This page will catalog some information related to reenacting US airborne divisions during WW2. I have an 82nd Airborne impression that I don’t often use. It’s a secondary impression that I’ll occasionally pull out, but I’ve acquired various documents related to the 82nd in crafting the impression.
Geronimo US Airborne Uniforms Insignia and Equipment in World War II. Bill Rentz, 1999. Schiffer Military History. Atglen, PA
The images below are some high-quality PDF scans that came out of the book. Shows the 82nd in North Africa, individual equipment issued prior to a jump, how patches were sewn on, medical harness equipment, Arm Identification flag examples, 82nd patch examples, and stenciled jump jacket, among others. For a complete view, you can download the pdfs in a zip file here.
82nd Airborne in Normandy: A History in Period Photographs. Francois, Dominique. 2004. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Military History.
The images below are some high-quality scans that come from the book. Shows aid station images, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment Basketball Team, beer drinking, dropping supply bundles, private photos taken before departing for Normandy, individual equipment, parachuting dogs, The Tennessee Maneuvers, and others.
At the Point of No Return: Pictorial History of the American Paratroopers in the Invasion of Normandy Michel de Trez, 1994 D-Day Publishing, Belgium
The images below are some high-quality scans that come out of the book. It has examples of rigger-modified medical pouches and kits, platoon demo kits, and individual demo kits, as well as a few pictures of first aid and soldiers taking positions prior to an attack.
Why 1st Aid Kits on 17th Abn Div Helmet Nets by Lt Col David P. Schorr
Why 1st Aid Kits on 17th Abn Div Helmet Nets by Lt Col David P. Schorr – This is a short document from the School of Combined Arms (Regular Course) 1946-1947. Schorr was the Executive Officer of the 193rd Glider Infantry Regiment. It provides a brief explanation as to why the first aid kits were attached to the front of the helmet. Spoiler: It provides a distinctive outline, making “friendlies” easily recognizable in the dark. Now obviously, it only applies to the 17th Airborne Division around Operation Varsity but “attaching stuff to a helmet during a jump” was also something done by the 82nd and 101st on other jumps. It makes it easier to carry more stuff into combat.
Devils in Baggy Pants – Item Company 3/504th – A quick primer on reenacting this unit during Operation Shingle (Anzio).
This page will serve as a general catch-all for any interesting Civil War information I happen to come across.
Billy Yank: The Uniform of the Union Army, 1861-1865. A GI: The Illustrated History of the American Solider, His Uniform, and His Equipment book. I love these GI books. They go into so much detail regarding various aspects of dress and equipment.
The article discusses the development of the pigeon service, training of pigeoneers, selection of the pigeons, and tactics used to bring pigeon communication as close as possible to the front lines.
Of course, you cannot mention pigeons in WW1 without a nod to Cher Ami, arguably the most famous pigeon ever. Cher Ami is credited with helping to relieve friendly fire on the Lost Battalion. Cher Ami is currently stuffed and on display at the National Museum of American History in Washington DC.
These types of events are characterized by organizers bringing together a bunch of units and having them fire and maneuver at each other throughout a weekend without any well-defined or planned tactical scenario. Often called a private tactical. These can be fun, but you have to insert yourself, as the organizers rarely think to include signal elements.
Due to the nature of these events, your best bet is to come with several sets of BC-611s. These are usually cheaper, lightweight, and reproductions of them exist. Plus, folks can kinda strap the radio to themselves and still be able to run and gun with their unit. They’re not inherently tied to a radio for the whole event.
I’ve personally done events where I brought a pair of BC-1000s, and while cool, it’s a lot more equipment to lug around. Plus, these are all originals and are prone to breaking (once an original short antenna broke at an event), and heavy and cumbersome. Folks are usually tied to the radio for the whole event.
You would want to get a list of units and approximate strength before the event and work up a set of Signal Operation Instructions (SOIs) that outline call signs and frequencies, as well as which unit gets which BC-611. You would probably want to include some basic communication procedures as well as the phonetic alphabet.
You would then request one soldier from each unit to attend an SOI briefing. Where you go over the BC611 usage, instructions, and communication procedures. You’d likely have anywhere between 15 minutes and 30 minutes before the event starts to do this. So keep the briefing short, quick, and memorable. They should be able to explain it back to you, and they should also be instructed to train several others in the unit.
Printing off the booklet below might be helpful, too.
Pamphlet 24-2 Radio Telephone Procedure Oct 22nd, 1943 – Part 1 and Part 2 | A short and small booklet that explains Radio Telephone Procedure. Print off part 1 on 8.5in by 14in. Beige light cardstock, flip it over, and print off part 2. Then cut and fold.
I haven’t tested it, but it looks like it’s going to end up being some kind of wallet-sized/index card-sized pamphlet. If you want it as an image, you can see part 1 and part 2 here.
You would likely want to keep batteries for the units and other repair tools in a crate near the starting point and instruct folks that if batteries run out, this is the Signal Supply depot.
Units then go out into the field, and you communicate. You pick up the radios at the end of the event or have them drop them off at the supply depot.
Ideally, you should be using wire, but the nature of these kinds of events doesn’t allow for it. Runners are also acceptable, but most folks in this type of event don’t want to stray from their unit or spend the entire weekend running messages.
