AndrewA74 Posted May 29, 2007 Share #1 Posted May 29, 2007 Hello, This is pretty cool. I bought it for $2. On the back it reads the folowing: 'Doc Simms' + "Shotgun" Banning. Neat picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siege1863 Posted May 30, 2007 Share #2 Posted May 30, 2007 The photo reminds me of a story my father used to tell about his days in the service. In the early 60s he was stationed at Fort Bliss TX and spent many weeks at White Sands NM. He was in the HQ company of his unit and the 2 1/2 ton truck he drove was thus equipped with the ring mount and a .50 cal. machine gun. He said that once they had gotten far enough out into the desert, and away from the officers, they would shoot the .50 cal. at jack rabbits and whatever else moved! He said it was all fun until the time came to check in the equipment, weapons, etc., and it was found they were short a few hundred rounds! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Ragan Posted May 30, 2007 Share #3 Posted May 30, 2007 The photo reminds me of a story my father used to tell about his days in the service. In the early 60s he was stationed at Fort Bliss TX and spent many weeks at White Sands NM. He was in the HQ company of his unit and the 2 1/2 ton truck he drove was thus equipped with the ring mount and a .50 cal. machine gun. He said that once they had gotten far enough out into the desert, and away from the officers, they would shoot the .50 cal. at jack rabbits and whatever else moved! He said it was all fun until the time came to check in the equipment, weapons, etc., and it was found they were short a few hundred rounds! Sometimes it might take a few more rounds to kill one of those big jackrabbits! They are pretty tough critters! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewA74 Posted May 30, 2007 Author Share #4 Posted May 30, 2007 Do you think it's WWII? Do you think it's worth what I payed for it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNY Militaria Posted May 30, 2007 Share #5 Posted May 30, 2007 Does it matter if its worth $2? If you are happy with it, it shouldn't really matter . Justin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewA74 Posted May 30, 2007 Author Share #6 Posted May 30, 2007 Does it matter if its worth $2? If you are happy with it, it shouldn't really matter . Justin True. Do you think it's WWII? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNY Militaria Posted May 30, 2007 Share #7 Posted May 30, 2007 I think so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC312 Posted June 1, 2007 Share #8 Posted June 1, 2007 Its a nice photo worth $2 any day. Lets see some more .50cal photo's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Flick Posted June 1, 2007 Share #9 Posted June 1, 2007 Lets see some more .50cal photo's. I thought you would never ask. Here are a few pics of one of the greatest weapons in history, the .50 BMG, providing tremendous firepower on the ground, in the air and on the sea. The first pic is of a watercoooled .50 in Navy use on 4-40-42. Don't know which ship this was on but it looks like it has seen some action. Here is another one in Air Force service. It shows airman Richard K. Baer of the famed 303rd Bomb Group at Molesworth in England with a .50 that he obviously has some familiarity with. More later. Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GLM Posted June 11, 2007 Share #10 Posted June 11, 2007 Another 303rd Bomb Group photo. Waist gunner, Sgt. Butch Holland on "My Blonde Baby" before his plane was shot down over Germany in 1944 and the crew captured. Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alibi Posted June 11, 2007 Share #11 Posted June 11, 2007 Do you think it's WWII? Do you think it's worth what I payed for it? If you had purchased this image (or perhaps more accurately NOT purchased this image) from Snyder's Treasures on eBay you would have not paid $20 or more. If the image is at least 5x7 and better 8x10 it is well worth two US green backs. My sense of the image it is more likely post-WWII. I am of the impression that the style of lettering (sans serif or gothic) on the truck hood was in use by the 1960s. Previously these markings were more often stenciled in Roman style letters. One of my JrROTC instructors related how during the Korean War they/he mounted a telescopic sight on an M2 .50 and used it for long range sniping. I'm not sure you would necessarily have to hit an individual at 2000 yards to put him out of action. The psycological effect might be disturbing enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewA74 Posted June 11, 2007 Author Share #12 Posted June 11, 2007 Thanks for all the insight about this photo....keep posting 50 cal's! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricardo Posted June 11, 2007 Share #13 Posted June 11, 2007 Hi All, I have one picture too .... Best regards, Ricardo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Flick Posted June 16, 2007 Share #14 Posted June 16, 2007 Nice shot, Ricardo. What kind of chopper is that in the background? Here is one showing a M2 being fired in what is probably a training or demonstration scenario. Definitely not a combat scene with all those guys standing around. Don't know the date or place but I am guessing WW2 from the uniforms. Regards, Charlie Flick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC312 Posted June 17, 2007 Share #15 Posted June 17, 2007 I have this photo of the heads of the rounds being coloured for target practice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC312 Posted June 17, 2007 Share #16 Posted June 17, 2007 Another nice watercooled shot. Lead shot is in the back rest counter balances the gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC312 Posted June 17, 2007 Share #17 Posted June 17, 2007 Here's some .50 cal ammo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC312 Posted June 17, 2007 Share #18 Posted June 17, 2007 And here's a few boxes if you need more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted June 17, 2007 Share #19 Posted June 17, 2007 I have this photo of the heads of the rounds being coloured for target practice. Interesting pic. This is what the targets look like when hit by these colored rounds. I sold this target to the curator of the old Gunnery School Museum a few years back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Flick Posted June 17, 2007 Share #20 Posted June 17, 2007 Nice pics, BC. The watercooled .50 is especially nice. I happened to see one up close just a week ago at the Virginia Military Museum where they have one on display that you can put your hands on. It had the unusual AA sights on it as well. I should have taken a pic! Since we are on the subject of MG training I thought you guys might enjoy this one. It shows some AAF gunner trainees at Page Field near Fort Myers, Florida in 1945. Keep 'em coming. Charlie Flick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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