Please ID this uniform

nolanbuc · #1 (**permalink**) December 5th, 2007, 12:17 PM

From a family pic, the man on the right is my great uncle. He was in the US 82nd Airborne. Can anyone tell me which service/nationality the man in the center represents? One clue: I know my great-uncle served in Italy, where he was KIA.

Thanks in advance!

PzJgr · #2 (**permalink**) December 5th, 2007, 01:16 PM

At first glance it looks like the Facist Blackshirt uniform. Will research.

Kai-Petri · #3 (**permalink**) December 5th, 2007, 02:06 PM

Italian Army uniform?

Militaria & Military Photos - Italian*WWII*Army*Uniform(s)*- Grants Militaria Images

nolanbuc · #4 (**permalink**) December 8th, 2007, 01:34 PM

Thanks for the input so far, I have rescanned the pic to zoom in on the cap and what appears to be jump wings on the uniform.

Any ideas? Those look like American jump wings, but did the US Army have this dark of a uni?

Kai-Petri · #5 (**permalink**) December 8th, 2007, 03:26 PM

Could those things just be loaned for the shooting of the photo? Not sure of the uniform in any way but having a guess here....

Slipdigit · #6 (**permalink**) December 8th, 2007, 04:26 PM

See this link at Otto's other, well run forum, at my answer to your Q you posted there. Tell me what you think.

Please help ID this uniform - World War 2 Forums

nolanbuc · #7 (**permalink**) December 8th, 2007, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slipdigit

See this link at Otto's other, well run forum, at my answer to your Q you posted there. Tell me what you think.

Please help ID this uniform - World War 2 Forums

I think you may have it, well done as usual!

Slipdigit · #8 (**permalink**) December 8th, 2007, 05:45 PM

this pic shows the cap patch

http://www.worldwartwobooks.com/shop...e%20101006.jpg

and this pic from
http://www.qmmuseum.lee.army.mil/ima...rmany_82ad.jpg

C.Evans · #9 (**permalink**) December 8th, 2007, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nolanbuc

Thanks for the input so far, I have rescanned the pic to zoom in on the cap and what appears to be jump wings on the uniform.

Any ideas? Those look like American jump wings, but did the US Army have this dark of a uni?

Looks American to me. The insignia is US. The uniform looks like the Chocolate Brown uniform.

No, I aint an expert on American uniforms but, the look of it looks like the choclate brown color to me.

PzJgr, as an AF vet, you should know this one ;-))

Nolanbuc, do you have any German stuff to show pics of? If so, that stuff is easier for me to ID. :-))

ILMBS · #10 (**permalink**) January 30th, 2008, 07:28 PM

I'd say from what appear to be jump boots and paratrooper style pants cuffs, he's a paratrooper just like the other two. The chocolate brown reference makes sense to me, although I'm no expert on that. One interesting thing that I can see is that the lip of his pockets are pointed and maybe even western style as opposed to the guys in the khakis whose pockets are rounded at the corners. That may help you identify it, but I'd say he's another U.S. paratrooper as opposed to an Italian or anything of that nature. Notice his overseas cap and belt appear khaki as well. Maybe he found himself in need of a new uniform and that's what was available/issued. Zoom in on his overseas cap and you might find further clues.
Good Luck
A.J.H.

ILMBS · #11 (**permalink**) January 30th, 2008, 08:15 PM

I think a better question is who are these jokers and what kind of mayhem were they up to that day. I'll bet there are some good stories there. I suggest you contact the various groups and associations, post your pics and his name and you may even find people who knew him and can tell you more about him. Hurry though, because these guys are dying off fast. Also, read "Devils In Baggy Pants" and things like that if you want to know what they went through. WW II paratroopers were a tough bunch of monkeys. Very interesting.
A.J. H.