FreeRange Posted September 25, 2014 Share #1 Posted September 25, 2014 Since I am putting together two little displays...I was curious as to what everyone thinks the top 3 icons of each WW would be... I have helmets at the top of my list...but then I'm not sure what would be most representative! There are an awful lot of items out there...and I don't want a hodge-podge (although I suspect it will happen regardless of my best intentions)... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RustyCanteen Posted September 25, 2014 Share #2 Posted September 25, 2014 For WWI I would choose a helmet, gas mask, and a bayonet. They symbolize the trench warfare which is iconic of the war. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted September 25, 2014 Share #3 Posted September 25, 2014 For the US in WW2, I'd go with a M-1 helmet, web belt, and Colt M1911A1. I've done several displays where I wrap the belt around the base of the stand/head for the helmet. Looks neat to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garandomatic Posted September 25, 2014 Share #4 Posted September 25, 2014 I'd go for the Garand, M1 helmet, and maybe a flight helmet and goggles. Not sure how you'd display that with coherence, but the M1 Helmet and M1 Rifle epitomize the infantryman, while flight helmet covers the fact that WWII was really the first air war of any real significance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitter2k1 Posted September 25, 2014 Share #5 Posted September 25, 2014 For WWI, I would think the helmet, the gas mask and a wool coat are pretty iconic. As for WWII, a M1 helmet, an en bloc of 30-06 and a frag grenade (period practice dummy of course) seem to be pretty iconic items. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted September 26, 2014 Share #6 Posted September 26, 2014 For WW I: Helmet - Gasmask - Hobnail Shoes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreeRange Posted September 26, 2014 Author Share #7 Posted September 26, 2014 ...good ideas! Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stucky151 Posted September 28, 2014 Share #8 Posted September 28, 2014 WW2 for me says M1, Garand and a war bond poster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jguy1986 Posted September 28, 2014 Share #9 Posted September 28, 2014 Helmet, dress uniform, poster. That's the majority of my collection, anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan H. Posted September 28, 2014 Share #10 Posted September 28, 2014 WWI- Doughboy Helmet, gasmask. hobnail boots WWII- M1 helmet, M1 Rifle, M1943 Two buckle boots Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teufelhunde.ret Posted September 28, 2014 Share #11 Posted September 28, 2014 WW1 trench art shell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreeRange Posted September 29, 2014 Author Share #12 Posted September 29, 2014 Trench art is fascinating. But I haven't quite sorted it out yet. I gather there are 3 categories: 1. Items fabricated by the soldiers while they had down time in the trenches...out of scrap material 2. Items fabricated by POWs while interred 3. Items manufactured by companies used by soldiers in the trenches...like lighters and lighter kits... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12A54 Posted September 29, 2014 Share #13 Posted September 29, 2014 Helmets are really the distinguishing iconic items between the two wars. For some reason I keep thinking USAAF crusher as well for WWII. So many movies and TV shows had that iconic item in them that I think people instantly identify with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jguy1986 Posted September 29, 2014 Share #14 Posted September 29, 2014 There was also a huge local industry in the trench art market, to sell stuff as souvenirs to the doughboys nearby. Much of the time when you see a trench art shell, especially ones with general markings or patterns (think the classic "Verdun" decorated shell), they were crafted by local artisans and sold to the Americans. Not to say that the soldiers themselves didn't make a lot of them, but my guess is that most of the ones we see today were actually bought as souvenirs. Still great pieces, though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfedawg Posted September 30, 2014 Share #15 Posted September 30, 2014 For me the WWII top three would be, Helmets, painted A2 jackets and M1 rifle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfedawg Posted September 30, 2014 Share #16 Posted September 30, 2014 Nose art would be my 4th pick....sorry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gumshoe Posted December 17, 2014 Share #17 Posted December 17, 2014 For WWII... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAW Posted December 17, 2014 Share #18 Posted December 17, 2014 WW1: Helmet, gasmask, barbed wire WW2: Helmet, M1 Garand, dogtags Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted December 17, 2014 Share #19 Posted December 17, 2014 WWII gets tricky, because you have two entirely different theaters and need to find stuff that doesn't characterize one over the other. Everyone always refers to Europe, when Japan was the reason we got involved. If you use a helmet you want it to lack a unit crest/net/cover etc...just the helmet. If you're going to use multiple branches, I think you should use an item from all 3 dimensions of service, as it was as big a naval war as it was an air war. Shell casing to represent the Naval side perhaps, helmet for the ground side, and headphones/throat mic or flight jacket for the air side, for instance I agree with the gas mask and helmet for WWI. I also like the overcoat and bayonet. The helmet, mask and bayonet are probably the best combo...helmet and mask can go on a head, with the bayonet laying at the base of the neck in front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted December 17, 2014 Share #20 Posted December 17, 2014 There was also a huge local industry in the trench art market, to sell stuff as souvenirs to the doughboys nearby. Much of the time when you see a trench art shell, especially ones with general markings or patterns (think the classic "Verdun" decorated shell), they were crafted by local artisans and sold to the Americans. Not to say that the soldiers themselves didn't make a lot of them, but my guess is that most of the ones we see today were actually bought as souvenirs. Still great pieces, though! Which is why the trench art that's always captured my attention most usually involves names, dates and unit crests Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jguy1986 Posted December 17, 2014 Share #21 Posted December 17, 2014 Which is why the trench art that's always captured my attention most usually involves names, dates and unit crests I agree 100%. I'm still kicking myself over the 101st FA shell I saw once, with the Indianhead and Massachusetts coastline design, but just couldn't afford it at the time. It was a beauty, though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MasonK Posted December 17, 2014 Share #22 Posted December 17, 2014 Well, if you're going to put together a true display of the three icons of WWII, I'd go with these three. I assume money is no object, right? In all seriousness, I'd go with the following: WWII - M1 Helmet, M1 Garand, Purple Heart WWI - Gas Mask, M1911, M1917 Helmet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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