This was a novelty folding puzzle that says Where is the 5th Pig? Or in Dutch: Zoek Het 5 de Zwun? This was a piece of anti-German propaganda that when folded up shows Hitler. They were probably made by the British SOE (Special Operations Executive). These came in a few different varieties and different languages. You can download the pig one here. I’m not sure of the exact size but 8.5×11 printing paper should work as these would have been made as leaflets as cheaply as possible because it’s a “one and done” piece of propaganda.
Including one of Jackels that folds up into Mussolini.
This book is Vol .IX of the 12th Army Groups Report of Operations (final after-action report). It describes the actions of the Headquarters Commandant Section and Special Troops.
What I find neat about the report is that it describes units typically attached to higher-echelon units and outlines (briefly) what they did. It’s a lot of units you would never think about but would be needed to help make the 1.3 million men in the group function.
For example, the 18th Finance Disbursing Section made between Feb 3rd, 1944 to June 30th, 1945 140,751 payments totaling $7,887,428.59. Also noted…they never had a case of VD or court martial.
And the 114th Signal Radio Intelligence Company which listened for lower-level German Army radio traffic and was able to locate a gas dump that US Army tanks were able to capture and use to gas up.
Of course, they also had the Office of the Chaplain who oversaw religious services for the men. It looks like the Chaplains were mostly Catholic or Protestant but also gave sermons to those of the Hebrew Faith, Mormon, and Christian Science faiths. It’s noted that:
“A listing of all the locations in which services were held would in itself give some insight into the variety which belongs to the experiences of Special Troops Chaplains. Apple orchards, world famous cathedrals and well known shrines garages, moving picture houses, and stables, historic court churches, day rooms, and mess halls: magnificent private chapels, dingy billets, and in the bombed out ruins of what had once been churches, are just half the story of where our men knelt or stood with their heads bowed. The services were held in times of fair weather and bitter cold, in times of quiet and in times when gunfire could be plainly heard.”
And the 585th Army Postal Unit which was bombed on March 14th and the men worked through the night fixing and salvaging so they could be open for business the next day.
The book also contains a neat map of their movement. You can download it as a pdf here or look at the image below.
This article will be broken into different sections and contain links to different kinds of paperwork. Most of the paperwork listed will be PDFs. Unless specified differently in terms of size and paper the PDFs can all be printed on a regular 8.5×11 piece of printing paper.
The Packing of the Field Desk and Record Chest – Created at Fort Benning GA on May 1st, 1943, and describes how to pack the field desk and record chest. There were two types of field desks an older model and a newer one. The older model field desk is expected to be pressed into service as a record chest (according to the guide). I Also wanted to drop some images below of it.
Individual Pay Record Cover – War Dept AGO Form No.28 March 26th, 1942. This is the cover and back of the pay record.
Individual Pay Record Inside – War Dept AGO Form No.28 March 26th, 1942. This is the inside of the pay record. It’s a little booklet and the pages are numbered and you can print it off and staple it using two stapes. One near the top and on near the bottom. Make sure the smooth top part of the stable is facing outside so the tines of the staple go inside the pages and grab them altogether.
Connecticut Defense Council – A certificate stating that the said person has been a member of the CT Civilian Defense Force. This was something Connecticut created in 1917 during WW1 and just carried over into WW2. It helped with various areas of concern, such as food supply, fuel conservation, transportation, military and naval affairs, and publicity. They probably also engaged in Air Ward Warden activities, aircraft and Uboot spotting, and nightly beach patrols. This is not the stupid pro-gun group in CT or any of the idiotic private militias one might come across. Totally different things.
Moresecode Cheat Sheet – Not totally sure if wartime but good to have around for working communications and signal.
Separation Notice – Form RIUC S-12. I’m not sure if this is a separation notice from the Army but could be something civilian contractors or regular workers might have gotten from their jobs back in the 1940s.
WAC Enlistment Letter – Headquarters Southern New York Recruiting And Induction District Women’s Army Corps Section 480 Lexington Ave, New York 17, NY. This is an enlisted letter WACs may have gotten. The date is 28th Sept 1943 so you may need to use Photoshop to adjust the date. Hilariously, that location is now a Mexican Restaurant.
