All Activity

Whilst sorting through a firework companies' old stores for pieces for the vintage firework collectors I came across this rare piece. Dated September 1940.......

Looks fine to me, just painted post-war. Actual 1943 dated M1943 shovels are quite uncommon, compared to the more numerous 1944- and 1945 dated ones. You could try to find a first pattern 1943-dated carrier for it, with the fixed hook.

OK, long story... Back in June 1994 a party of 4 of us drove my GPW and a friend's Dodge WC54 Ambulance to Normandy to attend the 50th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings. As usual in the weeks before our departure the weather had been atrocious with lots of heavy rain and when we arrived at our planned camp site in Creully we found the fields where we were supposed to set up camp fully flooded.... Not wanting to spend a week in that 'swimming pool' two of us set out in my Jeep to find a better (and dryer) field where we could spend the week, leaving two others catching up on some sleep in the back of the ambulance... First we tried the MVCG site below Arromanches which sadly looked similar to what we had just left (it would be dubbed Mud City by most attendees) and we continued towards Arromanches taking a very small back road at St Come de Fresné. In a field the size of at least two football pitches we saw about a dozen Military vehicles with Brit license plates. So I asked who was in charge and if it was at all possible that we camped out in the field with them, us being only 4 people and two vehicles... The man said we had to ask the chairman of the IMPS, camping out at Manvieux: so we drove over to the main IMPS site there and inquired about camping out in said field. The president of the IMPS stated it was reserved for IMPS members so we paid a year's dues and became members of the IMPS for that week, returning to Creully to pick up the ambulance and friends and then setting up shop in the small field below Arromanches. Turned out to be a great place to stay as it was only about a 15 minute walk to the cliffs of Arromanches and another 10 minutes or so down to the main square. We had a great albeit very wet week there, but at least we weren't floating out of our tent... Attached a photo of our small HQ there....

I was in Hungary then, then I came back. Yes, I really liked being outside. In Kuwait, I "taught" Mongolians, Poles, and even Americans to operate the Harris radio.

Heres a pretty cool one. Ive seen a couple posted, but first one Ive seen in person. The rear pin that was originally attached is long gone, and in its place, someone replaced it with a safety pin. Good thing I dont display the backs!

. Hi mikie. well as you mention my old avatar had been there as long as you could remember, I think I was feeling the same as well, so pleased with the replacement avatar and taking me back to my roots . . . . . . . Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, April 19 2024. ...

. As the 80th D-Day anniversary approaches, a great deal of interest will be shown to the front line units, so here is a tribute to some of the rear echelon troops that kept the fighting units supplied at the front. A little known and un-sung part of the ultimate victory, cleaning and repairing enough Jerrycans to keep the army rolling. Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, April 19 2024. ...

A late 60s Corp of the Fort Benning 197th Infantry Brigade (Sep).

Definitely not theater made or POW wings.

. Hi Bryanj, Well yes I have to agree to a lot of your thoughts on the techno-revolution. When I was a a teenager I can remember saying to my mother that she had lived through the greatest leap of aerial flight from the Wright brothers to landing on the moon. I myself have lived through the techno-revolution as we would call it, from no cell phones, no personal computers, no digital cameras, remember the fax-machine that came and went . . . . . and beta-max 8 track tapes. My grandsons generation have been born into this technological world and will have no memories of the days before, my two year old grandson is already using the cell phone and computer screens games as everyday items. Each teenage generation thinks that they had THE BEST teenage period of any generation before or after them, as you say pre 75 music was about the best. Most of us left home without looking back, parents are forever people, you don't know what you had until it's gone. There's not much to go backwards for but I do miss the gas at 5 or 10 cents a gallon, and the freedom of the open road, no future generation will ever have that, and in a gas burning Jeep as well . . . . . . . . . . . Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, April 18 2024. ...

Could be one of many. Impossible to tell now.

Was it possible all Boots did the Infantry AIT and then moved on to another base for their true MOS AIT??? I say this as my cousin went to Fort Sill Oklahoma for Arty AIT in 1966, not sure if he just went there after Boot Camp at the Island or not.

I don't know how common they are but I've never seen them before. Original unopened replacement parts for binoculars. The packaging is pretty neat.

. Hi eagle87, Hopefully this is the correct 1921 layout for Fort H.G. Wright. Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, April 19 2024. ...

Wish they were for sale, but I have no idea what they are worth, so I can’t begin to make offer; I was told they aren’t for sale, but one never knows. thoughts?

Hey guys, I was wanting to ask for help with the wings on a uniform I have. The uniform is named to an officer who served in Ww2, Korea and Vietnam. His name was Paul Q. Holloway. He was in the 15th Air Force. I got the uniform from an older collector friend who has been collecting over 40 years. I have been told by 2 or 3 friends that the wings could be Ww2 theater made or POW made. I have been told by 2 or 3 others that the wings are not Ww2 but they are cast wings made in the 1970s. 1 person said they are kiddy wings. It doesn't hurt to reach out for more info or opinions. Let me know what you think.....

Hello I came across this shovel, and wondered if it was a combination of old and new parts. It is in a 1952 dated carrier. I have never seen a red handle before.. It is marked A.f.&H co 1943 Thank you

It’s really just an error. But so is the reversed ww2 1st ID, reversed cannon tank destroyer and others that bring good money.

Great patrol jacket variants...and on Marketplace, no less. Large gap in eras here...any insight on what they were? A collection? Maybe multi-generational Marine family?

Sorry about having the pages out of order.

Beautiful jackets

Thanks for your response. I have a couple of sources for GI surplus that may have a few. Trying to avoid a never issued commercial one. Don't want like new condition. I like my martial blades to have character. Thanks for the info.

I used to collect the M9 series, had over 100 variants at one time. I hesitate to say never when it comes to the military, but AFAIK, the only USGI contracts for the M9 were for green versions. However, it is always possible an individual unit used unit funds to purchase black M9's. As far as how to tell commercial from issue, it is hard to tell on Ontario Knife or Lan-Cay produced M9's, as their commercial issue configuration M9's were mainly identical to what they were shipping to the military. Ontario in particular had no qualms with sending bayonets out commercially from the same production line as their USGI knives. Having said that, a lot of M9's have been legitimately sold as surplus in recent years, so it should not be too hard to find a real USGI Ontario on ebay or other internet sites. If they are a big volume surplus dealer and tell you they purchased their M9's from DRMO type auctions, they are most likely telling you the truth.

Local family cleaning out the house and let me come by and take a few pics of the father’s painted leather. Last pic is of the 3rd jacket, no paint on the back but still a stunner.

Hello everyone. Well, I finished the Infantry soldiers. I still have to add the rifle slings, but by all accounts, they're done. Now onto the tankers. Semper Fi. Manny