What a radioman carried on D-Day

[Jon3830]

looks like the setup I saw on a documentary about Merrill’s Marauders.

 

[AKguy1985]

That is a lot of gear.

 

[SoonerP226]

Actually there are three .45 mags (one in the gun and two in the flat pouch on the left). The other five pouches with 5 pockets each are loaded with en-bloc clips. So that's 200 rounds for the Garand and 21 for the 1911.

You're right, and that makes much more sense. With the clips presented side-on, they sure looked like the ends of 1911 mags.

 

[TerryMiller]

View attachment 39513


Wish I could make the pic larger.

If nothing else, for one that never had to carry a ruck, that is impressive as to what they had to carry. I'm sure that a little bit of that may be rations, but I'm not sure. There was still C- and K-rations being used when I was in, but unless they are cased in something, I don't see rations. There are a few other items that I've not figured out yet in the lower right corner (cylindrical shaped), but those might be some kind of medical items.

 

[11b1776]

The thought of jumping out of a plane today scares the beejesus out of me... I can't imagine doing it with gear from 70 years ago.

For just the run of the mill paratrooper, the technology is pretty much the same, slight difference in the chutes.

 

[Glocktogo]

You're right, and that makes much more sense. With the clips presented side-on, they sure looked like the ends of 1911 mags.

Yeah, I had to do a double take myself.