Quartermaster Corps Manuel QMC 14-2: Use and Care of Office Equipment and Supplies – Dated Feb 1945. Written in response to the drastic reduction of office supplies and describes how to use and care for office supplies to make them last longer. Contains nuggets of information like “use both sides of the paper” and “to re-use file folders flip them inside out”. Also mentions to reuse rubber bands as rubber was a wartime ration good. It also has a good section on how to care for typewriters, which if you don’t know where to begin is a good place to start!
How To Use Smith-Corona Portable Typewriters: Floating Shift Models – Likely from 1947 but describes how to use this type of model from that brand. The “float” machines operate quietly thanks to the Smith Floating Shift used in the machine (note the cursive word “Floating” above the shift key). When the shift key was invented, it originally shifted the cylinder, or platen, to be struck in a new position by the capital letters on a typebar. The floating shift moved the typebars up and down instead, allowing for a smoother typing action. You can also download the 1938 version here.
United States Army Color Card of Standard Shades for Slide Fastener Tapes: Dated 1945 and is a supplement to US Army Specification No.100-31. Issued by the Textile Color Card Association (TCAA) of the United States and describes US Army shades for fasteners. The TCCA was created in 1915 as a color consulting, standardizing, and forecasting industry group as the US was cut off from such ideas due to WW1. The TCCA formed close relationships with the US Military and also helped set the standard colors for the US Flag. I dropped the color slide below as it’s kinda neat to see all the colors available –
Temporarily Appointed Officer Certificate – Printing size unknown
I purchased a tape that had a 40-minute interview with two Korean War Pilots: Major General Raymond Matera and Brigadier General Donne Harned. The short stories below are a condensed version and are a quick outline. Unfortunately, I don’t know whose story is which on the tape. So they’ve been somewhat conflated. The full interview is at the bottom of the page in an MP3 format.
They mention that the first flight in a jet plane was the first flight in a jet plane as no trainers (the T-33s) were available.
They talk about shooting down towed drone aircraft. Recalls a classmate Glen Dean (deen?) shooting down an F47 that was towing a plane and the pilot told him that the next time he does that he’s going to release the plane into his face.
Was assigned to the 81st Fighter Group; 91st Squad which flew F-86s.
A Lt Greenway was killed putting down gears as both wings fell off an F84 airplane because of an internal fire. A quick search indicates it’s likely 1st LT J. Ray Greenway. Who was hit with anti-aircraft fire and crash-landed at Taegu #1 field.
Used the F51b (the WW2 era Mustang) for close air support. Would have two 165-gallon fuel tanks for long-range escort missions. Donne Harned once got lost returning from a mission attacking dams on the Yalu River and eventually figured out he was 60 miles South of Valdisvastock…says “That was a long mission”.
Recall shooting up a power station North of Pyongyang during Pusan Perimitter actions. Both recall hitting trains.
Assigned to the 5th RCT and an unnamed ROK Division as Forward Air Controllers. Maj General Church commander of KMAG Forces supported them and gave them all sorts of radios to keep in contact with the ground.
Recall that the F84e had an oil-mist system (which provides continuous lubrication) and the number 3 bearing would fail.
Most missions air to ground – interdiction missions to cut rail lines.
They really liked the South African and Australian pilots.
Once saw an Australian fighter get shot down and saw the pilot sitting on the wing waiting to be captured. North Koreans sent back his blue and polka dot scarf he was wearing as a sign that he was still alive.
The biggest threat was Soviet anti-aircraft weapons that tracked by radar and Quad 50s. They were always about one burst behind ya.
Recalls Jim Tool(e?) a 49b graduating class shot down at 15,000 feet going 300-400 miles an hour.
All flight commanders during training were WW2 flight veterans. Helped keep us alive by teaching us the tricks.
Got back assigned 133rd Fighter Squadron in New Hampshire. Flew F-47s (the WW2 era Thunderbolt) recalls. it was a very quiet plane. had an enjoyable time flying it. After that flew the F94 (the Starfire) at the All Weather school for a while.
F-89s had afterburners (AB). Toggle switches near the canopy to enable the AB.
MB1 Genie Nuclear missiles were kept in Madison, WI as part of the plane’s armament. Not many people knew they had nuclear weapons in Madison. Kept them on pylons. Would have “no notice inspections” and officers would come in and harangue airmen for having dirt on the missiles. The ground crew would often leave smudges on the missiles and give everyone a fit.
