WWII Airborne Paratrooper or Glider Infantry Group Photo?

[lakenormanusa]

Here's a recent find. It's a yard long portrait and I wanted to see if anyone could identify these men

or provide any insight as to which unit this may be. Most are wearing

paratrooper wings, but I notice that one man is wearing what appears to be pilot wings.

Maybe a glider pilot?

 

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

 

Rick

 

[jonesy1275]

No Glider Pilots in the infantry. They were USAAF.

 

I'd guess he volunteered for the Airborne after getting his wings.

[Timberwolf]

Could be a glider or para field artillery unit. Artillery units often had liason pilots assigned to them.

[GITom1944]

Nothing definitive, but here are a few observations: There are very few service ribbons on their uniforms, the guy with the pilot wings doesn't have jump boots and the officer third from left may have engineer branch insignia on his lapels. Also, the officers fifth & sixth from left look like they have Lt. Col. insignia on their caps.

 

Could this be a class graduating from a school such as Chilton Foliat with instructors/school cadre in front? Or maybe this is a Headquarters section & company for an airborne infantry regiment.

 

Tom

[BEAST]

Great photo! The tall officer on the viewer's right is wearing the Airborne Command SSI and the pilot is not wearing USAAF brass. The pilot's brass is either artillery or Infantry, and it looks like most of them are wearing numbered brass. Maybe Benning?

[lakenormanusa]

Thanks for the feedback and insight!

 

I wasn't sure whether or not any of the officers could be recognized.

I figured that might help narrow down some of the more specific unit options.

[63 RECON]

if you could scan it you might be able to zoom in on the collar brass insignia

[lakenormanusa]

if you could scan it you might be able to zoom in on the collar brass insignia

 

I just unrolled and shrink wrapped the photo.

I don't think it's seen the light of day for over 70 years.

I'll try to get some clear close up shots of the collar brass.

[patches]

One more thing to notice, all the Os and EMs are wearing DIs on the caps and lapels, Os on their shoulder straps, this usually indicates troops from either the 326th Infantry, 325th Infantry, or the 327th Infantry, all pre war units of the old 82nd Division, who retained their DIs when they where redesignated Glider infantry. But note too, that their wearing Jump boots, glider troopers did not wear them, so if not for the above mentioned units, what could this DI be ?.

[patches]

Maybe DIs for the 501st?

 

Theirs came out in 1942.

 

 

 

http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Catalog/HeraldryMulti.aspx?CategoryId=3731&grp=2&menu=Uniformed%20Services

 

 

 

[lakenormanusa]

Maybe DIs for the 501st?

 

Theirs came out in 1942.

 

Thumndler.ashx.jpg

 

 

http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Catalog/HeraldryMulti.aspx?CategoryId=3731&grp=2&menu=Uniformed%20Services

 

 

 

 

I zoomed in on one of the enlisted men and it appears as though they are wearing Airborne Glider patches. The DI's aren't absolutely clear, but maybe someone with a good eye can identify the unit.

 

 

[lakenormanusa]

Possibly 194th Glider Infantry Regt.?

 

 

[lakenormanusa]

Another pic of the DI.

 

[patches]

Hey good going on those enlargements, yes we can saftly say that the unit in question is an Artillery unit.

 

The 464th Parachute Artillery Battalion.

 

[patches]

The photo was taken at Cp Macall sometime after August 1944, 464th PFAB activated 1 August 1944, goes to the ETO 24 February 1945, and is apparently a unit of XVIII Abn Corps Artillery and goes into action in the Rhine Jump, it supports of course the 17th Abn Div, and is probaly attached thereafter and is assigned to it in June 1945 after the war.

[patches]

The Oval.

 

 

 

 

[lakenormanusa]

Great eye! Thanks for taking the time to view the photos and identify this unit!

[Timberwolf]

Great research work guys! I'd also bet that this is the HQ Battery for the BN.

[patches]

Great research work guys! I'd also bet that this is the HQ Battery for the BN.

Would that be because the presence in the ranks of that pilot?

[bummer]

Possibly 194th Glider Infantry Regt.?

 

DSC07380.JPG

 

194th.jpg

 

I did not know the 194th had a DUI. My father was in B 194th

[patches]

 

I did not know the 194th had a DUI. My father was in B 194th

These were unauthorized, if worn. Like so many units that had no official unit crest to wear of there own, one was created and worn on the unit level, a locally approved unit level insignia towards the end and after the war normally. This one here is based on the unit pocket patch, unknown even to what extent that was even worn.

 

 

Here's a different one then the one posted, probably German made (did not find image of rear of it)

[bummer]

These were unauthorized, if worn. Like so many units that had no official unit crest to wear of there own, one was created and worn on the unit level, a locally approved unit level insignia towards the end and after the war normally. This one here is based on the unit pocket patch, unknown even to what extent that was even worn.

 

 

insignia.jpg

Here's a different one then the one posted, probably German made (did not find image of rear of it)

 

Thanks for the info

[doyler]

Could be a glider or para field artillery unit. Artillery units often had liason pilots assigned to them.

+1

 

Thinking L4 pilot/FO

[patches]

+1

 

Thinking L4 pilot/FO

And would this be why member Timberwolf believes this to be the battalion HQ Battery? If so I would agree, woundn't think these pilots were assigned at the firing battery level.

[Linedoggie]

No Glider Pilots in the infantry. They were USAAF.

 

I'd guess he volunteered for the Airborne after getting his wings.

Liaison pilot?