101st Airborne Photos Around Carentan, France, June 1944

[azboater]

Nice photographs of members of the Screaming Eagles around Carentan, France, taken between June 15-30, 1944

 

Thompson M1A1's, M1928A1's, & Grease Guns all appear

 

Notice the Trooper on the Bike with the censored 101st Airborne patch also appears in the group photos,

 

and the lone Trooper reading the June 1944 Issue of Sparkler Comics.

[R67]

Azboater-

 

I would like to contribute some images to this post. I specialize in WWII Airborne, my focus is pre-Normandy, however I still have a few TSMG shots from OVERLORD (Invasion of Normandy).

 

First up is members of the 2/506 PIR in Carentan shortly after the capture from elements of the 6th Fallschirmjager Regt. It was a fast and rapid house-to-house battle of paratroops from both sides.

 

The TSMG was a devastating tool in this kind of urban fighting. This photo came from the Forest Gurth albums....

[R67]

Azboater-

 

I would like to contribute some images to this post. I specialize in WWII Airborne, my focus is pre-Normandy, however I still have a few TSMG shots from OVERLORD (Invasion of Normandy).

 

First up is members of the 2/506 PIR in Carentan shortly after the capture from elements of the 6th Fallschirmjager Regt. It was a fast and rapid house-to-house battle of paratroops from both sides.

 

The TSMG was a devastating tool in this kind of urban fighting. This photo came from the Forest Gurth albums....

[R67]

Here is another shot of paratroops from the 506th and other scattered elements, including Forest Gurth who is wearing the German helmet and holding the k98k.

 

This would have been taken in Normandy on D+1.

[R67]

Here is another shot of paratroops from the 506th and other scattered elements, including Forest Gurth who is wearing the German helmet and holding the k98k.

 

This would have been taken in Normandy on D+1.

[R67]

Here is another shot of paratroops from the 506th and other scattered elements, including Forest Gurth who is wearing the German helmet and holding the k98k.

 

This would have been taken in Normandy on D+1.

[R67]

Here is another shot of paratroops from the 506th and other scattered elements, including Forest Gurth who is wearing the German helmet and holding the k98k.

 

This would have been taken in Normandy on D+1.

[R67]

Here is a great color shot of the 502nd (I believe) in Carentan.

[R67]

Here is a great color shot of the 502nd (I believe) in Carentan.

[R67]

I apologise for the double and triple posts: my internet connection is horrific and is causing a few issues. Perhaps David or a mod could clean this up. Sorry again.

 

I will continue with some "All Americans" since the "Screaming Eagles" are getting all the attention.

 

82nd in Normandy.

[R67]

THEM BELLS

 

Still image from the film "The Longest Day".

[1gewehr]

Interesting selection of weapons. I was surprised that there was not a single BAR to be seen!

[jim c 351]

1gewehr,

I don't think the BAR was an issue firearm for airbourne.

Jim C

[R67]

Hey Jim,

 

M1918A2 BARs were issued to Parachute infantry platoons with the same frequency as standard infantry, until later in the war when the M1919A4 LMG grew in prevalence. They were dropped in separate drop containers in Normandy, and few were recovered.

[R67]

Here is a photo from the Southern France Operation, August 1944.

[jim c 351]

R67,

Well perhaps you are right.

I based my comment on 2 factors.

#1 you almost never see pictures of paratroopers with BARs. Just view the pics you posted. As you suggested maybe the BARs all got lost in the drop.

If true then it was a miracle that all the BMG1919 and 60 m/m mortars were not also lost.

#2 In reading a nice book titled "US Infantry Weapons in Combat" , by Mark G. Goodwin , the BAR is seldom mentioned by WW2 paratroopers. That is they were not even trained on the gun.

One exception was a comment by Sgt. Bill True of the101st ,on page 191.

It goes like this "The BAR wasn't a standard weapon for us, but I can remember having one in our group while in Normandy. I don't know where they got it."

That doesn't mean that you might know something that Bill True didn't know.

