HEROES HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT: THE BROWNING AUTOMATIC RIFLE

[aznation]

A wonderful article about the BAR, stories from and about some of the WWII vets, and don't forget to read the comments. Anyway, I thought I'd share it here.

 

https://www.gunsamerica.com/digest/heroes-hidden-in-plain-sight-the-browning-automatic-rifle/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=20181119_BlogDigest_304&utm_campaign=/digest/heroes-hidden-in-plain-sight-the-browning-automatic-rifle/

 

For other articles by this author on this website dealing with weapons of WWII, click on this link.

 

https://www.gunsamerica.com/digest/?s=%22Will+Dabbs%22

[mikie]

Thanks. Always interested in BAR stuff. Dad carried one on Okinawa. Bonus points to the article since it mentions the Browning .30 cal water cooled machinegun. Dad used one of those on Saipan during the big Banzai attack.

Mikie

[USARV72]

Excellent article, thanks for posting.Feel honored to have known and talked to so many WWII Veterans, amazing stories, way better than most movies. Nothing like firing a BAR, litteraly a real blast.

[WWIIBuff1945]

Thanks for posting the article Matt! Uncle carried one in Normandy and they have always been one of my favorites. I'm dying to shoot one.

[aznation]

Thanks for posting the article Matt! Uncle carried one in Normandy and they have always been one of my favorites. I'm dying to shoot one.

 

You're welcome. Well, I'm just shocked that you haven't shot one yet Keith.

[Costa]

2 draw backs to the weapon----------------- it was to heavy and the mag was to small, 20 rounds

[Salvage Sailor]

Very nice article, thanks for posting the link

 

Photos from my collection - 27th Infantry Regiment Wolfhounds, Schofield Barracks, T.H. mid 1930's

[Salvage Sailor]

Photos from my collection - 27th Infantry Regiment Wolfhounds, Schofield Barracks, T.H. mid 1930's

[mikie]

2 draw backs to the weapon----------------- it was to heavy and the mag was to small, 20 rounds

If I recall correctly (it's been a long time since he's been gone), he quite liked the BAR. It was the carbine he had contempt for.

 

Mikie

[mikie]

Photos from my collection - 27th Infantry Regiment Wolfhounds, Schofield Barracks, T.H. mid 1930's

All great photos!

 

Mikie

[aznation]

All great photos!

 

Mikie

 

Ditto! Thanks for adding Salvage Sailor.

[Salvage Sailor]

More Wolfhounds - OPFOR during maneuvers mid 1930's - Note the "Hey, I'm the enemy" white smocks

[USARV72]

Great pics, thanks for posting. Used to re enact with BAR, lots of fun, krauts hated it. LOL

[WWIIBuff1945]

 

You're welcome. Well, I'm just shocked that you haven't shot one yet Keith.

 

Matt, no one has one where I live. Even the local machine gun rental place doesn't have one. Too bad, I guess I'll have to shoot my friends semi-auto BAR. I won't quite be the same tho!! One of these days I'm going to make it to Kentucky for the big machine gun shoot and rent one there.

 

[aznation]

 

One of these days I'm going to make it to Kentucky for the big machine gun shoot and rent one there.

 

 

That would be so cool. I know that wouldn't be the only automatic you'd be firing there. If you do go there, have someone video you and then post it on YouTube, followed by sending me the link.

[dalbert]

Thanks for posting. In a couple of photos, you can see that the shooter put cotton in his ears.

 

When I was in JROTC in Hawaii in the early 80's, we used to spend a week at Spring Camp each year at Schofield Barracks in that same area where they are in the first group of photos. We shot M16's, M60's at ground and air targets, a 20MM Vulcan, and got to watch them shoot 155's with the Waianae range as the backdrop. Lots of fun...

 

David Albert

[email protected]

[Salvage Sailor]

The ranges on Schofield where you did your familiarization fire and these photos were taken is known as "Area X"

[mikie]

Wow, lots of stuff touching base here. Dad was stationed at Schofield Barracks after his division was sent to Hawaii in early 1942. He must have done training in Area A as well.

Mikie

[JasonT]

Thanks for sharing this article. My grandfather carried one in WW2 so its great to learn a little more about it. Saw one in a museum a few times and it definitely looks bigger and heavier in person so I can understand why they would ditch the bipod.