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Laundry mark in M42 : Trying to Identify


max0073
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Gentlemen,

 

I recently added this jacket to my collection. The airborne tab was in one pocket and there is the trace of a round chest patch as well as a laundry # H-3890

I wonder if someone would help me in identifying the soldier by looking in the regiment that had a round chest patch. I could provide the size of the patch if that could be of any help.

I've looked into the roster I have

Thanks in advance,

Best,

Max

 

 

 IMG_2496.jpg.4a8ea4d98cab916e201dbc202a461145.jpgIMG_2497.jpg.37357c035748818597ca76d81dec224c.jpgIMG_2498.jpg.6c87a31d79e48e15f103f7b7d0ee9050.jpgIMG_2499.jpg.8669414931eed3573caec5d3ec4eae38.jpgIMG_2500.jpg.c1eb508b8f8e92cb1ea41301935fb378.jpg

 

 

 

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Let's see if I can help you narrow it down a little. The following units had round pocket patches-

502nd PIR

504th PIR

506th PIR

507th PIR

508th PIR

511th PIR

513th PIR

541st PIR

542nd PIR

460th PFA

462nd PFA

307th Engineers

Not to mention the generic "US Army Paratrooper" patch.

 

There are some rarer pocket patches too, but let's stick with the more common to start.

 

Allan

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Hello Allan

 

thank you for yoyur reply. Much appreciated. As I am not a patch guy, all had patches of similar size ?

 

I did not find a match into the 507th, 511t & 513th but I don't have the rosters for the others. Do you know where I could find them online by any chance ?

 

thanks,

Best,

Max

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Hi John

indeed, I built an excel file crossing the name+surname from this website with the rosters I have. 

Then if I have a match, I go to the 2nd surname to see but no match so far on the rosters from 82nd (complete ?) and 17th.

thanks,

Max

Capture.JPG.db28e375f5b3f4404215fb118f2fb904.JPG

 

 

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The link that was posted for the 82nd is a great resource but is far from complete. It only covers the infantry formations, and even those are missing names, especially later war guys. You should also look at the 13th Airborne Division. There is a searchable version of the unit history online. As Allan said, the round "United States Paratroops" patch was often worn on the M42 jacket and these came in blue for infantry and red for artillery. Additionally, officers used the same type of laundry number sequence as enlisted men. 

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huntssurplus

Looking at the tab also, because it is black and yellow, it would either be 13th, 17th, or 101st Airborne Division or Airborne command. That should help narrow it down some more.

 

Hunt

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Hello Hunt, all

 

this is a very logical thought and I must admit that looking into the 82nd roster could have been a waste of time indeed.

 

I have 2 questions here

- is the blue or red paratrooper generic patch the same size than regimentals ones ? I don't have any in my collection so I was thinking the size could help to narrow down

- do tabs differ between divisions ? I need to take better pictures of this one but it does not look like any of the 101st patches variant from M. Bando website.

 

best,

Max

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BILL THE PATCH

Yes they are the same sz, here are two examples of generic abn patches. They also come with gliders. Abn regt patched could be a little larger I suppose. Depends on mfg.6668726b7fdfedec33a77c7891d2cec8.jpg

Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

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On ‎6‎/‎20‎/‎2020 at 5:00 PM, huntssurplus said:

Looking at the tab also, because it is black and yellow, it would either be 13th, 17th, or 101st Airborne Division or Airborne command. That should help narrow it down some more.

 

Hunt

I don't know how big a "waste" of time it would be checking 82nd units as both the 507th and 508th were assigned to the 2nd Airborne Brigade prior to being attached to the 82nd for Operation Overlord. The patch features a black and yellow tab.

 

As an aside, the tab doesn't look like a "full size" tab that would fit over a 101st eagle, so you might rule out the 101st and the 17th.

 

Allan

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huntssurplus

Are 13th Airborne Rosters online? Definitely would be worth it to look there, like Allan said, it does look a little smaller. 13th Airborne would probably be the best next step.

 

Hunt

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Hello,

nothing in the 13th airborne roster found online

Any idea where I could find the 13th by any chance ?

 

thank you,

Best,

Max

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4 hours ago, max0073 said:

Any idea where I could find the 13th by any chance ?

 

https://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/ww_reg_his/180/

 

Here is a link to the 13th Airborne unit history is that what you were looking for? The book is searchable although I believe that it does not include all members only those who were present at the time the Unit history was published in 1946.

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Hello Ray,

this is the one I have spent some time on yesterday, thank you ! There was almost a match but unfortunately only an homonym from another state :(

 

thanks

Max

Capture_tab.JPG.cc07f1109245da8acd110e716e921ff1.JPG

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Max,

 

Hold the patch side sleeve up to the light, and see if there is a trace/outline or stitch marks below where the tab was. That could possibly help with narrowing it down.

 

v/r

 

James

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Hi James,

 

thanks for following-up on that !

I've already tried that but let me check once again !

 

Best

Max

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