Burning Hazard Posted January 25, 2019 Share #1 Posted January 25, 2019 Watching some footage I noticed, what appears to be a horse mounted major(?), directing German troops in Italy after their surrender. Note he has a white circle painted on the back, we associate these with corpsman but this shows something different. They all have 34th ID insignia painted on their helmets so that rules out Navy or Corpsmen. Anybody got any idea what it could mean? Tac mark? Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burning Hazard Posted January 25, 2019 Author Share #2 Posted January 25, 2019 Video on youtube, starts at about 1:11 mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stealthytyler Posted January 25, 2019 Share #3 Posted January 25, 2019 Its clearly a PTO shore party helmet...lol jk, no clue! Very interesting though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navybean Posted January 25, 2019 Share #4 Posted January 25, 2019 Cool footage not sure about the helmet but it is remarkable to see the German prisoners going to captivity riding motorcycles and horses Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PacificGunner Posted January 25, 2019 Share #5 Posted January 25, 2019 I agree that it is quite interesting to see German prisoners riding into their captivity, especially because the American security seems to be spread very thin among the convoy. As for the helmet, my immediate guess without context of the footage would be a corpsman which is why it is very interesting to see that insignia outside of the PTO. I have seen helmets from the 463rd Parachute Field Artillery Battalion with white circles painted on them, but the circles on the examples I have seen are painted on the sides. I was trying to see if I could identify any other insignia on the horse mounted soldier and if you pause the video at 1:35 he appears to be wearing crossed rifles or cannons as his collar insignia. If he is part of the 34th ID I wonder if it was some sort of variation of the leadership stripe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunmore1774 Posted January 25, 2019 Share #6 Posted January 25, 2019 Maybe he is a PTO corpsman that got lost and is asking the Germans for directions back to Guadalcanal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
268th C.A. Posted January 25, 2019 Share #7 Posted January 25, 2019 It looks like a constabulary emblem to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-59A Posted January 25, 2019 Share #8 Posted January 25, 2019 Those German troops are fresh off the field. Look at how they march I noticed at least two Germans with pistol holsters on their belts and a large number with field gear. I could not make out what was on the three jeep bumpers, but the first two had the same markings. The horse the American is on was taken from the Germans. In one shot a stirrup is still on the saddle while his foot is in the other. All of the horses are worn out. A number of Americans have the same unit mark on the front of their helmets, just can't make it out. In as far as the American Officer on the horse...maybe a leadership mark other than a stripe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmoore456 Posted January 25, 2019 Share #9 Posted January 25, 2019 Looks like 34th emblem on front of soldiers in background. Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burning Hazard Posted January 25, 2019 Author Share #10 Posted January 25, 2019 Yes, they are 34th ID in Italy as per footage caption, they have the red bull insignia painted on the front. While digging deeper, I found another 34th helmet posted by GeneralCheese that has a white triangle painted on the back, my guess is tac marking. http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/267233-34th-division-captains-helmet-with-triangle-opinions/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burning Hazard Posted January 25, 2019 Author Share #11 Posted January 25, 2019 Front Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpstout Posted January 25, 2019 Share #12 Posted January 25, 2019 One of my 34th ID helmets. No one, to date, has fully explained it. Would love to know... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap Camouflage Pattern I Posted January 25, 2019 Share #13 Posted January 25, 2019 Looks like there is a whole new set of tac marks to be discovered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PacificGunner Posted January 26, 2019 Share #14 Posted January 26, 2019 Looks like there is a whole new set of tac marks to be discovered. I agree, I have never seen these shapes painted on the back of US helmets before. This is the first time they have been brought to my attention and It is interesting that all of the variations brought up so far are on helmets from the 34th ID Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-59A Posted January 26, 2019 Share #15 Posted January 26, 2019 The jeep bumper markings I can see on two of the jeeps is 34-4GS44******* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29navy Posted January 26, 2019 Share #16 Posted January 26, 2019 Here's another one for you - the guy on the right. The guy in the center with the helmet net has a similar marking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29navy Posted January 26, 2019 Share #17 Posted January 26, 2019 It's from this film on the liberation of Munich around the 1:09 mark.. Also at the :36 mark, you'll see some square markings on the back of the helmet. These may be the 157th IR of the 45th ID. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap Camouflage Pattern I Posted January 26, 2019 Share #18 Posted January 26, 2019 It's from this film on the liberation of Munich around the 1:09 mark.. Also at the :36 mark, you'll see some square markings on the back of the helmet. These may be the 157th IR of the 45th ID. Nice video with lots of tactical marks, thanks for sharing. They are 3rd Infantry Division, you can just make out the square on the side in your snip. Later at !;25 in the video a 3rd ID SSI can be seen on the helmet. G Co. 30th IR 3rd ID 8 May 1945. From: http://www.warfoto.com/3rdsocietyphotos2ww2.htm these should probably get their own thread if they don't already have them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted January 26, 2019 Share #19 Posted January 26, 2019 3rd ID straight from the vet.Have his discharge and regiment but never confimed if this was a regiment,battalion,company,platoon etc..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burning Hazard Posted January 26, 2019 Author Share #20 Posted January 26, 2019 It's from this film on the liberation of Munich around the 1:09 mark.. Also at the :36 mark, you'll see some square markings on the back of the helmet. These may be the 157th IR of the 45th ID. At the beginning the triangle painted helmets are an armored unit, I know one of the forum guys owns their helmet. Reference pic from M1 Helmet Depot Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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