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Post by oggy on Feb 17, 2009 6:04:01 GMT -5
According to Denis Lassus in his excellent series of articles featured in 'Militaria Magazine' both the USMC 'Raider' & 'Third pattern paratrooper jump smocks' were used, to greater or lesser degrees, by the seven paratroop battalions that participated in the battle of Dien Bien Phu. There's a photo of Bigeard wearing a cut down 3rd Pattern Jump Smock in an early Military Illustrated (one of the first I believe). He's receiving some sort of award.
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Post by Turner on Feb 17, 2009 9:31:34 GMT -5
As I don't have the magazine, could you post the pic her, please? I'm very curious! Turner
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Post by oggy on Feb 19, 2009 4:45:55 GMT -5
I'll try to dig it out.
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lemaitre
Dans le théâtre de la guerre
Posts: 53
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Post by lemaitre on Apr 30, 2009 2:28:24 GMT -5
I've seen references that 2e BEP used P42 USMC blouses in '52 and '53. Has anyone got photos that might confirm this? I think that P44's were probably a more common item by this time. Thanks for your help LeM.
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Post by lt13demi on Apr 30, 2009 9:56:33 GMT -5
LeM! Mon copain,,,,, how's your French? ? This has been posted here before, but it is such a valuable research tool, I'm going to post it again! Check out the French military mediatheque site @; www.ecpad.fr/See the icon on the upper right corner with "7000 photos et videos en ligne" Click there and I bet you can figure out what to do next! Lots of good photos with a commentary in French. Easy to read even with a limited knowledge of French...... Check it out! Renault
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Post by cookie on May 1, 2009 13:42:41 GMT -5
From looking at images from the period it appears that certain units such as the BEP's were issued the P42 and P44 jackets from 1950 onwards. However, the P42 was issued first and was used up through combat wear and tear. The army and P44 patterns, plus other ones such as the USMC 'raider' or cut down jumpsmocks were also used indisscriminately. These in turn were replaced by an uneven issue of British windproof smocks and later the Lizard patterns of jump suits. It is entirely plausible, although unlikely, that the P42 was still in service in 1953-54.
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