Jim C

[R67]

Jim,

 

I did some more research. This is from Mark Bando's trigger time forum. I stand corrected, the BAR was not in the TOE for Parachute Infantry units:

 

"Most members of a rifle squad were armed with 30-06 caliber M-1 Garand rifles, which were a much more potent weapon than the carbine, which lacked range and knockdown power. The M1-A1 carbine with a folding stock, was issued to officers, also to some members of crew-served weapons (i.e. 60mm mortar squad), while non coms(sergeants) carried the M1-A1 or M1928A1 Thompson submachine-gun. This included Staff Sgts (platoon Sgts) and 3 stripe Buck Sgts (squad leaders). These weapons were prescribed by the TO&E (Table of Organization & Equipment), but individuals frequently opted for-and usually got, whatever they wanted. This switching was done on the battlefield, if not accomplished prior to a mission. Since the M-1 Garand was the best all-around weapon, many officers also used it, instead of the carbine, and some noncoms swapped their TSMG for an M-1. Some members of crew-served weapons also preferred the M-1 over the carbine, despite it's extra weight, when they were also carrying such items as MG ammo, tripods, baseplates, mortar tubes, 40lb A-4 machineguns, etc. If all the paratroopers had been equipped with carbines instead of M-1 rifles, it would have been a lot more difficult for the 101st Airborne to win any battles.

Each rifle squad contained a LMG crew, (instead of the B.A.R. found in regular infantry companies) and the PIR squad tactics were built around the LMG laying a base of fire.
The officer breakdown was as follows: Company Commander was a 1st Lt or Captain, with a 1st Lt. as company XO(Executive Officer, meaning 2d in command). Each platoon had two Lts, (a 1st Lt plt leader and a 2d Lt asst. platoon ldr). Each platoon also had 1 staff sgt, who was the platoon sgt (in a regular infantry platoon, this job was performed by a Tech Sgt), and four buck sgts, who served as the squad leaders. Each squad also had a corporal, who served as assistant squad leader.
Each battalion had 1 Headquarters company and 3 rifle companies. The Bn HQ Co. was a bit larger, numerically, than a rifle company (closer to 150 personnel) and had a 81mm mortar platoon, a LMG platoon and a communications platoon, also a bn. Mess Section.
HQ Co. 1st Bn supported A,B, and C companies.
HQ Co 2d Bn supported D,E, and F companies.
HQ Co 3rd Bn supported G, H, and I companies.

note: The Browning Automatic Rifle (B.A.R.) was not issued to WW2 paratroopers because it was considered too awkward to jump with. It was not listed on the TO&E for Parachute Infantry rifle companies. The weapon weighs about 20 lb and is four feet long and cannot be broken down for jumping purposes. This is why squad tactics centered around the LMG (dropped in bundles) instead. The B.A.R. was an effective and devastating weapon and immediately after WW2, the 82nd and 11th Airborne Divisions incorporated them into their TO&Es and devised a method of jumping with them fully-assembled, and strapped alongside the parachutist's leg, muzzle down."

[Big Al]

Here is a great color shot of the 502nd (I believe) in Carentan.

This image is a still from an interview. I believe the man in the center with the M1928A1 was in the first jump spot in the lead plane, and was ostensibly the first US paratrooper to set foot in France. I can't remember his name, though.

Edited January 15, 2017 by Big Al

[JJX]

Great photos, thanks for sharing.

I found it interesting that they carried both Thompsons and grease guns. I realize both were available and to a certain extent it was up to the individual, but especially for an Airborne operation, I would want to standardize as much as possible.

[Got Uzi]

I would love to have those pics showing both the Thompson and M3 together. Has there been any information as to how both ended up in the units? I recall reading somewhere (and I could be mistaken) but it was the soldiers choice as to wanting a Thompson or M3-is this correct? It was also interesting to notice they were M3's and not M3A1's.

[emmagee1917]

M3s were available for D-Day , M3A1s were a while later , so no surprise there .

The 1928s were around from the beginning , M1 s were newer and so were replacements for 1928s lost or more in newer units . Same for the M3s .

You usually could take what you wanted , within reason , but it had to be available for you to take it .

Chris

[hntrdarren]

Thanks for sharing the photos

[R67]

If anyone wants to check out this thread I started over at the USMF, it discusses Airborne use of the BAR and even though it was not originally on the official TOE, lots of photos have emerged from every major combat unit from the war using M1918A2 BARs. It seems guys found them and used them despite regulations.

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/282585-bars-in-use-by-airborne-units-of-wwii-discussion/&do=findComment&comment=2276017

[Big Al]

Never mind. I found the answer to my question. The circled man is Captain Frank Lillyman, who is supposedly the first American paratrooper to land in France on D-Day, which he stated during the interview this still was taken from.

[R67]

My avatar photo is of Capt. Lillyman. He was an interesting character and got himself in dutch with his officers from the 502nd, and was dumped into the pathfinder program.