|
Post by volkssturm on Aug 2, 2012 12:16:30 GMT -5
Some time ago there was a discussion of whether the paratroops used the BAR. The concensus was that the TO&E for airborne units didn't include BAR's. So, I've started "September Hope: The American Side of a Bridge Too Far" by John C. McManus. If he's got his facts straight, the 82d did bring BAR's to Market Garden. On page 123 he says "The company [B, 504 PIR] had recovered most of its weapons and equipment from the drop zone - nine light machine guns, seven Browning Automatic Rifles, a pair of sixty-millimeter mortars, six bazookas, and several radios." Maybe there was change to the TO&E after Normandy, or maybe MG Gavin just said "do it." The 82d was also notable for grabbing and using every panzerfaust they could get their hands on. You can understand how they might want to increase their firepower after the experience of Normandy. Apparently the BAR's were dropped with the equipment bundles rather than carried by the paratroopers during the drop. Interesting stuff.
|
|
|
Post by aj czarkowski on Aug 2, 2012 15:08:31 GMT -5
The paratroopers weren't issued them because appereantly they were to hard to jump with (too big and couldn't be broken down)
But the glider regiments with the 101st an 82nd divisions were issued BARs, so they might have been resupplied by them and gotten ahold of some
|
|
|
Post by volkssturm on Aug 2, 2012 17:30:02 GMT -5
It seems like they were a lot looser with accounting for weapons in those days. I read once that MG Terry Allen with the 104th ID decided he needed more BAR's, so he ordered his supply sergeants to collect every unnecessary pistol they could find and go out trading for BAR's. I asked a vet on another forum once how they turned in their weapons at the end of the war. He said when they got to the port of embarkation, they dropped their weapons in a big pile. No one checked serial numbers.
|
|
|
Post by shiftsup on Aug 2, 2012 21:25:24 GMT -5
www.tfaonline.org/index.php/shooting_sports/collectorsSecondhand report but interesting. It is about mid way through but Harvill Lazenby of the 82nd AB does claim that some troopers did jump into France with BARs. I read another article where it describes that Lazenby himself jumped into France with an M1 rifle and a shotgun at the ready.
|
|
2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
|
Post by 2nd Bat on Aug 14, 2012 1:04:27 GMT -5
In talking to some WW2 airborne vets I heard a couple of them say that while the BAR was officially only assigned to the glider troops, regular jump elements occassionally had them. As mentioned above when in a combat jump they were bundled like the crew served weapons and recovered on the ground in most cases. I saw a picture once of an 82nd Airborne stick in a C 47. ( probably Scicily). And one of the troopers on board the plane had a BAR and was obviously going to jump with it.
In war what works and is available is inevitably going to be done by somebody. Whenever I hear " expert authorities". ( especially in the reenactment community). Use statements that include "never" or "always". I know they are neither an expert or an authority. In a conflict as large as WW2 anything that could have happened, probably did. Keep in mind that striving to depict the norm is the standard most living history groups strive for and indeed though not always in compliance with it I have grown to respect that mindset. If you love the BAR. ( like I do). Probably a Marine, Line Doggie or RANGER impression is your best bet.
|
|