Crickets toy frog shaped for the Dday invasion

[nicolas75]

Hello

We are all told about crickets toy frog shaped for the Dday invasion

Does anyone has pictures or own "sure ones" ?

Thanks

[nicolas75]

Hello

No one has such crickets ?

[nicolas75]

Like this one

[Rakkasan187]

Nicolas,

 

I have one of the frog clickers that came with a grouping of airborne and glider wings and it also came with baggie of dirt labeled St Mere Eglise but there was no provenance with the grouping so I cannot confirm that this particular type was used or if it is authentic or not..

 

I don't have picturtes of it right now but I will try to take some this weekend..

 

Leigh

[Allan H.]

I've been chasing WWII airborne for over 40 years and have never come across one of these in a veteran's hands who said that this is what he was issued. I have seen a few of the brass box type crickets still in the hands of veterans.

 

The only place I have ever seen these crickets in airborne groupings are the ones that are being offered by various dealers as having come "straight from the vet." Honestly, even if I had a veteran hand me one of these and having him say "this is what I carried on D-Day," I probably wouldn't display it in my collection.

 

I honestly do not believe these were ever issued to soldiers for D-Day.

 

Allan

[doyler]

I am with Allan...honestly my thoughts on the various "toy" versions I think all evolved from the movie The Longest Day.

Clickers were used in the movie and there I believe the myth was born and perpetuated that these toys or party favor models were issued.

 

Granted the ones made in WW2 were from a toy maker or used as a toy but the ones shaped like frogs etc were not the same click toy.

[doyler]

Will add then the authors who added the various insect or frog shaped clickers to books just muddied the water and fueled the myth.

[nicolas75]

Thanks for your answers

[ken88]

There isn't any hard evidence but the claims seem to mostly suggest these may have been used by units in the 82nd airborne division. You should be able to find some veteran accounts. Can't help but think there's a reason these are narrowed down to the 82nd. From what I've learned the ACME toy company really struggled to provide enough crickets in time for the invasion. Those that were delivered to the army all or mostly went to the 101st airborne division. Possibly other crickets were located somewhere in England and used on D-day but I won't be the one making the claim.

For what it's worth such a cricket is currently being offered by a well known dealer in Normandy and they too are pointing in the direction of the 82nd. We weren't there so who knows? Until one is pulled out of the soil in France you can't be sure, but you also can't say it's out of the question.