Thanks for that. What I was trying and failing to ask coherently, is, on a fully functional gun, pulling the op rod back does all kinds of things. But what I’m trying to figure out at this point is , does the shooter push the rod forward or does the spring drive it to the closed position by itself?  mikie  

I don't believe this is an issued item. More likely a civilian-made, hand knit "balaclava". He appears to wear a B-6 flight helmet with A-14 oxygen mask, the balaclava (cut for the oxygen tube) over that and the RAF goggles and leather-covered flak helmet on top. Illustration from  "Service Woollies for Air, Land and Sea" by Beehive. 

Here is a link to a September 1944 report on the use of pigeons on D-Day. https://warontherocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Use-of-Pigeons-in-the-Invasion-of-France-27-July-1944-compressed.pdf   Here is a member of the 165th Signal Photo Company discussing his use of pigeons on D-Day https://www.ww2online.org/view/walter-halloran#d-day-invasion   At least two other 165th Signal men landed with pigeons. Its commander, Capt. Herman Wall landed on Omaha Beach with some. He was badly wounded in an an explosion that also killed the birds. The 165th pigeon guys were issued a 35mm camera with a ten exposure cartridge that the pigeons could return to England. Lt. Martin Lederhandler landed on Utah Beach with pigeons. He released one but it flew inland instead. Later, one of his shots was found to have been published in German newspapers.    Tom

Was it a brigade in WWII or a Battalion, as far as I know there were only two brigades formed both of which were airborne infantry, not counting the 316th Cavalry Bde consisting of the 3rd & 16th cav groups & a few tank destroyer bn that lasted for 6 days.

I don't know if anyone is still checking this thread, but I was beach combing at a place called Hvammsvik in Iceland.  The resort there was a site for allied naval operations during WW2 and I literally found this on the shore there.  I will add a pic tomorrow of the back but Modernaire is stamped on the back.  It seems likely that this was a mess hall spoon for the USMC stationed there?  There's clearly some wearing from years of being pushed around the shore by the tides.  Any thoughts on authenticity?  Thanks.   e.  

There weren't any field artillery brigades in WWII, only two infantry were formed & both Airborne associated with the 82nd. The 1st wore the A/B Command patch & the 2nd Airborne Inf. Brigade had it's own patch, quite significantly too because it was a design that almost all brigades use till today and this design was created in 1943. Flat sides, rounded top and bottom, 2" wide by 3" tall not counting it's integral tab.

One I can make out that it was Chest No. 1. It has the divider but no table. I restored one of the No 1 chests a couple years ago.

45th Div had 179th? I thought it was the 279th "Movin' On" Regiment. Basically the 179th became the 279th.

Very nice, I do like these medical chests. I picked one up a short while ago, that was over painted in black and used as a footlocker. I can just about make out some original stencil marks under the thick paint. Does yours have any dividers or a table inside the lid? I’m under the impression that the lockable version came about around 43 but I could have misunderstood it.