Paratrooper equipment

As KFZ says the leg bag only ripped off due to the speed the 47 pilots were flying at towards the DZ's to try and reduce the chances of being hit by Triple A. When the pilots exited the bags were ripped off.

The next drop was Market Garden and they didn't risk it so they put the weapon across their chest through the chute harness.

Another reason for this was the bags that did stay straped to the Troopers side when they hit the ground some recieved a M1 Garand butt in the face.

The drop bags were introduced to slow and reduce the impact on landing. The bag hits first at the last minute and reduces the drag on the trooper prior to hitting the ground. Another reason it was useful is it helps you judge how close you are to the ground.....very handy when doing a night jump.

I think a American WW2 Trooper would carry around 80lbs into combat after landing and ditching his two chutes and mae west etc.

Andy

 

A veteran contributor to my Varsity book sent me his kit list, less parachute and weapons, which was standard for his Normandy and Germany jumps. Makes for interesing reading!

Steve W.


Hi Steve,

Just realised you posted the lists.

Can you make the images bigger as they are a bit to small to read.

Cheers
A

 

Equipment this will answer a lot of questions concerning American paratroopers gear

 

Hi Steve,

Just realised you posted the lists.

Can you make the images bigger as they are a bit to small to read.

Cheers
A

Drew,

Here you go!





Steve W.

 

Cheers Steve,

Did he list Small Arms Ammunition, Grenades, Mortar Bombs etc that they would carrying on them too pre jump?

Andy

 

Hang about, GPRegt. Ye not getting that one past us so fast .....

Picture 1. " Carried In Haversack ". Fourth item from the bottom .....

Doesn't that say " Housewife " ?! WTF?!


Seriously, mate; Just kidding. But what was a Paratroopers " Housewife " ? Or is it just my eyes ....?

 

Houswife is a sewing kit Steve

A modern example:

Housewife Sewing Kit. Quality British Army Webbing

US WW2 Version below:

WWII ISSUED ARMY HOUSEWIFE SEWING BAG & SEWING ITEMS

 

Cheers Steve,

Did he list Small Arms Ammunition, Grenades, Mortar Bombs etc that they would carrying on them too pre jump?

Andy

No, that's all there is.

Steve W.

 

Cheers, Andy!

 

If the US paras had British kitbags or valises, were they being carried rather than 'worn'? Plausible if they had simply been given them rather than trained in their use.

Both were strapped to the leg/body for jumping, with quick release pins to free them for lowering. I can picture a kitbag being ripped out of their hands by the slipstream but I'd have thought that the forces needed to rip milspec canvas and webbing would cause some sort of injury.

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=27030&stc=1&d=1271102471

Photo from the Airborne Forces Museum, now at Duxford.

 

pic of a german para´s container

 

Not the British, Poles I think.

Kev

In the book "Leading the Way to Arnhem", Major John Lander, who was the first CO of the British 21st Independent Parachute Company, is credited with inventing the 'leg-bag'.........

 

Kent's First In! also contains a page or so on Lander developing the kitbag. Thanks for the lead.

 

Some airborne re-enactors let me get some shots of a valise and kitbag today:

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34792&stc=1&d=1282433493

^ The white tape is the quick-release for the leg straps, the pins are concealed behind the leather-like tab.

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34793&stc=1&d=1282433493


There was also a US valise lying around. Couldn't get to see the back of it, but it almost looked as though it was tied on:

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34794&stc=1&d=1282433493