Operation Giant III / Operation Avalanche - Photographic reconstruction

[PFC Red]

Hello there!
I thought about sharing some pics of our last photographic reconstruction.
Subject of it this time were paratroopers of 2/509th PIR and elements of C Co., 307th Airborne Engineer Battalion. As youc probably know, US paratroopers were dropped about 25km (15 miles) behind enemy lines, on Avellino, with the purpose of blocking German reinforcements to converge against the Allied beachhead at Salerno, from the North. It was the night between September 14th - 15th.
Operation was dubbed Giant III, but was almost as foolish as Giant II, the cancelled drop on Rome. Of course, Clark was behind it, among others.
Things went really bad: The drops were widely scattered all over the area, HQ and Lt Col. Yardley were captured almost immediately and the Bn suffered many casualties. However, the troopers still carried out disturbance missions, patrols and guerrilla actions, often surviving thanks to the local Italian population.
We wanted to recreate that event curing the early war details (long M1905 bayonet, aluminium cap canteens and so on). I warmly hope you'll appreciate 'em.

Pictures are by Enrico Panichi and Leonardo Mattioli.
The Reenactors are from the GGARG (http://www.ggarg.it/) and Progetto900 (http://www.progetto900.com/EN/index.html)

 

 

 

 

 

A couple of guys got captured...

 

 

 

More pics to follow...

[PFC Red]

Telephone wire trap

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More pics to follow...

[willysmb44]

Your group did an amazing job. I love the photos!

[PFC Red]

Thank you willys!

[PFC Red]

Italian civilians often had little choice when questioned by the German forces...

 

 

 

 

Vehicles often got requisitioned...

 

 

 

...TWICE!

 

[PFC Red]

"Look what we got, Lieutenant!"

 

 

The car is a Fiat 500 "Topolino" (Mickey Mouse)

[124cav]

You guys win!

[PFC Red]

You guys win!

Thank you, 124cav!

Will post more pics!

[124cav]

Next will you cover the 509th on the Eld Djem raid?

[Jon S]

Very impressive! Looks like a full production.

[PFC Red]

Next will you cover the 509th on the Eld Djem raid?

 

We would love to do that! However it's very hard to find locations similar to the North-African theater...

 

 

Also thanks Jon S!

 

A few more pics.A

As stated, members of the HQ and HQ Co. got captured almost as soon as they landed...

 

 

 

 

But others managed to regroup and fight

 

 

 

[lewis505]

Well done lads!

[willysmb44]

I always wonder what someone passing by shoots like this must be thinking when they see "Germans" and "GIs" standing around like that...

[PFC Red]

Well done lads!

 

Thank you Lewis!

 

Willys: We normally place all around signs saying "Movie shooting in process". But there always come people that did not see 'em.

If we're along a road you can see vehicle slowing down, as if it was a roadblock of some kind.

On certain occasions we saw cyclists or hikers coming towards us, then stopping and watching us from afar and turning around and go back from where they've come pretty quickly.

But most of the times they stop, have a look, understand what is it all about and go again.

[124cav]

I am usre parts of Sicily would work for El Djem.

 

Time to jump on a train and scout locations.

 

Sam

 

We would love to do that! However it's very hard to find locations similar to the North-African theater...


Also thanks Jon S!

A few more pics.A
As stated, members of the HQ and HQ Co. got captured almost as soon as they landed...

 

 

 

 

But others managed to regroup and fight

 

 

 

[124cav]

I am sure parts of Sicily would work for El Djem.

 

Time to jump on a train and scout locations.

 

Sam

 

We would love to do that! However it's very hard to find locations similar to the North-African theater...


Also thanks Jon S!

A few more pics.A
As stated, members of the HQ and HQ Co. got captured almost as soon as they landed...

 

 

 

 

But others managed to regroup and fight

 

 

 

[PFC Red]

124cav: yes, you're probably right! You will also be invited, if you would like to

[2ad82recon]

WOW !!!!

 

Those pictures with the church staff are amazing.....

 

great shots lads..............not a FARB amongst you

 

Regards

 

Lloyd

[PFC Red]

WOW !!!!

 

Those pictures with the church staff are amazing.....

 

great shots lads..............not a FARB amongst you

 

Regards

 

Lloyd

 

 

Thank you Lloyd, I really appreciate!

 

Red

 

[PFC Red]

A few more pics!

 

 

 

Spread out! Spread out!

 

 

[willysmb44]

I love the civilians in the shots, hardly anyone ever thinks to include them...

[PFC Red]

I love the civilians in the shots, hardly anyone ever thinks to include them...

 

Thanks! Yeah, Italian civilians helped many of the guys providing shelter & food on that occasion

[124cav]

124cav: yes, you're probably right! You will also be invited, if you would like to

 

 

I would love a chance to return to Sicily

 

Lovely little island with the best food on earth.

 

Of course you could do some amazing Sicily pics in Sicily.

 

Between running my coffee shop and being a father i doubt my misses would give me leave to play paratroopers in the MTO.

[124cav]

 

These are some El Djem survivors.

 

Check the 1st model jump jacket and maybe 1st model jump pants too.

[PFC Red]

I love that M41 jump suit... ATF used to reproduce it, but not anymore...it would be perfect for Op. Torch as well as for the Nadzab drop by the 503rd PIR