I got this in a collection. I am not sure if it is stamped repro, or a repurposed issue ?  any ideas ? thanks

. Damned if you don't and damned if you do . . .    I photographed this copy of a patch pocket ' tankers Jacket ' in a restaurant a few weeks ago, initially I didn't intend to make comment here,  but finally I couldn't let it pass by without sharing with forum readers.  It had NOTHING in common with a genuine wartime jacket, the entire thing was the wrong material, wrong shade and made of nylon with nylon cuffs and stripes.  I feel sorry for people spending perfectly good money to buy fashion items like this and possibly feeling that they have bought something of a WWII connection.    I am lost for words really to convey my sadness that this is what it has come down to now, cheap factories making a quick buck with copies of historical items with stuff like this, It probably had the same grade of thickness as toilet paper, hopefully for the purchaser it might last a little longer than toilet paper.     Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, 11 July  2O26.   ..

I am pleased to present this unique and historical map that once belonged to Major Gerald "Gerry" McFadden of the First Special Service Force (FSSF).   The map is dated April 1944 and covers the Grasse sector in southern France, where the FSSF was engaged during its advance toward the Var around 27 August 1944. It shows the positions of the Force's three regiments, with the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion protecting its southern flank, as indicated on the map. (The 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment was operating farther north and therefore does not appear on this map.) Various annotations in both red and blue mark the locations of different units.   The map is accompanied by a letter from "Gerry" himself, in which he explains that it was part of a group of twelve maps covering the Italian campaign and southern France. This is the only one bearing tactical markings, as he had been ordered to keep the maps unmarked in case they fell into enemy hands—an instruction that was evidently ignored for this particular example. The map was carried in the field, and the heavier wear and dirt visible on the right-hand side clearly indicate how it was folded and used during combat operations. In his letter, McFadden also mentions the Force's iconic V-42 fighting knives and their distinctive mountain uniforms.   Gerry took part in every campaign fought by the First Special Service Force before transferring to the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion following the Force's disbandment. He is shown here in both a portrait photograph and another taken in Nice, alongside two fellow servicemen.

Hi all, I took a still life photograph with the BRO helmet, a BRO liner and a barbed wire picket recovered on Omaha beach. Hope you will like it! Best,  

The above Photo depicts a U.S. Army M-15, variant of the M-3 Halftrack. The M-15 differed from the M-16, the Quad .50 you mentioned by having 2x .50 HMG's & 1x 37mm Cannon. Whereas the M-16 was equipped with the 4x, .50 HMG's. The M.M. Recipient I referred to in the above Post was assigned to an M-15, all throughout his WW2 Service.                Best,     Dom P.

Black Knights 5th Cav 3/5 in country cover 1967-68  Thank you to Noah Kang for allowing to purchase this cover. The 3rd squadron of the 5th Cav arrived in Vietnam in Feb 1967 near the Mekong Delta. They were transferred to the 9th Division A,B and C troops and all armored Cav assets.  They served as reconnaissance and armor. This particular trooper arrived in August of 67 and was from California. He left a girlfriend or wife back home by the name of Janet. He was assigned to possibly a M48 Patton  “Super Tanker” is written on the side of the Mitchell side. The cover is dated 1965 and is in fragile condition. There’s writing on both the leaf side and the Mitchell side. *The leaf side has his calendar and his DEROS of July 14th 68. Also with California on the front and Janet on the side. It also includes the motto “Do not bend or break.”   the Mitchell side Has California on the front      Janet on one side       Also has a bird light figure with a peace sign in it. ( to me it looks like the eagle that you would find on a German dagger as you can see there is a swastika right above it.)      On the other side it has the saying “Super Tanker” On the back of the cover, it has “black knights” 3/5  CAV  Under a black light, you can make out that there was a band on the helmet at one time. The pictures are not the best to cover is extremely fainted and torn. I added the helmet and liner and band.   There are two different sets of pictures. I’m leaving the cover on the Leaf side and that’s the pictures that have the elastic band.   To me the Mitchell side as the best art work but it’s to faded to appreciate.

Great pics man. Well it looks consistent with the cracking like mine. But the texture isn’t the same by the looks. I know there were different types and I’m trying to find if this was a type or not. Yours looks more material than mine, my one looks papery, which was also a type. So maybe yours is the oilcloth type.  hoping someone has a pic of their paper like armbands.  thanks for your pictures, very interesting

Captain Taylor was 1st Brigade Assistant Intelligence Officer at the time of this photo (July 1965). Seems he took over command of B 2/502 following casualties during Operation Gibraltar in September 1965. Still not sure of the exact ID of this helmet marking, but it would appear to be unrelated to 2/502.      

Thank you for the help.  The brim appears to be stiff.

Thanks. On another forum someone suggested this configuration may have been used by 160th "back seaters," so your comment about Air Force/TACPs lines up with other leads I've come across. I'm hoping someone with firsthand experience can eventually confirm the use case.