"What Does A Well Dressed Eagle Wear To A Landing" Topic

Mention the motion picture "The Eagle Has Landed" and most would probably respond that they had seen the film. Set in what must be late summer or early fall of 1943, (the Grand Sasso raid was in September) German Fallschirm-Jager were dressed to give the impression of Polish paratroopers. As I am in the process of painting three sprues of Bolt Action British paras as Steiner's force, a question arose in my mind, that thus far several Osprey volumes could not answer.

Dennison smocks of a camouflage pattern were first produced in early 1943. In the early days of the British airborne force, when much of the equipment developed was a close copy of German patterns, a greenish-gray jump smock closely resembling the early German jump smock was used. All of this leads to but one question. Would Polish airborne forces in Britain at this time be issued the relatively new camouflaged smock or would they have been issued older British smocks of the monotone variety?

I realize this may win the TMP most ludicrous question of 2021 award, but I thought someone might know Sosabowski's forces better than I do. Thank you.

'There is no such thing as a stupid question' I seem to remember being rammed into us a number of times…

I think the fully camouflaged Denison smock would be appropriate. It had been on issue since 1942 and by 1943 the old step-in Fallschirmjaeger knock-off had been phased out. The 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade was formed in September 1943 in Scotland so logic suggests that it would have been issued the equipment current at the time i.e. the Denison smock. Also, every picture I have seen of the Poles has them in the Denison smock.

Hope that helps.

Yes it helps tremendously. Thank you.