M1928A1 Iwo Jima

[reconbob]

Just got this from a friend. Have not seen it before. I think the picture speaks for itself. If you zoom it, It looks like something is wrapped around the trigger frame? Also, judging by the bright spots in the magazine witness holes, it’s loaded.

Bob

[TD.]

Bob,

Thank you for sharing. I too have never seen this picture. Given what appears to be volcanic ash, it appears the Marine who carried this Model of 1928 Thompson covered the actuator slot in an attempt to keep it operational. Since the Thompson is stuck in the ash beside a web belt of equipment and shovel, I wonder if the Marine was wounded and evacuated to the rear. It appears the other Marines in the picture are engaged in an active battle. From what I have read, US forces believed Iwo Jima would not take long to capture. Wrong on all counts. 

[BLuongo]

Sobering picture, gives a real perspective of the 'Black Sand". A man I was lucky to have known named Bob Deserafino was on the beach that day. He told me of the 96 men in his unit he went ashore with that day, 90 died, he and the other five were wounded.

[reconbob]

Here is the big picture 

Bob

[Sandman1957]

I think this photo may be a still of a motion picture reel taken by a combat correspondent.

[p51]

On 11/30/2025 at 2:52 PM, Sandman1957 said:

I think this photo may be a still of a motion picture reel taken by a combat correspondent.

Nah, it's a large format negative still, taken from a speed graphic camera by Lou Lowery, a USMC photographer. There were more than a handful of civilian and military photographers on the island by then.

He is best known for a nice series of shots of the first US flag to go up on Suribachi.

Let's put it this way, I know war correspondent stuff like you all here know Thompsons...

Edited December 4, 2025 by p51

[cbmott]

On 11/30/2025 at 10:36 PM, p51 said:

Let's put it this way, I know war correspondent stuff like you all here know Thompsons...

You know of any good Thompson pictures from Okinawa? I spent a couple years there as a new LT before I got into the Thompson game so I never looked and regret it now.

[Sandman1957]

Thanks for that insight!  Joe Rosenthal took some as well.  I could spend days looking at them.  

[historyguy1944]

Its cool to see how much the m1928a1 stayed relevant throughout the war

[rpbcps]

Very poignant picture, which I had saw before. So I guessed it must have been on this forum.

So a quick search give me this topic posted by azboater in 2018 🫡