. What a storm last night . . . . . . . .   Well I would imagine that most D-Day visitors were pleased they were not here in tents last night, starting around 20h30 the rolling thunder could be heard approaching and then the lightening arrived as well and the torrential rainfall which knocked out all the internet wifi and mobile connections, and so by 22h00 there was nothing to do so off to bed.   I had been trying to post the photos below during the storm and it was continually impossible.  All this month the images of a medal award ceremony have been projected onto the front of the old cinema / theatre,  this award ceremony was held in the same square 23 June 1944. two 88mm shells were fired into the town from German guns and just one loss of life occurred an eight year old flower girl.       Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, June 14  2O25.    ….      

Possible he was prior enlisted and trained as a gunner then applied for pilot training

Bit of bird dogging tonight and saw this one on FB Mkt out of Overland Park , KS.     

It appears to be from the 1933 American Emblems contract. These are not identifiable by number. This one is probably in the 40,000 to 60,000 range.

If you will share the # or number range within 1000, I.e. “15,000” , I can tell you the dates it fits between with my collection and info I have. It is definitely a 1930s issue as Dave mentions.   Bill

One more week!

Well, this is my first post and I'd like to say thank you for the add. I've gained a lot of good info in the past from this site... I just got a couple more cut down DG's in from an order on Northridge after contacting them about these. I'm in no way affiliated with them, but they did go out of their way to help me when I  inquired about them.    I had already ordered 12 rough 3 packs of m7 or cut down m3 scabbards from their website (I've collected 60+ of the bayonets through the years, many E-US or unmarked W German among the US ones), and discovered their ebay page where I saw a damaged DG in the last picture and contacted them about buying any maroon scabbards. They still had that rough one, but at the time it was the only one they found & I got it free since it was so rough, even after ordering another three and offering to pay. They must've found another before shipping and included it. Very good service... I've picked up a couple others by closely looking at ebay pictures from a guy that sold lots of these cheap when the Greek returns were coming in.    Thought some collectors might find these interesting.    The top is a new to me DG scabbard & throat, 1906 SA cut down with the rough scabbard that needs repair (crimped), 2nd is a new to me DG scabbard with a Beckwith throat, red handled AFH (original tabs), 3rd is a DG scabbard with a throat that has paint over the markings (original tabs) UFH, 4th is a DG matching scabbard & throat with an OL cut down (crimped), and last is a DG throat on a Beckwith body with an unnumbered 1906 RIA (crimped).    Thanks again!   

Decided to round out my service rifle collection with an M16. Picked up a parts kit from Apex Gunparts and the rest is PSA.Came together nicely, might upgrade my lower if I find a more time period fitting replacement.

I like the first army patch. Interesting that it’s made on twill without the spaces within the A filled in.