WWII Photos - Taken / Collected by Family Members

Blackjack · Nov 6, 2012

Widebrim said:
majormajor said:

Yep, it looks like it was flip-flopped, so that would be a unit citation ribbon.

Click to expand...

If it was flip flopped wouldn't the numbers on the house be backwards?

Hunter_aka_Scotty · Nov 6, 2012

Big Bertie said:
The tunics in the last photo interest me - I can't put my finger on the influence there. I also like the photo showing the heavily nailed soles - I can only imagine what those boots would have been like.

I can tell you considering my wife and I both own pairs of originals we use on occasion. They are actually fairly comfortable with wool socks.

As for the helmets the German helmet wasn't really much of an influence. It is actually a copy of a 15th century Italian Pikemans helmet.

In regards to the Irish helmet, I have a friend who owns one of those Vickers made helmets in his collection, seems like good steel to me.

Hunter_aka_Scotty · Nov 6, 2012

Big Bertie said:
I have no doubt they would, provided the fit is right. I was just contemplating the issue of heavy hob-nails and cobbled town streets. I'm sure they would be fine in the countryside though.

Well, I'm sure the pikeman's helmet is there somewhere, but they certainly remind me a lot of German helmets. I read an article once about the Irish helmets, which is why I mentioned them (yes, I'm afraid it was an English firm that made them) - something to do with their specification, or that they were wrongly manufactured, I was given to understand, greatly weakened the steel.

Regarding hobnails, on streets not too bad, those things bite into almost any surface. On linoleum or tile... It's.................... Fun. Makes walking on ice seem easier. As it stands, I have more pairs of hobnailed boots and shoes than I do rubber soled footwear!

Regarding the Irish helmet, it very well could be weak. I don't know any one who has been willing to sacrifice theirs for a projectile study!

Regarding Swiss/German helmets, yeah the profile is very similar, but up close they are actually very different. I am getting ready to post pictures of mine with it's post war paint on the "show us your militaria" thread.

Widebrim · Nov 7, 2012

Blackjack said:
Widebrim said:

If it was flip flopped wouldn't the numbers on the house be backwards?

Click to expand...

You are correct! So it is not a unit citation after all, but rather a personal award/decoration.

Hunter_aka_Scotty · Nov 17, 2012

This is my grandfather and grandmother on their wedding day August 23, 1946. My grandfather enlisted in the US Navy in 1936 and was present when Peal Harbor was attacked.

This is my grandmothers brother, great uncle Bud as we called him.

rjb1 · Nov 19, 2012

Back up in Posting 175 there is a photo of a soldier wearing some unusual "two-tone" leggings.
I just happened to find a picture and ID of those. They are M1917 cavalry leggings and they are unusual looking since they have canvas outside (light area) and leather inside (dark area).

Widebrim · Nov 20, 2012

^^Actually, it is posting 172. Interesting that a ROTC member would have M1917 Cavalry leggings.

Widebrim · Nov 20, 2012

Hunter_aka_Scotty said:
This is my grandfather and grandmother on their wedding day August 23, 1946. My grandfather enlisted in the US Navy in 1936 and was present when Peal Harbor was attacked.

This is my grandmothers brother, great uncle Bud as we called him.

Nice photos, Scotty.

Stearmen · Nov 20, 2012

rjb1 said:
Back up in Posting 175 there is a photo of a soldier wearing some unusual "two-tone" leggings.
I just happened to find a picture and ID of those. They are M1917 cavalry leggings and they are unusual looking since they have canvas outside (light area) and leather inside (dark area).

Thanks, that is a photo of my Dad. Wish the photo was not so blurry!

Giftmacher · Feb 16, 2013

Burning Me 410 F6

GH of 1.(F)/122 (Aufklärungsgruppe 122)

Widebrim · Feb 16, 2013

^^Whoa!

Giftmacher · Feb 17, 2013

Well, only bombers left and were destroyed short before soldiers of 4th Ukrainian front arrived. Fw 190's were flown to americans by order of Marshal Schörner.