Static Events
This kind of event is where there’s a fixed side. Italian events usually lend themselves to this kind of concept. The Great War Association in Newville usually has an Italian-type event called Winterline.
Another example is when there is an extended bivouac, like at the D-Day Conneaut event. For these events, there’s a side of the ground that is used as a launching point and where “command and control” can exist.
For this kind of event, wire would be more appropriate both in historical terms and in practical terms. You can set up a message center with a switchboard and run field phones and wire out to where units are located. The field phones are easy to set up and move, and aren’t cumbersome. Plus units are typically hanging around their area, so someone will be available to take and make calls.
You could provide a small booklet called a Signal Operations Instruction, which contains the codewords and frequencies. An example is this one: Signal Operation Instructions 84th Infantry Division. The booklet would be given to the unit commanders.
You would probably need one or two other people to assist with set-up, tactical operation, and take-down. Might want to consider rotating people out so the same group of people aren’t stuck doing wire. You would train these people at the headquarters on how to run the switchboard and check wires. You could even do a wire patrol scenario where you go check the wires.
Before the event starts, you would have an SOI briefing with a representative of the units who get field phones. You’d go over the basics of field phone operation and communication, and probably hand them Pamphlet 24-2. Extra equipment, such as batteries and tools, would be located at the Message Center (aka) Headquarters.
Depending on how much time and how large the event is, you could implement the flow chart below.
Message Routing Procedure Flow Charts – Describes the routing of different kinds of messages when message center facilities are or aren’t available.
Combination Events
These events combine elements of both. Usually, these are more managed and mission-focused. For example, the “command and control” element would create a mission where you have to string 5 field phones to 5 unit positions. Or the event organizers create an expectation that folks will use a radio net. The missions might be worth a certain number of points, and the event has referees to make determinations of points/mission success and/or hits/kills, etc.
I once attended a Sons of Valor event in South Carolina (or maybe North Carolina?) in the early 2010s and provided cover to an engineering unit that actually built a bridge over a ravine and a transportation corps unit that then drove a jeep across it to deliver supplies.
Obviously, this requires event planners or organizers to think holistically and do a lot of planning up front to make it interesting, fun, and memorable.
But there’s more openness to providing SOI briefings and signal corps elements.
Living History Events
These events are characterized as being more for the public and carry an assumption that reenactors will interact with the public and share their displays. Some events include aspects of the above, but it’s mainly about engaging the public.
These can be interesting for signal corps elements, as you could demonstrate pole climbing, have kids run wire, splice wire, or operate switchboards etc.
You could provide folks with an SOI and let them communicate over a radio network.
I’m a sucker for primary sources. This post will be a catalog of sorts that’ll provide links to various diaries, journals, and accounts of World War II.
These will be either hard-to-find accounts or unpublished ones.
WWII DIARY by Pvt. Donald Duane Johnson 1st Edition. Edited by Daughters Mary Johnson Corcoran and Jane Johnson Kill – Tells the story of Pvt, Donald Duane Johnson (1915-1993). Captured October 24, 1944 at Vedriano, Italy with the 351st Regiment, 88th Division, Company G, 2nd Battalion. U.S. Army Recaptured May 1, 1945 by 3rd Army, 319th Regiment, 80th Division, Company E, 2nd Platoon General Patton’s Army.
In this account, Bernard was part of the 12th Armored Medical Battalion providing medical assistance to the 12th Armored Tank Division. Bernard participated in the Battle of the Bulge, helped liberate Dachau, fought in the battle of Herrlisheim, crossed the Rhine, and was pushed into Germany by the war’s end. What I like most about the account is the mention of the little things like using oranges to practice sewing up wounds when he was in basic.
Finally, the account ends with mentions of the 12th Armored (I don’t think he was part of it) securing Werner von Braun‘s supersonic wind tunnel…who hilariously complained to the men that his bike was stolen. As well as an account of a few 12th Armored boys from the 23rd Tank Battalion and 4 infantrymen partaking in the Battle of Castle Itter (which is a super interesting story!).
The Odyssey of a Texas Citizen Soldier – Zip file. By Robert L. Wagner The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Vol. 72, No. 1 (Jul., 1968), pp. 60-87 (28 pages).
This is the account of Oran C Stovall a commander of the 111th Engineer Battalion which was part of the Texas National Guard unit, the 36th Infantry Division. He supported attacks to secure Naples and saw heavy action trying to cross the Rapido River to outflank Monte Cassino. Crossing the Rapido wrecked the Division. It was eventually sent to Anzio to help with the breakout and then to Southern France as part of Operation Dragoon. To help shore up the division they were assigned the famed 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the segregated Japanese-American unit. The unit ended service securing parts of the Dachau.
Medical Testimonies – A link to the Med-Dept.com which contains a wealth of resources for all aspects of WW2 era medical information including numerous accounts of those working in hospitals (both on land and ship), on the front-lines, and in graves registration units.
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.
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.
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-commercial 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 sung by The Red Army Choir of the USSR and conducted (and composed) by Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov. It 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) is sung 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. sung 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. Sung by The Red Army Choir of the USSR and conducted by Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov. The 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. Sung 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. It looks like the group associated with the Bolshoi Theatre at the time they 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.
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 was 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.
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.