Fired MB1s at drones in the Gulf of Mexico (put dynamite in it instead of nuclear warheads). It was a Rocket-propelled missle and “just it went off”.
Make mention that in June 1943 they joined the Marines but wanted to be a pilot. After college went back into the Air Force.
With the purchase of the tape came a letter written in Dec 2000 where Craig sent the tape to an interested party named John. He also appears to be a militaria collector as he refers to items for sale. Based on the way the date is written it’s probable he spent considerable time in the military.
Attention, citizens! Do you yearn for the visceral thrill of purging the Xeno scum? Do you dream of raining molten lead upon Arachnid carapace? Then grab your trusty Morita rifle and step into the boots of a valiant Mobile Infantry trooper, for Starship Troopers: Extermination is the bug-bashing bonanza you’ve been craving!
From the moment you boot up, Extermination throws you headfirst into the meat grinder of Klendathu. The gritty atmosphere drips from every pixel, capturing the grimy desperation of Federation troopers clinging to a hostile rock. The haunting hum of the Power Suit hydraulics, the frantic chatter of squadmates under fire, the sickening squelch of Xeno innards underfoot – Extermination immerses you in the brutal reality of the KVI with bone-chilling authenticity.
But fear not, citizen! For amidst the carnage, Extermination explodes with a symphony of satisfying action. Wielding your Morita is pure, unadulterated joy. The satisfying kickback, the meaty thuds of plasma slugs finding their mark, the glorious bloom of Xeno goo – Extermination makes exterminating bugs feel oh-so-good.
And the bugs! Oh, the glorious, horrifying bugs! From the skittering hordes of Warrior Bugs to the lumbering terror of the Tanker, each Xeno encounter is a thrilling dance of death. Learning their attack patterns, exploiting their weaknesses, and unleashing hellfire upon their chitinous hides – Extermination’s combat is a masterclass in visceral, tactical action.
But Extermination isn’t just about gunning down bugs – it’s about teamwork. Squad up with fellow troopers, each specializing in different roles like medic, engineer, and heavy weapons. Communication and coordination are key, from laying down suppressing fire to reviving fallen comrades to deploying tactical nukes (because what’s more Federation than solving every problem with more boom?). The feeling of pulling off a coordinated assault against a swarm of Xenos, watching comrades cover your back and vice versa – it’s a bond forged in the fires of Klendathu, stronger than any steel armor.
And if you crave true Federation glory, dive into the deep end with the Trooper Progression system. Earn medals, customize your loadout, and unlock new skills as you rise through the ranks. Become a walking artillery platform with the Heavy Trooper specialization, or a stealthy ghost of Klendathu with the Scout. Extermination empowers you to carve your own path on the battlefield, a true citizen-soldier carving your name in the annals of Federation history.
But Extermination isn’t all grim and gritty. There’s a tongue-in-cheek humor woven throughout, a sardonic wink to the source material that keeps the tone delightfully pulpy. From propaganda posters plastered on every wall to the hilariously over-the-top announcer declaring your achievements, Extermination never takes itself too seriously, reminding you that even in the face of extinction, you can still crack a joke (at the expense of a very dead bug, of course).
So, citizens, do you answer the call to service? Do you yearn to do your part for the Federation? Then grab your Morita, don your Power Suit, and join the fight in Starship Troopers: Extermination. It’s a glorious, gut-wrenching, satisfying ode to bug-blasting action that will leave you screaming “Would you like to know more?” long after the credits roll. Remember, service guarantees citizenship! In service to the Federation,
In 1943 to find a wider audience, he turned to Jazz. Dinah Washington‘s recording debut was with Keynote at the end of 1943.
In 1947 the label made an attempt to manufacture its own records that didn’t go as planned, resulting in the business being acquired by Mercury Records in 1948.
One popular record by Keynote was Songs of the Lincoln Brigade. It was produced in 1937. It is a collection of songs praising the soldiers who went to fight against fascism in the Spanish Civil War.
Eric Bernay, died on Nov 5th, 1968 , according to his obituary in the New York Times –
New York Times, November 5, 1968, pp 44.
Many years ago I was traveling along the I-81 through the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia when I stopped at an antique store. Not sure of the town but I think it was North of New Market. I found a neat 78 record set, in mint condition. As well as a few single records.
The 78 record set was The Red Army Chorus of the USSR conducted by Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov. It is Keynote Records Album number 103.