Widebrim · Mar 23, 2013

^^Many of us outside of Central/Eastern Europe are woefully ignorant of how WWII ravaged the people/countries of that area. 4th Ukrainian Front? You'd be hard pressed to even find mention of them in a U.S. history of the war, let alone a textbook.

Broccoli · May 25, 2013

Posting a picture of my great grandfather. He fought in WW2, he was Austrian and he was shot in the leg by a russian tank.
Does anyone know what he is wearing in this picture?

Widebrim · May 25, 2013

^^It appears to be a dress uniform, but what type is hard to determine. Did he serve in the German army?

Broccoli · May 25, 2013

Widebrim said:
^^It appears to be a dress uniform, but what type is hard to determine. Did he serve in the German army?

That's what I am unsure about, I don't know if Germany and Austria had the exact same army and if the uniforms were the exact same. But they fought on their side of course.

Fastuni · May 26, 2013

After the incorporation ("Anschluss") of Austria in 1938 into the German Reich, the former Austrian army was merged into the German army. Austria ceased to be a sovereign nation. They were one and the same Army, with Austrians serving within own units (due to the territorial organization of the Wehrmacht)... for more on this see here:
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?69287-WWII-German-army-organisation&

As to the Uniforms... the Austrian army had fieldgrey uniforms that were similar to the German uniforms, but with distinct differences (stand collars, very scalloped large pockets etc., covered buttons)... they were worn (mostly by reservists) after the merger with the German Wehrmacht... always with the German Eagle&Swastika added to the chest, very often modified with dark green collars to resemble German regulation uniforms. The frontline Austrian units received the same uniforms as Germans.

Beside this there were also Waffen-SS units recruited in Austria.

As to the Uniform on the picture... what can be seen is a darkish uniform with stand collar and large epaulettes. No German uniform.
It could be one of the earlier 1920's/early 30's Austrian uniforms:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3279/5808040844_fa7341294c.jpg

Broccoli · May 27, 2013

Fastuni said:
After the incorporation ("Anschluss") of Austria in 1938 into the German Reich, the former Austrian army was merged into the German army. Austria ceased to be a sovereign nation. They were one and the same Army, with Austrians serving within own units (due to the territorial organization of the Wehrmacht)... for more on this see here:
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?69287-WWII-German-army-organisation&

As to the Uniforms... the Austrian army had fieldgrey uniforms that were similar to the German uniforms, but with distinct differences (stand collars, very scalloped large pockets etc., covered buttons)... they were worn (mostly by reservists) after the merger with the German Wehrmacht... always with the German Eagle&Swastika added to the chest, very often modified with dark green collars to resemble German regulation uniforms. The frontline Austrian units received the same uniforms as Germans.

Beside this there were also Waffen-SS units recruited in Austria.

As to the Uniform on the picture... what can be seen is a darkish uniform with stand collar and large epaulettes. No German uniform.
It could be one of the earlier 1920's/early 30's Austrian uniforms:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3279/5808040844_fa7341294c.jpg

Thank you for your great answer!

jonesy1275 · Dec 13, 2013

Gene said:
Here are some more of my grandpa. Found a slide reel of Kodachromes in the basement of my Aunt's house!

Glider maneuvers stateside.

Grandpa and buddies on a deuce and a half.

Grandpa at a cafe in Paris.

Inside the cockpit of a CG-4A. My Aunt Virginia's picture is on the instrument panel.

Hangar being built in the background, probably somewhere in England.

Wow, Gene these are great photographs of your Grandfather. I'm currently researching IX Troop Carrier Command as I live very close to some of the old airfields that they operated from in the UK. I also run a page on Facebook honouring their memory.

https://www.facebook.com/IXtroopcarriercommand

Could you please get in contact with me as I'd like to know more about your grandfather.

If anybody else has relatives that was in the IX Troop Carrier Command, please send me a message. I'd love to hear their stories.

Thanks,
Neil.

Captain Nemo · Dec 18, 2013

Blackjack said:
My pop and my grandparents. I'm assuming he's home from boot here...

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That ribbon looks like it could possibly be the Good Conduct Medal.

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