| Kaoschallenged | 13 Oct 2012 9:12 p.m. PST |
I found this photo while surfing the Internet and found this photo of what appears to be Airborne and AAF troops. I was interested in the uniforms worn by the two of the AAF officers. The one on the left with the the AFF brass and a M1 helmet with a cloth sacking camo helmet net looks like he may be wearing a camo pack. The one on the right with the binoculars case is wearing the AAF patch. Would anyone know if these were Pathfinders or glider pilots maybe? Robert
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| vforvictory | 13 Oct 2012 11:44 p.m. PST |
My recollection is that the US Airborne didn't issue specific camouflaged clothing. They did use a spray paint system which some of the pathfinders in Normandy used. It was an OD/Green mix. The 1st Airborne Task Force in the Southern France drop did use the camo spray for most of the troops. The troops literally walked through a spray system that sprayed stripes on their uniform, kit and them. In the image, the speckling on the uniforms is likely to be wet patches from the sea spray. I wonder if the camo pattern on the pack is a poncho rolled across the pack and held in place by the pack flap being buttoned down. Until later in the war Glider troops wore normal infantry uniform. Hope that helps. |
| vforvictory | 13 Oct 2012 11:59 p.m. PST |
Here are some images of the spray paint camo 509 PIB Op Dragoon
link 551 PIB also Op Dragoon (mid way down page on the right) link And a modern reproduction
blha.be/509pib.html Hope that helps |
 74EFS Intel  | 14 Oct 2012 9:19 a.m. PST |
I suspect that these are troops after D-Day returning to the UK. This explains the mix of paratroopers, glider pilots, and line ground troops. I agree that the mottled effect on the uniforms and equipment is probably due to sea spray and not camo paint. |
| Kaoschallenged | 14 Oct 2012 9:51 a.m. PST |
Thanks. Thats the time frame for when the photo was taken. So they may have been involved in Dragoon. Since they both are wearing AAF insignia and wearing Paratroop uniforms and equipment I assume that they are glider pilots. There are some other photos here of the camo uniforms,
link Robert |
| Kaoschallenged | 14 Oct 2012 10:45 a.m. PST |
I guess the BUG hit again LOL. Robert |
| Kaoschallenged | 14 Oct 2012 4:37 p.m. PST |
BTW vforvictory,I hadn't thought of a camo poncho being rolled up . Robert |
| Kaoschallenged | 14 Oct 2012 7:39 p.m. PST |
I did find this photo of a AAF glider pilot from a museum display. Robert
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| 95thRegt | 14 Oct 2012 7:48 p.m. PST |
Those are glider pilots returning the England after D-Day.They wore standard infantry dress with AAF insignia. Bob |
| Kaoschallenged | 14 Oct 2012 8:45 p.m. PST |
Enlarging the photo the one Lt. with the cigarette and gloves appears to be wearing a jump smock.The one holding the gunwale is wearing jump pants and the one with the cigarette,gloves and helmet with just netting looks like he is wearing a one piece M1943 HBT overall. Robert |
| HarnessBlue | 15 Oct 2012 5:24 a.m. PST |
The camo on the musette bag is a piece of paracute canopy. They were pretty popular as neckscarves, blankets, even helmet covers. |
| Kaoschallenged | 15 Oct 2012 6:20 p.m. PST |
Here is another nice shot of the camo uniforms. Check out the two different German pistol holsters. Robert
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| Kaoschallenged | 16 Oct 2012 1:17 p.m. PST |
The original photo I posted is said to be glider pilots returning from Normandy from De Trez's book "At the Point of No Return". Robert |
| Kaoschallenged | 16 Oct 2012 6:15 p.m. PST |
My other thought too BTW was that the camo item in the pack could have been a part of the short lived US Army camo uniforms. Robert |
| Kaoschallenged | 16 Oct 2012 10:49 p.m. PST |
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| Kaoschallenged | 17 Oct 2012 2:37 p.m. PST |
Just from looking at the photos so far there seems to not be any standard uniform among them LOL. Robert |
| Kaoschallenged | 17 Oct 2012 7:56 p.m. PST |
An example of part of a camo parachute being used as a helmet cover . Robert
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