WW2 101st Airborne 506th

[BigBreezy]

Hi guys

 

I have put together a 101st 506th Airborne Impression and was just wondering did some of the men paint their rank insignia on their arms and also what was the right colour of rank insignia for a D-Day.

 

Cheers

[steelpot]

I've certainly never seen them painted on, only sewn on. 

[Manky bandage]

Might you find painted on rank painted on? Maybe, more likely on HBTs. Id really recommend having a look through at many of the incredible publications available, and focus on a particular unit you wish to portray. Id also recommend finding yourself a group, one with a good reputation that will point you in the correct direction. This would result in you learning (thats the whole point) and also save yourself costly and sometimes expensive mistakes. 

[BigBreezy]

Thanks for the help!

[cargopusher]

 

S/Sgt Mariano S. Ferra (Los Angeles, California)
Army serial number: 39158844
Company C, 326th Airborne Engineer Battalion

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/139966052/mariano_sierras-ferra

 

 

T/4 Joseph F. Gorenc (Sheboygan, Wisconsin)
Army serial number:16131251
HQ 3rd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/73117222/joseph_f-gorenc

 

 

Sgt. William L. Pauli (Valier, Montana)
Army serial number: 39610949
Headquarters 3rd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/134589630/william_loras-pauli

[Gear Fanatic]

Looks like some of them have swivel/ fixed bales on those helmets. Those are some great pictures!

[manayunkman]

41 minutes ago, Gear Fanatic said:

Looks like some of them have swivel/ fixed bales on those helmets. Those are some great pictures!

Good eye.

 

This guy especially looks to have a swivel bail.

[BigBreezy]

9 hours ago, cargopusher said:

 

S/Sgt Mariano S. Ferra (Los Angeles, California)
Army serial number: 39158844
Company C, 326th Airborne Engineer Battalion

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/139966052/mariano_sierras-ferra

 

 

T/4 Joseph F. Gorenc (Sheboygan, Wisconsin)
Army serial number:16131251
HQ 3rd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/73117222/joseph_f-gorenc

 

 

Sgt. William L. Pauli (Valier, Montana)
Army serial number: 39610949
Headquarters 3rd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/134589630/william_loras-pauli

Great pictures cargopusher!

[Gear Fanatic]

Working on a 509th swivel vale restoration wing gingerbreads old posts from about 2009

[cargopusher]

Unidentified corporal with painted rank chevrons, probably from 326th Engineers. The same man is standing next to Sgt. Ferra in the first photo of post #5. Some people have mistakenly claimed he is Jake McNiece, but this individual was also filmed while standing between McNiece and Ferra, which can be seen in this image at lower left. On another forum someone said that it might be Joe Oleskiewicz but his head was shaved differently, so the mystery remains unsolved.

 

[BigBreezy]

Cargopusher that is Cpl. Joseph ‘Jojo’ J. Oleskiewicz, Jr., Demolition Platoon!

[Gear Fanatic]

Did 101st have rigged made demolition charges similar to paramarines?

[BigBreezy]

Gear Fanatic, yes I think so!IMG_0719.dng

[cargopusher]

5 hours ago, BigBreezy said:

Cargopusher that is Cpl. Joseph ‘Jojo’ J. Oleskiewicz, Jr., Demolition Platoon!

 

Joseph Oleskiewicz did not have rank chevrons displayed on his jacket. And he put a ring on his left hand.

 

[BigBreezy]

Cargopusher those pictures there are Cpl. John ‘Peepnuts’ Hale!

[BigBreezy]

Cargopusher, if you want to know where I am getting my information from, I own a book called CARENTAN Linking Omaha Beach - Utah Beach Part 1: Loading for the First Divisional Fight by Michel De Trez, Emmanuel Allain & Mark Bando, it’s a great book with a lot of original pictures and information!

[Gear Fanatic]

Nice, I love the odd rigger made items!

3 hours ago, BigBreezy said:

Gear Fanatic, yes I think so!IMG_0719.dng

 

[cargopusher]

10 hours ago, BigBreezy said:

Cargopusher, if you want to know where I am getting my information from, I own a book called CARENTAN Linking Omaha Beach - Utah Beach Part 1: Loading for the First Divisional Fight by Michel De Trez, Emmanuel Allain & Mark Bando, it’s a great book with a lot of original pictures and information!

 

BigBreezy, did not read that yet but will try to get a copy.

 

My source is WAR PAINT by Richard Killblane and Brian Miller. They specifically identified Joe Oleskiewicz in the movie frames, the still image of the man posing in the jump position, and photos at training bases. They pointed out “the unidentified engineer corporal” on account of information from Jake McNiece.

 

Just to be sure, I checked the draft registration cards which can be downloaded from Fold3. From this Joseph B. Oleskiewicz was 5’ 8” tall and 150 lbs. More importantly he had brown hair, blue eyes and a light complexion which—in my opinion—does not fit the description of the corporal holding the Tommy gun in post #10.

 

For what it’s worth, John R. Hale was 5’ 4” tall and 130 lbs. with black hair, brown eyes and a dark complexion. I believe that the next image makes it obvious that we are looking at three different guys. Look closely at the way the make-up is applied to each face.

 

[cargopusher]

Forgot to mention that the draft card for Oleskiewicz indicates a double lobe on his left ear. This can be seen in the film footage.

 

John R. Hale and James F. Green

 

Hale carried a piece of kit that I could not identify. Maybe a custom pouch made by the parachute riggers.

[BigBreezy]

Awesome pictures!!

[Gear Fanatic]

Seen that before, it’s some kind of specialist piece, I don’t think it’s rigged made, I find those in antique stores occasionally 

16 hours ago, cargopusher said:

Forgot to mention that the draft card for Oleskiewicz indicates a double lobe on his left ear. This can be seen in the film footage.

 

John R. Hale and James F. Green

 

Hale carried a piece of kit that I could not identify. Maybe a custom pouch made by the parachute riggers.

 

[Gear Fanatic]

I know it’s in one of my books. I’ll check this week some time.

[Rakkasan187]

Hale is carrying the Signal Corps Lineman’s Tool Set With CS-34 Leather Pouch, the pouch would hold both the TL-29 Pocket Knife and TL-13 Pliers, presumably those are the tools that Hale would be carrying since we can't see them. The item was not rigger made but issued to signal corps troops, engineers, demolition team members and others. 

 

Leigh 

 

 

 

 

[Gear Fanatic]

Thanks rakkasan, I knew it wasn’t rigged made, just couldn’t quite put my finger on it! Thanks for the clarification and ID. Happy new years! 

[Jake Mohawk]

On 12/26/2024 at 2:05 PM, BigBreezy said:

Cargopusher that is Cpl. Joseph ‘Jojo’ J. Oleskiewicz, Jr., Demolition Platoon!

He is the unknown engineer, he was added moments before the jump and no one knows his name