What a platoon leader wore to storm Omaha Beach, 69 years ago today.

[ganulv]

From a post on Slate’s new The Vault series, presenting the sketch made by combat historian Jack Shea shown below.

Question for those whom would know: were the map, compass, and binos primarily “meant to aide in traversing the French countryside after passing through the battle on the beach” or was there a real possibility that the landing might not be made on Omaha Beach?

[Steve Blair]

Considering that the sketch looks more like a paratrooper platoon leader than someone who would have gone "over the beach," I suspect that the map and such were considered necessary based on what had been learned from the drops in Sicily.

ETA: From reading the Slate post, it seems odd that this would have been based on someone with the 29th. The whole rig is very 82nd/101st. There was a hope, I think, that the breakthrough would be quick, but I don't think there was any realistic possibility of changing the landing locations.

[ganulv]

Considering that the sketch looks more like a paratrooper platoon leader than someone who would have gone "over the beach," I suspect that the map and such were considered necessary based on what had been learned from the drops in Sicily.

ETA: From reading the Slate post, it seems odd that this would have been based on someone with the 29th. The whole rig is very 82nd/101st. There was a hope, I think, that the breakthrough would be quick, but I don't think there was any realistic possibility of changing the landing locations.

I had that thought, especially since I wouldn’t think anyone coming ashore would want to secure anything to your boots like that. But did the paratroopers jump and glide with life preservers like that?

The sketch is definitely cataloged with material related to the 29th. That doesn’t mean it is not miscataloged or that the artist might not have sketched a compilation or simply have been in error.

Did the Rangers kit up any differently?

[slapout9]

I agree with Steve something is not right about this. A "Straight Leg" Lieutenant wearing "Jump Boots" in WW2.....that would be a Death Wish!

[Steve Blair]

I had that thought, especially since I wouldn’t think anyone coming ashore would want to secure anything to your boots like that. But did the paratroopers jump and glide with life preservers like that?

The sketch is definitely cataloged with material related to the 29th. That doesn’t mean it is not miscataloged or that the artist might not have sketched a compilation or simply have been in error.

Did the Rangers kit up any differently?

After Sicily, they did drop with vests if I recall correctly. Or they were SUPPOSED to...doesn't mean that they all wore/used them. There's just too much about this that screams airborne and too little that indicates anything else. Helmet camo, pants bloused into jump boots, the knife position, and even the straps holding down the carrying pouches.

He could actually have sketched someone from one of the airborne divisions passing through the training area or on a combined exercise. Rangers, if I recall correctly, didn't look all that different from normal doggies at this time. The GQ gear came later... It's also quite possible that the material was cataloged as it was because he was assigned to the 29th. Doesn't mean he stayed in their area.

If you look at the famous photo of Eisenhower talking to men of the 101st prior to D-Day you see the same gear, right down to the helmet camo. Don't get me wrong...it's possible that it is an officer from the 29th...but it just doesn't seem right in too many areas.

[slapout9]

The one thing that is odd is the trooper in the drawing is not wearing a jump suit. which was a required uniform at the time. Another Military mystery

[slapout9]

Interesting photos....the helmut comaflogue and one i


http://www.29infantrydivision.org/WW...k-D/index.html

[Madhu]

Normandy: A Graphic History of D-Day, The Allied Invasion of Hitler's Fortress Europe

http://www.amazon.com/Normandy-Graph...0709378&sr=1-2

I do not normally recommend learning history from graphic novels but I make an exception in this case. This is the very best product I have seen in this genre. This book was very well done, both in the artwork and the narrative. The storyline hits all the important events of the Normandy campaign while the artist consistently gets the uniforms right, including details such as U.S. and British division patches. The book manages to convey the Allies' hard-fought battle to liberate France.

I have no idea of uniforms or their accuracy, I just remember someone telling me about these graphic novels, including one on North Korea.