March Uniform of the Month - 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment

A 507th Easy Company paratrooper points off into the distance near Nebraska's Alliance Army Air Base. 

This month's uniform is a further examination of the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment which was featured in September 2013.  The 507th was activated on July 20, 1942 at Fort Benning, Georgia. Lieutenant Colonel George V. Millett Jr. was given command of the regiment. After jump training at Fort Benning the regiment moved to Alabama for 22 weeks of advanced training.  The 507th took part in maneuvers at Barksdale Air Base in Shreveport, Louisiana on March 7, 1943 and then they headed west.  Their train arrived at Alliance, Nebraska on March 20, 1943 where the 507th was to be stationed at the Alliance Army Air Base as part of the 1st Airborne Brigade. On Sunday, April 4, the 507th performed a tactical jump and paraded before 20,000 spectators in Alliance.  It was considered by many local citizens to be the largest gathering ever to take place in the city.  The 507th was stationed at Alliance from March through October 1943 making demonstration jumps at Denver, Omaha and the Black Hills of South Dakota. Many period photos from their time at Alliance show that the men of the 507th wore the one-piece HBT Overalls just about as often as they wore their M-42 Jumpsuits.  This uniform is intended to depict what they would have typically worn on a training day out on the open prairie.  Look for more featured 507th uniforms to come in June and July 2014.

Our trooper wears the one-piece Herringbone Twill Overalls often worn by mechanics as a working suit.  

The trusty M-1910 T-Handle Shovel hangs from the trooper's Cartridge Belt on his right hip. 

The M-1936 Musette Bag was favored by Airborne troops over the M-1928 Haversack.

Slung under the left arm is the early war M2A2 Gas Mask in the MIVA1 bag.

Our Easy Company trooper takes a drink from his M-1910 Canteen with an aluminum body and cap.

The regimental patch of the 507th Parachute Infantry featured a fearsome jumping spider holding a lightning bolt and lit bomb.

The helmet worn here is the Parachutist's M2 Helmet with its round chinstrap loops welded to the helmet shell.

This trooper crouches to fire his semi-automatic M1 Rifle which could quickly pump out 8 rounds of .30-06 ammunition. 

March in Nebraska can still be quite cold on the open prairie, so a M-1941 Field Jacket comes in handy.

Scanning the horizon near Alliance, Nebraska.  Note the Parachute Cap Patch on his wool Overseas Cap.

February Uniform of the Month - Iwo Jima Flag Raiser

With my M1 rifle slung over my shoulder, I'm holding an original 48 Star flag from my collection.  

In honor of the Marine Corp's 69th Anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima, I thought it would be fun to do an impression of an actual Iwo Jima flag raiser from the famous Joe Rosenthal photograph.  This was a pretty easy impression for me to put together as I have a pretty complete Marine Corps uniform and equipment collection.  The uniform consists of an M1 helmet with a Marine camouflage helmet cover, a cloth utility cap, a set of P41 Marine Corps dungarees, an Army M41 field jacket, leggings and a pair of Boondocker boots.  I wore only the equipment worn by Franklin Sousley.  Sousley was always thought to be the flag raiser standing behind Bradley, but based on what he is wearing and his equipment, I am positive that he is in the second slot behind Harlon Block in front.  Please visit my website to learn more about the flag raising and the 5th Marine Division in World War II and Vietnam.  http://www.5thmarinedivision.com

Many of the Marines on Iwo Jima wore a cloth cap under their helmet.  This is the Army's short-billed M41 Cap.

Back view of this impression.  Quite a few of the flag raisers went up Mt. Suribachi with minimal equipment. 

You can see here how the Jungle First Aid Kit can slide over the back strap of a Cartridge Belt.  It can also be hooked to a belt like the canteen carriers. 

On Iwo Jima, most of the Marines wore leggings over their boondocker boots and then just let their trousers hang loose.

Because of the constant fear of a surprise Japanese attack, a lot of Marines kept their bayonets affixed at all times. 

I am replicating the uniform and gear worn by the second flag raiser from the right who I believe is Franklin Sousley.

January Uniform of the Month - War Correspondents

Will's typewriter, field desk and a stack of YANK magazines.  We had to set it up on two chairs this year - next year we'll get a table.

The guys wanted to see me draw something with a few more curves, so this is Julie Bishop, a YANK pin-up girl.

Some of the 84th Division "Railsplitters" getting prepared in the barracks.

Our event coordinator, Dave Hruska, going over the details of the day to come. That furry Russian cap works well in the cold.  

Another Combat Correspondent from YANK Magazine.  He worked as a photographer throughout the day with a 1940's camera.

Will's all stuffed with goodies for the morning march.  He's wearing some spiffy new M1939 Leather Riding Gloves.

Another shot of Will as we march to our first scenario of the day.  He has a M1938 Map Case and a Transitional Lightweight Gas Mask Bag.

Some of the Railsplitters stopping along the roadside near Recht.  The sun came in and out all day long.

This is me working on a sketch out in the field.  I found it very challenging as guys were constantly moving from place to place.

Associated Press writer, Will Green, takes a break from the action.  Note the green Correspondent's Brassard on his left sleeve.

Life Magazine Combat Artist, Eric Krelle, grabs a drink just northeast of Recht.  He is wearing a M1936 Musette Bag on his left hip.

The 84th Division men prepare to move out.  Most are wearing the M1943 Field Jacket with Wool Trousers and M1943 Combat Boots.

Looks like Will is trying to fall in with the Germans... wrong side buddy!

We got a fire going to cook a few K-Rations between scenarios.  Some of the Railsplitters know that hot chow is better than cold chow.

Will's only weapon in the field, a M1917 Bolo Knife.  And man, what a knife!

Our Canadian friends wearing their Denison smocks and Scrim Scarves, also known as Face Veils.  I love their uniform!

Private James Welborn takes a breather during a lull in the action.

Will's second fire of the day in the town of Recht.  What happens every time Will gets hungry - he just makes another fire!

A black and white photo of some soldiers in the town of Recht.

A battle-hardened, yet smiling Combat Artist late in the day.  Yes, that's a pretty fine mustache indeed.

Last photo of the day, the Railsplitters waiting for orders along the roadside.

December Uniform of the Month - The Battle for Elsenborn Ridge

Private Sill and Sergeant Rowe head into the woods around Elsenborn Ridge.  We started working on our positions around 1500 hours.

Sgt. Rowe begins work on our foxhole.  The initial inch or two of ground was frozen solid and took quite a bit of effort to break through.

Pvt. Sill and Pfc. Green working on their position.  The larger pick mattock came in handy.

Sgt. Rowe and I decided to go with the classic slit trench.  Our hole ended up about 7 feet long and about 30 inches wide.

Private First Class Krelle using a folding shovel on the foxhole.  We were actually quite proud of our work.

Pfc. Green tests out his foxhole.  You can get pretty warm while digging, so a field jacket isn't always necessary. 

Heating up a can of K-Ration ham on our campfire.  Warm food always tastes better on a cold night.

A night shot of Pvt. Sill preparing to move out.

This is the only known photo of our night patrol.  We worked our way down the creek bed as far as we could go.

My helmet with the 2nd Division's "Indianhead" insignia on the front and a gas mask bag used to carry supplies.

Hunkered down in our foxhole, Sgt. Rowe is heating up some water on our little alcohol stove. 

The sergeant gets a call from the other foxhole on one of our field telephones.

A great photo of Private Sill trying to warm up by the fire after our patrol.  It got down to 14 degrees overnight.

This one is just funny... checking my photos on an iPhone in my foxhole.  Well, we were authenticity minded most of the time.