442ndRCT Soldier's Forum

Parachute Infantry versus Glider Infantry
1. Get the rifle first. Obviously, the M-1 rifle is the most important part of your impression, as everyone in the unit, except the medics, is primarily a rifleman.
* Note: An M-1 carbine is not acceptable for a rifleman impression, an BARs were not used by the 506th until after Bastogne


2. Boots - Jump Boots are status quo for Parachute infantry and can be worn with leggings while portraying Glider Infantry. Also keep in mind that you may have to break them in before the event, as loose boots can cause serious blister during battle and morning PT.

3. Jump Helmet - Standard infantry helmet shell with correct liner and chinstraps is ok for Glider Infantry, but Parachute Infantry were issued a specially modified helmet for the jump. The jump helmet can be worn while portraying Glider Infantry as long as you tuck in th "A frames" suspension.


4. M42 Jump Suit - There are several companies offering the M42 jump suit, and most are very good reproductions. Don't worry too much about the different shades of Khaki, as many types were used. As the 101st is our primary impression, we ask that members first get the reinforced suit, as it was the most common for the 506th, and will serve you well in the long run, as the standard suit tends to fray and tear much easier.

In the mean time, the Glider Infantry Impression can be worn (consult the Quartermaster section for details). The 327th GIR was the predominant Glider Infantry regiment in the 101 for most of the war. The standard uniform for Normandy was the basic Infantry uniform, with a predominance of the two-piece HBT uniform over the M1937 OD wool uniform, worn with an OD Field Jacket, aka "M41". After Normandy, the entire 101st Airborne was outfitted with the modified M43 combat suit, and the 327th was issued M43 combat boots, aka "buckle boots".


Basic Tips on Parachute Infantry Impression

A. Jump suits should be baggy.
1. Parachute Infantrymen were often descibed as "Devils in Baggy Pants". This is because the troopers, as light infantrymen, were obliged to carry almost everything in the pockets of their jump pants and jump jackets. This caused some definite sagging, giving their appearance an overall "baggy" look. Also, the trousers were often oversized to allow for more freedom. For both of these reasons, trouser suspenders were quite common.

B. Stuff your pockets.
1. WWII Equipment was woefully inadequate and tended to give space only for the authorized load, without even the slightest consderation for the realistic needs of soldiers in sustained combat. Paratroopers were at least given some consideration when they were issued the m1936 Field bag, or "Mussette Bag". This bag, however, was still not enough, and was used to store some of the non-combat essentials such as raincoats and spare rations as packs were often left behind when the troopers went into an assault. Therefore, keep extra ammunition, grenades, your spoon, D-rations, "snot rags", demolitions, extra socks (very essential, and they keep loose items in place), pro kits (you never know in France!), etc... in your pockets ---- all the immediately important stuff!!! rations, bath towel, and raincoat should all be stowed in your Mussette.

C. Trousers should be properly bloused into boots.
1. Upon completion of Jump School, troopers authorized to blouse their trouser legs into their boots as a sign of their elite status. It was a prized emblem of the airborne which exists to this day, and should therefore be done correctly out of respect.

2. "Blousing" the boots comes from the practical realization that troopers need to be as streamlined as possible when jumping, so as not to snag anything when the shroud lines deploy from the pack tray. Proper blousing can be done in a variety of ways. The first and quickest method is to simply tuck your trouser cuff into the upper of your jump boots. to do this, pull your trouser leg up so the cuff is just above the boot uppers, fold a crease in the cuff so it wraps tight against your leg, then tuck it into the top of the boot. This pleat should leave an excess around the top, which you should let hang down so it "mushrooms" over the top a few inches down.
Another method is to used blousing bands. Connect the band around the uppers of the boots at the top or a few inches down. Next, crease the trousers as before and tuck the cuff into the band upwards, so the band is completely hidden and therefore not a snagging hazard. Trousers should "mushroom" as before. This method should also de used for dress occasions. Of course, troopers would use what was at hand for bands, and as Easy Company Vet "Wild Bill" Guarnere once told us, "Hey! You guys know what we used to blouse our boots? WE USED RUBBAS! (condoms)" HA!

