of M1/M1A1 carbine series, which means these rifles did not have bayonet lug nor adjustable rear sights.  

M1/M1A1 bazooka were used by the paratroopers during WWII, which shows wooden grip and shoulder rest.  Try to google it and you should get ton of pictures of them.

http://lboe.com/ReplicaBazookaUpdate.htm Try this website.  It has pictures of replica bazooka.

 

 

 

Thanks for the clarification, I was wondering because Dragon's US Airborne Operation Varsity set comes with the wooden grip bazooka and both types of carbines and I was going to use the bazooka in there 101 Ab set. Did AB carry the BAR because that is included in the set to. You have been a great help so far. THanks

David

 

David,

I'm glad that I was able to provide you with information that you were looking for.  Being a former paratrooper myself, I have great interest in same subject as well.

B.A.R. (Browning Automatic Rifle, Model 1918A2) was used by the paratroopers during WWII.  You will also see many photos of paratroopers using BAR without the bi-pod.  Bi-pod itself was very heavy, so there were many cases where soldiers removed it to save some weight.  

This is the picture of M1918A2 with the bipod. 

This is the photo of M1918A2, which came with detachable bipod. 

You can use any configuration since both with or without the bi-pods were used. 

David,

Most of M1 Carbine variation used by the paratroopers were earlier type M1A1s.  However, there were some cases where paratroopers used M1 Carbines instead of M1A1.  Many replacement troops brought in M1 carbines instead of M1A1s or some of replacement carbines came in as M1 variation. 

This photo shows earlier type L flip sight.

And this is the late type M1A1 carbine with adjustable rear sight.

Keep in mind that other noticeable difference between early and late type is that earlier model did not have bayonet lug.

So, if you are going to use M1 or M1A1 carbine for what you want to do, make sure you remove the bayonet lug and change the sight to L sight.

 

M1 Garand hit most of your questions but I would like to add a few points. In Varsity, US para's wore the modified M-43 uniform  primarily as opposed to the earlier ones mentioned. Also either Jump Boots or M-43 combat boots were worn. None of the model 1943 gear had been issued to US Airborne units for Overlord. One weapon that also saw new use for Varsity was the 57mm Recoiless Rifle. As far as the Army Arty units question, do you mean US or German Army? If you mean German, while it is possible for Army troops to have obtained SS camo gear by various means, more than likely, the would have one of the regular Army patterns.

If you are referring to U.S. Artillery piece for the Airborne units, most of artillery pieces available to them were 75mm pack howitzers (gliderborne troops) and 60mm and 81mm mortars.