Looking at page 448 of After The Battle's Battle Of The Bulge Then & Now is a photo about the link up with First and Third Armies in La Roche. Caption says 24th Reconnaissance Squadron met paras of 507th Infantry of 17th Airborne Division. One of the paras is wearing a Denison smock, that has to be the first time I've seen a US soldier wearing an item of British kit. I assume he aquired it privately from a British soldier and wasn't issued it. Any thoughts?
I thought I was going to wake up this morning & be told the chaps name, what he had for breakfast & who gave him the jacket. Sadly not ... Anyone any ideas who he is? Look like an officer.
I thought I was going to wake up this morning & be told the chaps name, what he had for breakfast & who gave him the jacket. Sadly not ... Anyone any ideas who he is? Look like an officer. You are obviously not considered a member of the ABC Club to be worthy of such information
Dunno, looks more like privately bought ski boots maybe? Wonder if any of our US members can find a better quality image of that photo. Heres the complete photo too. EDIT: chap in centre of this third photo I found on net seems to be in same style boots.
Looking at page 448 of After The Battle's Battle Of The Bulge Then & Now is a photo about the link up with First and Third Armies in La Roche. Caption says 24th Reconnaissance Squadron met paras of 507th Infantry of 17th Airborne Division. One of the paras is wearing a Denison smock, that has to be the first time I've seen a US soldier wearing an item of British kit. I assume he aquired it privately from a British soldier and wasn't issued it. Any thoughts? The US 17th Airborne Division was dropped alongside British 6th Airbourne Division in Operation Varsity, but this was a couple of months after the Bulge. Could it be that Varsity had been in preparation prior to the Bulge and would have happened sooner but for the German counter-attack? If so, this US Officer may have been in a liaision role with the Brits, saw the superior Kit and decided to commandier the Denison? It certainly looks hardier than its US equivalent! Best, Steve.
I thought I was going to wake up this morning & be told the chaps name, what he had for breakfast & who gave him the jacket. Sadly not ... Anyone any ideas who he is? Look like an officer. That's a good one. The level of detail found on this site is great . It looks like he is carrying a Thompson M1A1 and most of the pictures I've seen of Commonwealth troops with Thompsons show M1928s with the recoil compensator and the bolt handle on the top instead of the side. Dave (That bit I added is just useless trivia that clogs my head and not the level of detail about individual soldiers and incidents that I was talking about)
A couple of links that give you the in and outs on the Denison Smock, not asked for I know.........but we all know Owen just loves details kamouflage.net — First pattern Denison smock camouflage http://warrelics.eu/forum/uniforms/british-airborne-forces-denison-camo-smock-1605/
He looks kinda like Robert T. Frederick of 1st Special Service Force fame. That is the best guess that I can give you.
Could it be that Varsity had been in preparation prior to the Bulge and would have happened sooner but for the German counter-attack? If so, this US Officer may have been in a liaision role with the Brits, saw the superior Kit and decided to commandier the Denison? It certainly looks hardier than its US equivalent! Best, Steve. Steve, to answer your question on the planning of Varsity, here's a quote from The Last Drop: As early as the previous November, the first Planning Staff Study for the operation that would be code-named Varsity had been published and distributed.The operation was planned for late January. Naturally, the Ardennes offensive put this on hold. Steve W.
He looks kinda like Robert T. Frederick of 1st Special Service Force fame. That is the best guess that I can give you. He certainly looks like Frederick, who was a Maj General of the US 45th Infantry Division in December 1944/January 1945 and placed then at the 'German Border' (per Wiki). Interestingly, the yellow Swastica had been the divisions symbol in the 1930's, as follows: Prior to his promotion to OC US 45th Infantry Brigade, he had been OC of the Devils Brigade; of the film fame, his character being played by William Holden. The Devils Brigade was a mixed US/Canadian Special Forces Brigade - the Para connection. If this is the right man his Denison could follow this Canadian connection. Best, Steve.
Steve, to answer your question on the planning of Varsity, here's a quote from The Last Drop: As early as the previous November, the first Planning Staff Study for the operation that would be code-named Varsity had been published and distributed.The operation was planned for late January. Naturally, the Ardennes offensive put this on hold. Steve W. Thanks for that, Steve. We are still dealing with 'maybes' at present, but this is very helpful! Best, Steve.
I was thinking about his command of the 1st Airborne Task Force, which was a US/British division-sized unit that jumped near Marseille as part of Op. Dragoon.
if the US were anything like they are now for Brit Kit.... i reckon he may have simply traded it, or perhaps was caught short with no warm kit so begged/borrow'd or stole...... the difference these days is the US trade our kit and rations just so they can show folks back home how badly equipped the British army is... and how bad the food is... mind i personally like our issue rat packs...
That day the British finally linked up with the Third U.S. Army along the river line of the Ourthe Occidentale. U.S. Airborne units in the area were 17th (to Third U.S. Army - operating south of Ourthe Occidentale) and 82nd Airborne (First U.S. Army - operating near the Salm). There was also an independant U.S. Airborne formation in the neighbourhood - but have to look it up. The 517th PIR?