D. Cinch up your equipment straps.
1. Paratroopers were light infantry, masters of lightning-quick shock tactics. Therefore, they would be moving fast a geat deal of the time. Also, they would need to keep things tight for the jump. So accordingly, combat suspenders should hang evenly, putting the cartridge belt around the waist (As vets say, "It's a belt, not a Bra!"), with as little excess slack as possible. the excess slack can also be rolled and taped to the combat harness using electrical or friction tape. The equipment should be nearly form fitting to reduce wear on the uniform and the trooper.

E. Avoid the Common Myths
1. Airborne reenacting has gone through many changes over the years, and consequently has maintained several "bad habits".
a. First of all, the term "Airborne" was not used in the same capacity as it is today. The most common term for airborne Infantry was "Parachute Infantry". Remeber, "Airborne" refers to the Division as a whole, including Glider troops, referred to as "Glider Infantry". In fact, the word "Paratrooper" refers to airborne troops as a whole, where "Parachutist" refers to the jumpers.
b. Ladder lacing was not very common in the 101st Airborne in WWII. This practice is quote common nowadays, but during WWII, it was done mostly by Rangers and Beach Battalions, some of whom were trained in the British Commando School, where in the Briish Army ladder lacing is very common. There is, however, limited photographic evidence showing that at least a small number of troopers in the 101 practiced this in Normandy.
c. The overwhelming photographic evidence of the 101st before and after the Normandy jump has hown that the clear majority of the 101st Airborne (including the 506th) did not wear the arm flags in Normany. These were worn, however, as arm brassards later on in Holand for a short time immediately following the jump. They were then removed as they are anything but camoflage.
d. Parachute Infantrymen in the 101st Airborne tended to put a lot of "scrim" in their helmet nets in order to camoflage themselves beter in comabt, and to brake up the tell-tale concave shape of the steel helmet. Natural colored burlap is the most common,and should be done in long strips. Furthermore, the majority of photographs of Easy company in Normandy has shown that this was a common practice in the outfit. This was also done on a limited basis in Holland during Market Garden. The evidence also shows that the 3/4" nets were most common.
e. Parachutist First Aid kits were not often tied to the front of the helmets. More often they were tied to the combat harness or simply stuffed into a pocket or stowed where convenient. In fact, some troopers have stated that they were ordered not to tie them to the helmets. This, of course, caused some units to do it anyway as a sign of unit recognition, but it was later in the war.

Blousing bands:

Let me know if you want any. I don't know what bands looked like then... I'm assuming the elastic bastards most of us use these days probably didn't exist. Personally I use the coiled metal spring. If anyone wants me to pick these up for them let me know!

Great writeup Dave! Though I dunno if most of us can get leggings around jump boots. I know mine wouldn't. Jump Boots are big and have that steel shank down the shaft as well. Lots of space to cover. I wonder if they used oversized leggings?

The coiled metal springs aka "booby trap springs" are the best. I have a set my dad gave me that he wore. If you can get your hands on another set Richard, I would love to have them. Excellent post Dave. The only thing that I think is strange is the leggings thing. I bet paratroops did not have them. I believe that if the glider riders had paratrooper boots, they did not wear leggings. If they had service shoes they did. This is speculation on my part and I could be wrong.

Mayo wrote:The coiled metal springs aka "booby trap springs" are the best. I have a set my dad gave me that he wore. If you can get your hands on another set Richard, I would love to have them.

No problem they are very cheap like 2 bucks. BTW for those of you I give new ones, we need to pull them out a little, or you're gonna hate life

I did Glider Rider as 82nd for several years. GR's did wear boots with leggings and didn't have jump boots unless they were able to get them on the black market. Jump boots were highly desirable by everyone in the ETO and if you could get them you did. Several GR's did and wore them they weren't issue. As Dave said later they were given double buckles and the paras were too.