Front cover
Opening it up showed the lyrics of the songs. It was four 78 records (so 8 songs total)
From Border to Border
The Young Birch Tree
Cossack Song
If Tomorrow Brings War
Snowstorm
Song of the Tachanka
Meadowland
Along the Vales and Hills
Inside cover
One interesting thing is on the back cover. It has a Restricted Use Notice saying that the record is for non-commerical use on phonographs in homes and cannot be resold for any other use.
Inside back cover
It took a while but I was eventually able to digitize the songs below as an MP3. If you would like the .wav version of the songs, feel free to contact me and I can send you a copy. Enjoy!
From Border to Border
This song is number K209-A in the set and looks like it was composed by Ivan Ivanovich Dzerzhinsky. The song runs about a minute and 50 seconds. You can download the mp3 here or listen to it below. Sung by the Red Army Choir of the USSR.
The Young Birch Tree
The Young Birch Tree is song number K210-B. Music is adapted and conducted by Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov. Soloist is V. Pankov. You can download the MP3 or listen to it below.
Along the Vales and Hills
Along the Vales and Hills sang by The Red Army Choir of the USSR and conducted (and composed) by Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov. Also looks like C. Alimov helped to create it too. Number K208-A. You can download the MP3 here or listen to it below.
Cossack’s Song
Cossack Song (or Cossack’s Song) sang by The Red Army Choir of the USSR and conducted by Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov. Composed by Ivan Ivanovich Dzerzhinsky. Song number K209-B. You can download the MP3 here or listen to it below.
If War Breaks out Tomorrow
If War Breaks out Tomorrow (or If Tomorrow Brings War). Song number 201-A. sang by The Red Army Choir of the USSR and conducted by Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov. Composed by Dmitry Pokrass and Daniil Pokrass (they were brothers) as well as Vasily Lebedev-Kumach.
The lyrics note that the Red Army Chorus of the USSR was created in 1928 with 12 performers. It has won many awards and now has 200 performers coming from both the Red Army and the Red Navy.
Meadowland (Song of the Plains) is number K208-A. Sang by The Red Army Choir of the USSR and conducted by Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov. Song was composed by Viktor Gusev and Lev Knipper.
You can download the MP3 here or listen to it below.
Snowstorm
Snowstorm is number K210-A. Sang by The Red Army Choir of the USSR and adapted and conducted by Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov. Soloist is V. Pankov.
Tachanka is number K201-B. Sang by The Red Army Choir of the USSR and conducted by Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov. Lyrics by Mikhail Ruderman and composed by Konstantin Listov. A tachanka is a horse-drawn machine gun, mounted on a peasant cart.
Tachanka was used in WW1 (and the Russian Civil War)
This is a single record that I also bought at the same time. It is number K213-B and is sung by the Ukrainian State Choral Ensemble. I’m not sure of the lyrics, though it appears to be a Ukrainian Folk song.
The Internationale is a left-wing song used by various social and communist movements. It was composed by Pierre De Geyter. This is number K213-A and is sung by the Bolshoi Theatre Chorus and Orchestra. Looks like the group associated with the Bolshoi Theatre at the time sang it.
You can download the MP3 here or listen to it below.
Forward to Victory (Charge of the Tanks)
This was also part of the collection I purchased. Though this doesn’t appear to be Keynote Records. Instead, it is Forward to Victory (Charge of the Tanks). Number 6309B. Taken from the film The Red Tanks and sung by the Moscow Military Chorus (courtesy of Artkino Pictures). The Pokrass brothers composed it. It’s essentially a single from the movie’s soundtrack.
Artkino pictures were the official distributor of Soviet media (like movies and music etc) in North America between 1950 to 1980.
Song of the Fatherland, number 6309-A. Sung by the Moscow Military Chorus (courtesy of Artkino Pictures). A single from the film, One Day in Soviet Russia, was produced in 1941. The film is essentially a propaganda piece to help garner pro-soviet sympathy after Germany invaded it. It was narrated by Quentin Reynolds, a journalist, who would be very much anti-communist in the 1950s.
The archive also includes other Keynote Record songs like The Clouds Fly High and Blue Night. All were sung by The Red Army Choir of the USSR and conducted by Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov.
Contained in the same box of tapes is a really solid gem of a self-produced album by a DJ Blunt. There are, in fact, lots of DJs named Blunt so tracking who made this is difficult.
