82nd Airborne in operation Husky, invasion armbands and SSI, a question for the experts

[Peace]

Hi all,

 

I have been investigating if there are some ‘ground rules’ in putting together a representative paratrooper for operation Husky, july 1943, the invasion of Sicily.

 

Two topics are not clear to me;

 

Armflags: I have observed several ways of them being worn in period pictures

 

-worn on the left sleeve, like a brassard, but I have not seen the oilcloth version, although it is mentioned in several references that these were indeed used. I have also seen original armbands wich were marked with ‘Sicily’, ‘Salerno’, or Anzio.

 

-worn on the right sleeve, lika a brassard

 

-worn on the left shoulder, sewn on

-worn of the right shoulder, sewn on. This seems less common for Husky

 

 

82^nd AB insignia: This is a bit cloudy for me, I have seen period pictures where the AB insignia is worn, and a lot of pictures where it is not worn. Was there some directive wich stated what should be worn? I know that for operation dragoon the sleeve insigna was covered up by a sock, not to be removed until after the jump, so this implicates that they were worn.

 

 

1LT Robert Piper - Regimental S-1 505th.

Flag left shoulder, 82nd AB patch

 

509th troopers;

Flag left shoulder, no patch (seems logical since only attached to 82nd AB)

Note! July 9th 1943 - Attached to 82nd Airborne Division at Oujda, French Morocco for Operation HUSKY, the invasion of Sicily. However 2nd Bn 509th PIR was designated division reserve and did not participate in the invasion. (Field Order #1 of Force 343 (Seventh Army) "( 2nd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry, remain in North Africa, in Force 343 reserve, available for drop missions as directed.")

 

[Peace]

SGT, Sicily

No apparent armflag, patch invisible

 

 

 

Loading up for Salerno, so this is later, Operation avalanche

Flag, left arm, no patch

 

[Peace]

 

 

[Peace]

Flag left shoulder, no visible patch

 

[Peace]

Flag, left shoulder. No patch

 

[Peace]

505th, july 1943

Flag brassard right arm, no patch visible

 

 

Flag brassard right arm, no patch visible

 

[Peace]

both arms seem to have a flag brassard. Maybe a geneva convention armband, but this is unlikely since this trooper is armed. 82nd patch

 

 

No visible flags

 

[Peace]

No visible flags, 82nd patch

 

[Peace]

Mixed lot; flag brassards & normal flags are seen, all right side.

Patches are there, also patchless

 

[Peace]

Flag brassard, right arm

 

[Peace]

flag brassard, right arm

 

[Peace]

[Peace]

Flag brassard, right arm

 

[Peace]

I have some more examples of the different possible combos. I'll see if I can add some tonight.

[Tom Kibler]

I have a 100% correct uniform used in Operation Husky. It belonged to Lt. John J. Scheaffer (D/504). There is a photo of him wearing it which was used in Yank Magazine. I am away from my photo files at the moment, but it is a good set.

 

He wore the 82nd patch on his left shoulder and the small, cloth US Flag sewn on his right shoulder. He painted small white stripes on the shoulders (for 1st Lt.) and he has his name tape (hand sewn) across the breast.

 

The Scheaffer group is an amazing and nearly 100% complete group. The skull and bones D Bail (with Hawley jump liner) was pulled from the group and sold separately by a fellow (MH).

 

I'll get some photos soon.

 

TK

[Peace]

That would be awesome Tom. I am also looking into armflags themselves. I've yet to see any original armflags wich can be attributed to Husky, other then the occasional oilcloth armband with italy pencil marks..

 

Regards,

Stijn

[Peace]

Wounded paratrooper being evacuated out of Sicily

flag right arm, patch

 

William Eppler, William Embury, Irvin Seelye - E Co 505th PIR

no flag, patch

 

[Peace]

sgt Otis Sampson - E co 505th PIR

flag right arm, no visible patch

 

 

Salerno, sept 13-14 1943, so again, Avalanche

Flag, right arm

[Peace]

reinforcements for sicily july 11th 1943

Flag brassard

 

 

unclear if flag, patch worn

PVT Paul Anorowitz - E Co 505th PIR

 

[Peace]

PVT D. Rice, CPL J. Fowler, PVT F. S. Cole - sicily, july 1943

No visible flags, patch worn

 

pfc Ken Nicol 2-504th PIR

Flag, unclear if patch

[Peace]

double post

[Peace]

jump prep sicily july 9-10 1943 505th RCT

 

 

[Peace]

Here is an interesting topic wich also mentions different types of armflags being used. Two types of armband with the flag are mentioned, one on some type of felt, the other one on muslin, like the geneva convention medic brassards..

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/28213-wwii-invasion-armbands/

[Peace]

And here a very interesting picture, wich shows how some of these brassards are worn, just tied around the left arm.

 

I was wondering if these brassards are made up in the regiments, by themselves, because they dont really look like a standardised piece.

 

[Peace]

And here is an interesting reference topic about the different types of armflags;

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/upgradetest/index.php?/topic/3795-wwii-airborne-recognition-flag/