There was nothing special about GR's as they were just regular infantry who were not even given hazard pay like the paras were. The BAR's did go in with GR's and were also air dropped along with the paras (in the canisters) but most were lost. There had been a raging debate over whether the paras actally had them or not but I was able to find after action reports that specifically said they did and they needed more BAR's as the canister dropped .30's were mostly lost during Normandy. I have also seen two photos of Para's with BAR's but how they got them isn't known. One carried by a para but it was cut down and modified for the jump.

I don't know if the 506th had any, they may have lost them all. Most of my knowledge is about the 82nd, although the BAR's I knew about were with the 101st. I did see some written narritive from a veteran that stated as they loaded on the transports for the Normandy drop that some riggers drove up in trucks at the last minute and handed out special straps to the BAR gunners to lower their weapons down below them before they hit the ground and swapped out Garands with Carbines to those who wanted them.

The only special equipment the Glider Riders had was mussette bags. Other than that they looked just like any other infantry.

That's about the extent of my knowledge. Much of this was gotten from years of pouring over photos and reading excerpts. One thing that was extremely apparent was the TO&E meant nothing as far as the Normandy Paras were concerned. They carried all kinds of stuff that wasn't on the TO&E.

The only thing that I think is strange is the leggings thing. I bet paratroops did not have them. I believe that if the glider riders had paratrooper boots, they did not wear leggings. If they had service shoes they did.

The parachute infantry did not use leggins, that is correct.

But if you start doing the research and look tha the photos, you'll see a variety of things with the Glider Infantry, as to helmets and foot wear. Also the Glider Infantry were issue life jackets. Like everything there seems to be a lot of mixing.

Here is a unit who protrays the GIR
http://chs82nd.homestead.com/82ndPage.html
Check out the pcitures at the bottom, click next, you'll find a period photo of some GI's unloading a glider, note their leggins

Here is the impression list for Glider Infantry

1. HBT shirt, Type 2 or 3, with large chest pockets
2. HBT trousers, Type 2, 3, or 4 with side upper leg pockets
3. T-shirt, white or Lt. peagreen, absolutely no brown!
4. leggings, Type M-1938, Khaki with 17 eyelets and 8 hooks
5. Boots, Ruff-outs, captoe service shoes, 2 buckle, or jump boots
6. Overseas cap with Glider patch or HBT short bill cap
7. M1 Helmet complete, please follow 401st GIR details
8. Cartridge belt, M1923, 10 pocket, Khaki
9. Cover, Canteen, M1910 or M1923, Khaki
10. Canteen, M1910 or M1923, with metal or plastic cap
11. Cup, Canteen, M1910, flat handle
12. First-aid pouch,M1910 or M1942, with Carlisle bandage
11. Weapon and blank ammunition

101st - Glider Infantry, note the screaming eagle patch, wools, and leggins (this picture is carentan)



This picture isn't proof, but here is how they were dressed

I went to the WWII National Museum in New Orleans a couple years ago right after Katrina and they had a full scale front end of a glider on display. It was totally awesome. I think I got a couple pics of it before the battery in my camera died.

That is a MUST see museum if you ever get the chance and they have awesome expansion plans.

Ok Dave. I was confused. It is my belief that Parachte deployed Infantry used Jump boots and later M43 Combat boots. The Glider deployed troops wore service shoes and leggings, and later M43 Combat boots. Both are Airborne troops. I get it.

Mayo wrote:Ok Dave. I was confused. It is my belief that Parachte deployed Infantry used Jump boots and later M43 Combat boots. The Glider deployed troops wore service shoes and leggings, and later M43 Combat boots. Both are Airborne troops. I get it.

Rich and I asked each other this question two weeks ago as to what the soliders in the gliders wore. That's why I already had been researching it.

Excellent information.

fyi from an airborne trooper Blousing bands are for legs and dress

bands are a bad idea for combat becasue things go into the top of your boot and you have a bad day

My father-in-law Louis, told me the guys used to cut the rubber rim off condoms and used them to blouse thier trousers