February 17, 201610 yr #1 Was happy to pick this one up the other day. I don't recall ever seeing an original private studio portrait in jump gear before. Please feel free to add to this thread with any additional photos of the 555 "triple nickles"
February 17, 201610 yr #2 The only other pics I ever saw was in the book written about the unit. Very rare picture . any name on back?
February 18, 201610 yr #10 Eric, I have a large negative collection taken by Fort Bragg's 325th base photographer - they were found in a dumpster in Oregon and sold on eBay five years ago or so. Included are a few dozen top notch shots of 555 activity (as well as 758th TB) in and around base. Of interest are a series of boxing match photos and lots of shots of Gavin. Interestingly, I believe I have a shot showing the transferal of the 555th to the 505th PIR..... The quality of the negatives (4x5) is 10/10 '
February 27, 201610 yr Author #11 That is some great material Brennan. What a score. Were there any where you could clearly see the oval being worn or signs painted with the 555 insignia? I guess I lied in regards to this being the only portrait I had seen in the M42. I found this in my image archive. From eBay years ago I believe. Interesting to note that the feel of photos seems very similar and this man seems to be wearing only the liner of the helmet also.
February 27, 201610 yr #12 This might of interest. Yard Long 555th, I believe they were disbanded shortly after this photo date in 1947. It is under glass so photos may be a bit fuzzy. There is a barracks in the background with the 555th Bn Sign and an Airborne Command patch design. It did not photograph very well. Most all of the officers do have an oval backing their jump wings.
February 28, 201610 yr #15 Eric, Yes to both. I will have to dig out the sign shots to rescan. I only scanned a small portion of the more interesting shots. Here's one showing the oval and wings in a field situation. Note the barrel protector on the M1:
February 29, 201610 yr #17 By any chance does anyone have any information indicating exactly where the Battalion area was located on post?
February 29, 201610 yr #18 Might be interesting to see if the surviving veterans could identify your guy, Eric. It is a clear enough shot of his face to probably do so. Someone will recognize him.
October 24, 20214 yr #19 Now I'm upset! Last summer I was at the VA. I had to get a refill of pills. The guy I was speaking with was an older guy and saw my baseball cap and saw I was Abn and mentioned an older get he'd spoken with awhile back who was in the 555th. I said to him, "The All-Black airborne unit". He was surprised I knew who they were. No, he didn't have his name. I used to belong to a group, "Static-Line". An organization of all Airborne types. Many 555th guys attended. Probably not many around at this time. But you might be able to look it up on line. Out of Atlanta, or College Park, Georgia. It was started by Don Lassen, a ww2 505th Abn veteran, who's no longer with us. I went to Normandy with him and his daughter, "Chris" many years ago. They might be able to hook you up with Murchison or some of those other guys? "Oh". Several months later I had an appointment at the VA. This black guy sit's next to me in the crowded room. I noticed wings on his hat and an insignia. I looked at him and said: "Triple-Nickle". And then he saw my hat. All,these other guys were looking as this guy was surprised I knew who he'd been with. He told me he was in Italy during the war and went back and became a 555th member. I haven't seen him since. I try to stay away from large crowds! Also, if you read the book by Patrick O'Donnel, "Beyond Valor". They have a good story of how the 555th was started. Even the German POW's on Ft Benning had more privileges! POW's could sit on the front seat of a bus, but black soldiers couldn't! Just amazing! Guys riding around with stencils: POW on their back!
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