504th - 505th PIR in Sicily the Alcamo photo studio

[dogface44]

A friend and I have started to collect these pictures of 82nd troopers taken in the town of Alcamo, Sicily in August 1943.

Seeing all these pictures taken at the same place made me think of the 29th Div staircase photo collection!

There are surely a bunch of these out there, it would be great to complete this photo collection if you have any shots taken in Alcamo, help us complete the photo collection!


Mark Alexander, CO 2/505


Pvt Ken Nicol 2/504...


Paul Anorowitz, E/505....


505 troopers : William Eppler, William Embury and Irvin Seelye


Otis L. Sampson 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Co. E.

[Blake_E]

Ow man, they are fantastic photos! Well done

[Allan H.]

I've always been intrigued by the service of the paratroopers in Italy and was thrilled to see the photo of then Major Mark Alexander in the first photo. He was one hell of a great guy and a great combat leader. I am assuming the first photos are copies from publications?

 

It is also interesting to me to see the high percentage of troopers armed with M1918 knuckle knives. These were rather common to see in vintage photos of the 509th PIB and 82nd A/B Division troopers in Italy.

 

I really appreciate your posting these photos and wish you luck in finding more!

Allan

[doyler]

I also fing these a great referance to study the uniforms and equipment.Seeing the M1918 trench knives in the photos having a similiar modified scabbard and the flanges removed from the grips is very intresting.Also the rigger made ammo pouches and the pictures of both 03 Springfields and Garands.Thanks for posting

 

RD

[dogface44]

Hello,
Thanks for your nice and interesting replies. Yes, the pictures come from everywhere, internet, publications, etc
Thats what makes it so fascinating to put them all together.

I have also posted a small map to show where Alcamo is in Sicily.

Kind regards, Gilles


Pfc Orlando H. Manning 504th



Unknown troopers... presumably 504...

[bobgee]

Nothing to add by way of pics......but great thread & photos! Hope others post more. Thanks.....Bobgee

[sgtbarnes44]

My little contribution to that great thread. A well known picture of 82nd airborne troopers in Sicily. Notice that at least two officers have white vertical bar painted on the rear of their helmets...

 

[dogface44]

Hi JC,

Thanks for the picture!

Regarding the officers and NCO Bars, look at this picture, all the guys seem to have NCO bars!

Does soemone know more about it ? In this would it be a tactical marking ?

[VenitHora]

great pics all!

 

Maybe the last one is just a simple NCO briefing?

[sgtdorango]

Amazing pics!!......mike :w00t:

[sgtbarnes44]

If you look well, you'll notice one helmet with an officer vertical bar. Clue: last two pics. :think:

But I think that most of the helmets shown on that picture shows the tactical markings (horizontal bar) used during the Avalanche operation, the landing at Salerno. :ermm:

 

Great pics. :thumbsup:

[shocktrooper15]

 

Amazing photos! I like how the paratrooper in the second picture has 2 M1918 trench knives!

[shocktrooper15]

I think I managed to find some. They are all troopers from the 504th. Notice MP armband in the third picture.

From right to left: Cpl. Fred Streeter 504th, PFC. Peter Casale 504th, Sgt.Henry Paquet 504th

[CharlieGreer]

Canadian-born Camille Ed Gagne, E Company, 505th. He was killed during Market Garden.