. The question rumbles on painted or not painted . . . . . .   Myself and I would say a number of other collectors would like to find a definitive answer as to whether PSP airfield matting was painted or treated by tempering or quenching as it has lasted eighty long years laying in the fields of Normandy.  Everything I have seen here so far I can't say that I have seen any remains of paint on any of them ( I have fifteen sheets myself, all without any sign of paint ) . I once saw what looked like an unused sheet thrown in the village dump, I didn't pay a great deal of attention as I thought I had done a deal with the manager of the dump to save it for me, which he hadn't when I returned later, but I seem to recall it looked more like it appeared blackened by Tempering or Oil Quenching than painted.   I recently found this great photo of two servicemen sat near piles of unused PSP sheets on a beachhead, it might have provided the perfect answer had the photo been a colour shot.  Then contrast that with this other monochrome photo from a manufacturing facility with it passing around the factory on a ' Paint Conveyer '.          Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, June 27  2O25.    ….

It can be done without, but handguard clip pliers make that job infinitely easier.

Regarding the ribbons in the frame: The widow is still alive. Her relative is selling the medals for her as she is wanting to clear out a lot of old things. I am hoping to hear about a "pile of papers" that were in a box will all of this stuff. Perhaps those might shed some light.  From what was in the frame and what he wore on his hat, I find some sense of confirmation of his service for WW2 and for the occupation. Given the Army Commendation medal was no instituted by the Army until Dec 45 with authorization for issuance retroactive to Dec 45, it is likley that it was perhaps issued as part of his duties in Austria. He also wore an Austrian Occupation pin on his hat along with his WW2 items, so he was proud of that duty. These things seem so usually be a mystery that unravels as documents are uncovered.   The Grench Croix de Guerre ribbon is another mystery. I did see an order awarding the 756th Tk Bn that. I need to verify if he was on duty with them at the time.   THanks for inquiring.

That certainly makes sense.  He would have been on duty after 26 June 1950. I did not receive any word regarding his service during that period, and I have not looked at any KW records.  Here are the images you requested. Thanks for helping me with this.

. Time to call it a day . . . . . . . . . .     Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, June 28  2O25.    ….

. Hi Johan,   Good luck, hope it's all dry, sunny and a successful day, we all look forward to seeing the photos    Wish I lived closer I could have brought my Columbia to display, it's taken me years to get it to this stage for displaying . . . . . . . . . 🤣     Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, June 28  2O25.    ….    

Perfect, spot on, many thanks for the link as well, now I know what went in it. The two frogs look like they spent most of their lives in the same box, as they are almost identical in condition as well.   All I have to do now is find a US bayonet collector in the UK.   Carl

Looking good! Is the base scratch built?

Yes, will be there throughout the day!

Thanks, jmd62! There are literally thousands of Navy buckle designs, more so than the other US armed services.