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Signal photographic company ?


sgtbarnes44
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I need your help. think.gif

 

post-647-1194975984.jpg

 

I am desesperatly trying to ID what unit the photographer on that pic is from. You will easily notice the two triangles painted on the rear of his helmet. That picture was shot in Paris the 26th of august 1944. It shows general de Gaulle arrival with general Leclerc (commanding the french 2nd armored division) welcoming him.

As so far my researchs have permited me to determine that a team of SPECOU (Special coverage unit of the US army signal corps-attached to SHAEF and also known as "Hollywood irregulars")was present on the scene. All the pics I get of that unit shows unmarked helmets.

Odds are that the 165th signal photographic company (attached to 1st army) and/or 166th SPC (attached to 3rd army) were also there at that time. The 165th SPC took part of the D-Day landings and -may be- the helmet markings were painted for helping ID those specialists during the amphibious landings. I have found that 5 soldiers of that unit went with the 2nd Ranger battalion on Pointe du Hoc (3 of them were KIA). That could be a clue as the Ranger diamond and the two triangles are very similar ?. But so far I had no luck finding pics of the 165th SPC in Normandy.

 

I hope that someone on that great forum can help me in my quest. May-be that can be of some help: was someone named THONEY part of that unit ? think.gif

 

Thanks a lot for all the contributors of that great forum. thumbsup.gif

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Very nice photo. It seems there is a "2" inscribed between the two triangles. It realy looks like a Ranger helmet... It looks as if an officer bar had been scratched away.

 

Amazing!

 

Yannick

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I need your help. think.gif

 

post-647-1194975984.jpg

 

I am desesperatly trying to ID what unit the photographer on that pic is from. You will easily notice the two triangles painted on the rear of his helmet. That picture was shot in Paris the 26th of august 1944. It shows general de Gaulle arrival with general Leclerc (commanding the french 2nd armored division) welcoming him.

As so far my researchs have permited me to determine that a team of SPECOU (Special coverage unit of the US army signal corps-attached to SHAEF and also known as "Hollywood irregulars")was present on the scene. All the pics I get of that unit shows unmarked helmets.

Odds are that the 165th signal photographic company (attached to 1st army) and/or 166th SPC (attached to 3rd army) were also there at that time. The 165th SPC took part of the D-Day landings and -may be- the helmet markings were painted for helping ID those specialists during the amphibious landings. I have found that 5 soldiers of that unit went with the 2nd Ranger battalion on Pointe du Hoc (3 of them were KIA). That could be a clue as the Ranger diamond and the two triangles are very similar ?. But so far I had no luck finding pics of the 165th SPC in Normandy.

 

I hope that someone on that great forum can help me in my quest. May-be that can be of some help: was someone named THONEY part of that unit ? think.gif

 

Thanks a lot for all the contributors of that great forum. thumbsup.gif

 

Check the knife behind the holster. Could it be a V-42? That was a common way for the FSSF wore them.

 

Ray

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I would agree that it is a 2nd Ranger diamond with the Officers bar scratched out.

 

Whether the guy wearing it is a 2nd Ranger or not would be debatable - perhaps we're looking at a Normandy Invasion helmet that is being re-used by another GI....

 

Cheers,

Glen.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I understand that in WW II, to na extent, the Fr. Army was fully equipped w/ US Army uniforms, rifles, etc.

 

Could this be for a Fr. Army Signal unit?

 

Be kind - I'm a patch guy just trying to help out an Allly

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I understand that in WW II, to na extent, the Fr. Army was fully equipped w/ US Army uniforms, rifles, etc.

 

Could this be for a Fr. Army Signal unit?

 

Be kind - I'm a patch guy just trying to help out an Allly

 

Could be, but the second armored division (french) was then attached to Patton's third army. There was no signal photographic company in division, only one per army. On the pic it's more a photographer than a signaler.

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I'm not sure this may help but...

 

There were probably many photographs taken of this event. If you do a little searching, you might find one that shows the front view of this soldier. That might help you determine if he was French or American.

 

Also, I notice the half track in the background. Can you make out the unit markings on it, and would that provide a clue?

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Also, I notice the half track in the background. Can you make out the unit markings on it, and would that provide a clue?

The half-track is a french 2nd armored division vehicle. Special coverage unit was also there but I was not able yet to found their color movie of that scene.

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I believe I have seen this on the History Channel.

They showed it about a week ago here.

 

Title: "WWII in color".

 

It is not the exact scene as in the photo here, but I think it was filmed at the same location.

 

Hope this may be helpful.

 

Erwin

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  • 11 months later...
  • 11 years later...

I think he is Free French Army, my deux centimes...

Ive been staring at the helmet and the picture of the back of the helmet. I think its the same helmet in the picture !

Look at the scrapes on the top right rear and the dings in the arrows and then study the same areas in the photo. Looks like the same helmet.

The question was asked in post #9 but not answered.

Seems to be the same. ?

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The right triangle at the top has a circular patch of missing red (?) paint same as the pic

the worn spots are pretty close Rooster...if not spot on as they say

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Hey Phantom...

I bet the OP has the helmet and the pic and knows its the helmet in the pic and was trying to find the name.??

I wonder if he found it ...?.....cause it sure does seem to match up. The lid and the lid in the picture....

Sgt Barnes has not been active since

Last Active Jun 27 2018 10:47 AM

 

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