CW4AFB Posted December 15, 2017 Share #1 Posted December 15, 2017 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Willaert Posted December 17, 2017 Share #2 Posted December 17, 2017 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... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Willaert Posted December 17, 2017 Share #3 Posted December 17, 2017 One more detail, on the windshield of the GMC truck on the right; the name FREITAS is painted... He was with Battery A/111FA Bn More on him http://www.ww2enlistment.org/index.php?page=directory&rec=1876085 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Willaert Posted December 17, 2017 Share #4 Posted December 17, 2017 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... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
everforward Posted December 17, 2017 Share #5 Posted December 17, 2017 Cool pics, Johan.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CW4AFB Posted December 18, 2017 Author Share #6 Posted December 18, 2017 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CW4AFB Posted December 24, 2017 Author Share #7 Posted December 24, 2017 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan H. Posted December 24, 2017 Share #8 Posted December 24, 2017 "Cannon ball" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Willaert Posted December 24, 2017 Share #9 Posted December 24, 2017 Charlie.... (Gerhardt) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David D Posted December 24, 2017 Share #10 Posted December 24, 2017 Charlie.... (Gerhardt) X 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siege1863 Posted December 24, 2017 Share #11 Posted December 24, 2017 Constantine...as in Constantine the Great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CW4AFB Posted December 25, 2017 Author Share #12 Posted December 25, 2017 Some great suggestions so far---keep em coming and I'll share all with the boss..... Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CW4AFB Posted January 4, 2018 Author Share #13 Posted January 4, 2018 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... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plick27 Posted January 4, 2018 Share #14 Posted January 4, 2018 “Crusher” “Cracker Jack” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznation Posted January 4, 2018 Share #15 Posted January 4, 2018 "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" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted January 4, 2018 Share #16 Posted January 4, 2018 "Chaos" ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hink441 Posted January 4, 2018 Share #17 Posted January 4, 2018 Chesterfield Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
everforward Posted January 4, 2018 Share #18 Posted January 4, 2018 Ceasar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Willaert Posted January 4, 2018 Share #19 Posted January 4, 2018 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CW4AFB Posted January 4, 2018 Author Share #20 Posted January 4, 2018 Ceasar John---I knew you would have a suggestion---How's the snow up in the valley? Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
everforward Posted January 4, 2018 Share #21 Posted January 4, 2018 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..!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CW4AFB Posted January 9, 2018 Author Share #22 Posted January 9, 2018 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Willaert Posted January 10, 2018 Share #23 Posted January 10, 2018 Found this one in my files... 110FA in Merzenhausen, Winter 1944-1945 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CW4AFB Posted January 10, 2018 Author Share #24 Posted January 10, 2018 Found this one in my files... 110FA in Merzenhausen, Winter 1944-1945 Johan---thanks--this is a great image--- regards, Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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