442ndRCT Soldier's Forum

Ok this isn't gospel, but its cost effective for us. If we ever have the chance to do a M-G impression as Paras, chances are we can slick by with plain ol' M43s and still be able to use them for our primary impression. I've found lots of photographic evidence after digging around of barely any rigger mods at all, at the least, leg straps and cargo pockets seem to be common, and once in awhile I find one thats fully reinforced. Now I've seen lots of pictures, but I want to find written hard evidence to corroborate. Regardless... the photos:


Unknown (101st?) Troopers prior to Market-Garden, notice the top of the D-day invasion stripes were removed from the C-47.


HQ 1/506th at Eindhoven


The same, only arm pockets here.


Funny story with this one. This was a training jump in France in 1945 by F Co. 2/506 so they could continue to receive jump pay.


LT Duke and Sgt Pershing HQ (Rocket Launchers) 3/506, Eindohoven

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb48/gi-rene/Research/070928-F-2911S-016.jpg
General McAuliffe (sp) addresses the glider pilots/plane pilots prior to M-G

The rest that follow are Army Signals photos from various parts of the 82/101 involvement in M-G

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb48/gi-rene/Research/potter03.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb48/gi-rene/Research/timeline_9_3_large.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb48/gi-rene/Research/timeline_9_1_large.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb48/gi-rene/Research/timeline_8_1_large.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb48/gi-rene/Research/timeline_4_2_large.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb48/gi-rene/Research/timeline_2_3_large.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb48/gi-rene/Research/timeline_11_2_large.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb48/gi-rene/Research/timeline_11_1_large.jpg

Well there it is... make your own calls. I'm going to look into some book or hard evidence. Personally I think its cool if we get invited to a massive airborne event about M-G (considering the XXX Corps was British and most of the GIs involved in the XXX Corps were mostly logistics/supply) but its not worth buying an M43 set for our 442/34 and another set reinforced for M-G, specially from what I can tell, the super rigger mods weren't common until Varsity. So I think those of us that can afford both should do it and it shouldn't exclude those that want involved but may only have regular M43s.

As far as I've seen in my past 4 years of paratrooper reenacting most guys during Market-Garden wore "rigger" trousers, the ratio for the pictures i've seen is about 1/4 in favour of the rigger modifications. Though there are alot of pictures of mainly the HQ and PFAB's without rigger modifications. But a majority of the 504th, 505th, 507th, and 508th troopers did have rigger modified uniforms (priority maybe?)

Joel Levine wrote:As far as I've seen in my past 4 years of paratrooper reenacting most guys during Market-Garden wore "rigger" trousers, the ratio for the pictures i've seen is about 1/4 in favour of the rigger modifications. Though there are alot of pictures of mainly the HQ and PFAB's without rigger modifications. But a majority of the 504th, 505th, 507th, and 508th troopers did have rigger modified uniforms (priority maybe?)

Thats what I figured. I was trying to see if there was a decent minority. Enough to justify if for some odd reason someone decides to do M-G those of us that can't/won't get reinforced 43s can still come out if they have regular 43s for their primary impression.