82nd Airbourne Normandy 1944

[iceman]

I was wondering if anybody could help.

I have recently bought a DES Kit (French) 120mm figure of an 82nd Airbourne (images attached)

Paratrooper in Normandy 1944, he looks to be wearing the M42 jumpsuit, however he is also carrying an M1 Carbine and not the folding stock version, this to me seems incorrect and I have been unable to find any references to counter this beleive, I've checked the internet sites such as Trigger Time and 508PIR website as well as many other Airbourne specific sites.

Could point me in the right direction of evidence to the accuracy of paratroopers using the M1 Carbine full stock. If this is in accurate does anyone know where I could purchase a 120mm folding stock M1 Carbine, or detailed images so that I can try and make my own from what is included in the kit. The kit's weapon is moulded into his left hand already.

Also where can I get decals for the US stenciling on the Musette bag and other web equipment, such as the canteen and ammo pouches, as I'm a bit lazy and don't fancy painting these by hand.

Thanks for any help.

Regards

 

[vergilius]

I'm not sure about the weapon but in war everything 's possible. Maybe he lost his and picked someone else's up?
Besides, german soldiers used russian machineguns on the eastern front. So why not this mix?

 

[Johan]

I'm not sure about the weapon but in war everything 's possible. Maybe he lost his and picked someone else's up?
Besides, german soldiers used russian machineguns on the eastern front. So why not this mix?

He's right, Vergilius, I think a US Paratrooper who would just have dropped on june 6th 1944 would have had an M1 with folding stock; that weapon was designed for such operations, the folding stock made the weapon smaller and easier to handle and stow away during the jump; it was a lot handier, and also the British SAS, who were allowed lots of freedom in choosing their own equipment, used it, because it was handy.
So, normally, an M1 with folding stock would be correct for Paratroops - this figure looks like a pathfinder, one of the first who jumped, and they definetely had M1's with folding stocks ...

Iceman : the S&T Products para (d-day version, pathfinder) has a folding stock carbine; otherwise, I'd carve off the wooden stock and create a folding stock with copper wire of appropriate thickness.

HTH

 

[theseeker]

I was wondering if anybody could help.

I have recently bought a DES Kit (French) 120mm figure of an 82nd Airbourne (images attached)

Paratrooper in Normandy 1944, he looks to be wearing the M42 jumpsuit, however he is also carrying an M1 Carbine and not the folding stock version, this to me seems incorrect and I have been unable to find any references to counter this beleive, I've checked the internet sites such as Trigger Time and 508PIR website as well as many other Airbourne specific sites.

Could point me in the right direction of evidence to the accuracy of paratroopers using the M1 Carbine full stock. If this is in accurate does anyone know where I could purchase a 120mm folding stock M1 Carbine, or detailed images so that I can try and make my own from what is included in the kit. The kit's weapon is moulded into his left hand already.

Also where can I get decals for the US stenciling on the Musette bag and other web equipment, such as the canteen and ammo pouches, as I'm a bit lazy and don't fancy painting these by hand.

Thanks for any help.

Regards

I cannot tell from the pics if it is an M-42 or 43. The M-42 was used in Normandy and the 43 was used in Holland. The folding stock carbine is another issue. Most paras were allowed to pick their own equipment. The folding stock was standard issue to the pathfinders. There are numerous instances with the 82nd and 101st of utilizing both in Normandy. Equipment was in demand and short in supply. Amazingly enough, most folding stock carbines were issued to the British paras! The bottom line is that you can make a case for either version of the carbine.

Rocky

 

[captnenglish]

Oddly enough, I have the 54mm version of this figure and it DOES have the folding stock.

 

[iceman]

Thanks everyone for taking the time to look at the post and an a sepecial thanks to those that posted a reply.

Regards

 

[Johan]

Amazingly enough, most folding stock carbines were issued to the British paras

??

... are you sure ? I thought it was actually the SAS who got most of these, and not the Parachute regiment.

But I could be wrong, of course ...

 

[theseeker]

??

... are you sure ? I thought it was actually the SAS who got most of these, and not the Parachute regiment.

But I could be wrong, of course ...

I am totally sure. The U.S. sent the folding stocks due to a shortage of wood!
It was part of the original lend-lease program and the Brits got the best part of the deal. You are correct, the SAS got the mother lode and the 1st AB got most of the rest and according to one US para, "WE got F*&^%D>!
You get the message. I own four carbines, three woodstock and one folding type. I cannot post pics of the folding type and two of the full wood due to US laws as they are fully automatic. Please do not ask for private pics as the FBI would probably revoke my license.

 

[Johan]

I am totally sure. The U.S. sent the folding stocks due to a shortage of wood!

... I did hear about logging on a massive scale in the USA during the war, to supply wood not only to the US armed forces, but to the Brits as well - whole forests were logged over, until virtually no stands of large trees remained, to the detriment of some animal species that now no longer exist ...
WWII consumed massive amounts of wood.

Well, your story makes sense there !