The name of this album is Dope Cutz Volume 8, suggesting there are Dope Cutz 1-7 out there somewhere. The tape doesn’t seem to be made from a lower-quality product. The label on the tape is printed and says 1 for the first side and the same thing on the other, except a 2 for the second side.
The songs aren’t that bad and one song even includes a sampling from the OJ Simpson Trial (which might help to date the tape?).
The insert is shown below. A shot from below a set of stairs showing the sky, the stair handrail, the stair foundation, and an overhead light makes the insert. The insert is paper and clearly printed. Maybe someone will recognize this scene and let me know?
I digitized the songs but each side is one long song. I didn’t break up the MP3 so they play long and are big files. To listen to them you can download the file by clicking the link. If you need a .wav file, feel free to contact me.
A buddy of mine handed me a collection of old-school cassette tapes he no longer wanted. Contained in this collection is a really awesome metal tape.
The band’s name is called Faerchild, though it looks like they may have also gone as Fashion Risk.
The cassette tape itself is one of those clear ones, which I typically associate with being higher quality, and the inserts look to be professionally produced (as opposed to just printing copies from an at-home DIY-style printer).
Obviously, Discogs isn’t the end-all-be-all but it has a huge collection and the fact that nobody seems to have a copy (as well as limited information about the band online) suggests a very limited release?
In looking at the insert, the first (and only?) release is called Ready to Rock. It looks like it was produced by the label: Briefcase of Talent out of Atlanta, GA.
The songs included Ready to Rock, Brain Dead, Memories of Michelle, and All Night Long. The tape has a release date of 1988.
Scott Faerchild is on the vocals, Shawn Tarver is on the guitar, Tim Lumb is on the Bass, and Alan Ayo is on the drums. A quick Google search brings up some people who might have been part of this project.
One of the inserts has a message to fans about the Ready to Rock release.
You can hear the songs in an MP3 format. In the files below I just combined both sides together. So each MP3 consists of two songs. I also have these in .wav format in my Google Drive. So if you’re interested in a .wav format, let me know.
Earth Defense Force (EDF) is a third-person shooter video game series developed by Sandlot and published by D3 Publisher. The series has released numerous titles over the years, but for the purpose of this walkthrough guide, we will be focusing on the most recent game in the series, Earth Defense Force: World Brothers.
In Earth Defense Force: World Brothers, players take on the role of a member of the Earth Defense Force, a group of soldiers tasked with protecting the planet from alien invasions. The game features a variety of missions, each with their own unique objectives and challenges.
To get started, players will need to select their character and customize their loadout. There are four classes to choose from in Earth Defense Force: World Brothers: the Ranger, the Wing Diver, the Fencer, and the Air Raider. Each class has its own strengths and weaknesses, so players will need to choose the one that best fits their playstyle.
The Ranger is a balanced class that is good at both close and long-range combat. The Wing Diver is a fast-moving class that excels at aerial combat and long-range attacks. The Fencer is a heavy class that is slow but powerful, and the Air Raider is a support class that can call in airstrikes and other support abilities.
Once players have chosen their class, they will need to select their weapons and equipment. There are a wide variety of weapons to choose from in Earth Defense Force: World Brothers, ranging from assault rifles and rocket launchers to laser guns and plasma cannons. Players can also equip a variety of different armor and gadgets to help them in combat.
Once players have selected their character and equipment, they are ready to begin their missions. In Earth Defense Force: World Brothers, players will encounter a variety of different enemies, including giant ants, spiders, and robots. Players will need to use their weapons and abilities to take down these enemies and complete their missions.
In addition to the main campaign, Earth Defense Force: World Brothers also features a multiplayer mode where players can team up with others to tackle missions together. In multiplayer, players can choose to play as a member of the Earth Defense Force or as an alien invader.
Overall, Earth Defense Force: World Brothers is a fast-paced and action-packed game that is sure to keep players engaged for hours on end. Whether playing solo or with friends, there is always something new to discover and enjoy in this exciting video game.
This link here http://www.questmasters.us/Crates_Page_3.html does a pretty good job at covering cigarettes during World War II. It focuses mostly on Lucky Strikes but includes others like Chesterfield + more.
I really like how it broke down the nuances of the packages and brands so the discerning collector knows what’s period correct and what isn’t.
