WW2 Photos of Soldiers/Sailors with Captured Flags in the ETO

[17thairborne]

I have completely alligned my collecting to only photos of US Soldiers/Sailors with captured flags, or the actual flags themselves with signatures of the men who captured the flag. I don't add to my collection very often as most of my money goes to resotring GPWs. 

 

I maintain a full descripture of the images and flags on my website as it is easier to update and make changes in format etc. 

 

http://gpw.castraponere.com/index.php/wwii-captured-flags/

 

Here is my latest acquisition that I have finished the research on. I spent about 4 weeks finding out the details of the photos in the album. All of the photos were taken by a crew member of Landing Ship Tank - 387 which was torpedoed in the Med just prior to Operation HUSKY. The story that I was able to uncover is quite fascinating. Here are a few shots, but the details and history of LST-387 are on my site. I hope you enjoy the work.

 

Thanks for Looking

 

Oz

 

[USCapturephotos]

I love your focus OZ as this is something which has interested me for a long time. You have some nice pieces!

Reach out to me sometime as I have some shots of GIs with very rare captured flags and many of the normal run of the mill NSDAP banners and such.

Paul

[USCapturephotos]

Hey Oz! I didn’t have time right now to read all of it but saw with interest your signed flag from the 222nd of the 42nd Division. I knew a handful of those guys thanks to another member on this forum, Brennan Gauthier. One vet is still living. Let’s talk soon.

Paul

[USCapturephotos]

Oz. You will appreciate this one. So I bought this captured flag painted and signed by members of Battery C, 67th Armored Field Artillery of the 3rd Armored about 10 years ago. I also search high and low for captured flag shots. As luck would have it, I ran across two original snapshots showing GI's with a similar painted flag from the same unit, but Battery B.

I always wondered where the "Battery B" flag could have gotten to. Then this happened....

 

About 2 years ago I was invited to go see the collection of an acquaintance I knew from the shows and my local flea markets. He lives about 1 hour from my house. Mind you his focus is mostly Span. Am and WW1. I entered the house and about fell over when I saw the Battery B flag hanging on his wall. He told me that it was the first piece he ever bought back in the late 1960's at another flea market and believes now that it was probably one of the vets selling the flag. What are the chances!

Paul

[USCapturephotos]

Now here are the photos and the Battery B flag that my friend owns.

[USCapturephotos]

My friend and I have looked very closely and matched everything up except the two pieces below the "A" and the "R" in armored and below the "I" in division. Not sure if those were patches attached somehow as they are not on the flag now.

Paul

[17thairborne]

Wow. We will never see that happen again. One guy owns the photo of a flag and then visits the guy who actually owns that same flag. What a great story. I think you are right, the triangle and other patch are SSIs that were later removed. It looks like there was someone who made a flag for every battery. Wouldn't it be great to Find HQ and A Battery flags also? 

[17thairborne]

I am working up the narrative for a neat 503rd MP grouping from WW2. It takes me a while to do the research before I post on my site. Here are images of a flag taken from Buchenwald and a Patton Prayer Card.

[USCapturephotos]

Wow. That’s an especially sobering piece because of where it was captured. I visited Buchenwald in 1984 on a trip behind the Iron Curtain with my parents. Grey, rainy day that I will never forget.

Paul

[17thairborne]

I was never able to go when I was stationed in Germany. No excuse Sir! Glad you were able to experience that. I have a bit more research to do before I post the rest of the 503rd gouping on my site. I look forward to comparing notes on the 222nd flags.

[17thairborne]

I'm still working up my narrative on the actions of the 86th and Chaplain Dale with regard to this grouping, so I have not yet posted it on my website. This is a Belgian Flag given to him in Bastogne. The small grouping includes the flag, a fourragere, a few garrison caps and a ditty bag. Most are marked with his data. Eventually I will psot more on my website. I am also pleased to have his steel helmet, named with a 2nd AD insignia and captains bars on it. He transferred to the 2nd either at war's end or shortly thereafter. Another USMF member has his uniform and other effects:

 

 

 

[P-59A]

That is fantastic!!!!! Well done!

[17thairborne]

Thanks for the comments. 

[17thairborne]

Always looking for any ETO original photos of soldeirs with captured german/italian flags, or same with soldiers signatures, home towns, dates etc penned on in ink.