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Need picture of 111th FA , 29th ID howitzer markings for D-Day


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The Virginia National Guard is in the process of building a new headquarters just south of Richmond and we have already moved in one of our fixed outdoor displays--an M101 105mm howitzer. It will soon be joined by an F-84, an M-41, a huey etc. in the meantime we want to give the gun the proper unit markings for either Battery B or Battery C of the 111th Field Artillery as they would have looked on 6 June 1944.

 

Can anyone here provide me an image or details of what the TAC markings for the gun should look like for either of those two batteries?

 

regards,

Al

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Johan Willaert

The Tactical sign for the 111th FA Bn was a yellow rectangle/square with two horizontal lines evenly spread in the square.

 

The Battery number and vehicle/gun number was marked as precribed ( e.g. B-5 or C-5 )

 

I don't know exactly how the gun would have been marked, but if similar to what I have seen in other units; most likely the tac sign would have been painted on the left (driver's ) side of the gun, with the Battery & Gun number on the right side...

 

The Tac sign was in use from at least the 29th Training Days prior to the Normandy invasion to well into the campaign in Germany, early 1945...

 

Below is a picture of A Battery guns and trucks of the 111th FA during pre-invasion training at the Assault Training Center in England with possibly Instow in the background...

Guns seems to be unmarked but the yellow tac sign on one of the trucks' front bumper is visible behind the gun... (also see cropped version)...

The meaning of the heart sign on the hood of one of the GMC trucks is unknown, and could possibly be a gas detecting paint tag...

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Johan Willaert

Another view of the 111th FA tac sign in France on this Jeep... Cropped from another well known photo...

 

Yellow rectangle with two horizontal stripes in the box...

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Johan---thanks--great info and a big help...now the only decision is whether to go with Battery B or Battery C---both have a strong claim to belonging on our gun....

Al

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It has been decided to tac mark it for Battery C---and now the boss wants to name it---criteria for the name is,, as all you current and former redlegs know, is that the name has to start with "C" as in "Crusader"....I'm open to all suggestions...ideas?

 

Merry Christmas to all.

 

Al

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  • 2 weeks later...

And in case you were wondering---here's how the 105mm looked when it first came to us and then after its initial work ---as cold and dreary as it is here right now, we may have to wait a few weeks to TAC mark it to the 111th FA

 

 

Next challenge: a Huey...

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"Coup de Gras" - 1. A deathblow delivered to end the misery of a mortally wounded victim. 2. A finishing stroke or decisive event.

 

"Carpe Diem" - Seize the day.

 

"Cobra"

 

"Cocky"

 

"Cranky"

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Johan Willaert

Have you checked page 205 of Ewing's 29th Let's Go?

 

Nice picture of a 105mm from B/224FA...

 

Markings are similar to what is seen on 29th Jeeps late in WW2... 29th Div insignia with combat locations painted left and right of it...

 

Another nice picture of a 105 on page 183, no markings visible

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John---I knew you would have a suggestion---How's the snow up in the valley?

 

 

Al

 

 

Hi Al...!! We gave it all to you this time buddy, LOL.....I saw where the NWS issued a blizzard warning for Hampton Roads yesterday, you don't see that very often. :)

 

As I write this, it is partly sunny, breezy and a balmy 21 F here in the Valley, and dropping. Bring on Spring..!! :)

 

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Have you checked page 205 of Ewing's 29th Let's Go?

 

Nice picture of a 105mm from B/224FA...

 

Markings are similar to what is seen on 29th Jeeps late in WW2... 29th Div insignia with combat locations painted left and right of it...

 

Another nice picture of a 105 on page 183, no markings visible

 

Johan--yep I checked it out---I think we are square on the TAC markings--and the final name choices are:

 

Catapult

 

or

 

Cobra

 

Just waiting on the GOs to decide---fortunately the Huey already has a name so that has already be resolved...but I think we have a pack howitzer coming soon......

 

Al

 

Al

 

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Found this one in my files... 110FA in Merzenhausen, Winter 1944-1945

Johan---thanks--this is a great image---

regards,

Al

 

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