Allied use of captured Axis AFVs and Tanks - Page 4

4th wilts · #76 (**permalink**) May 25th, 2008, 12:25 PM

a bit confused about..cuckoo...the panther.was it used by the 5th guards armd bde,part of the guards armoured div,or the 6th guards tank bde.yours,lee.

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JCFalkenbergIII · #77 (**permalink**) May 25th, 2008, 06:57 PM

According to the article it was captured by the 4th Armoured Battalion - Coldstream Guards of the British 6th Guards Tank Brigade.

JCFalkenbergIII · #78 (**permalink**) May 31st, 2008, 04:50 PM

Anyone have any info on the use of a Stug III by American soldiers from the 104th Infantry Div?

JCFalkenbergIII · #79 (**permalink**) June 9th, 2008, 03:44 PM

"One unit, the illustrious 83rd Infantry Division, which was moving as
fast as an armored task force, had recently been nicknamed "The Rag-Tag
Circus" by the correspondents. Its resourceful commander, Major
General Robert C. Macon, had given orders to supplement the division's
transport with anything that moved; "no questions asked." Now the
Rag-Tag Circus was going flat out in a weird assortment of hurriedly
repainted captured German vehicles: Wehrmacht jeeps, staff cars,
ammunition trucks, Mark Very and Tiger panzers, motor bikes, buses and
two cherished fire engines. Out in front, with infantrymen hanging all
over it, was one of the fire trucks. On its rear bumper was a large,
flapping banner. It read, Next Stop: Berlin. "

"

On its right flank, tenaciously pacing the 2nd mile for mile and
fighting all the way, was a wildly assorted collection of vehicles
crammed with troops. From the air it bore no resemblance to either an
armored or an infantry division. In fact, but for a number of U.s.
Army trucks interspersed among its columns, it might easily have been
mistaken for a German convoy. Major General Robert C. Macon's highly
individualistic 83rd Infantry Division, the "Rag-Tag Circus," was going
hell-for-leather toward the Elbe in its captured booty. Every enemy
unit or town that surrendered or was captured subscribed its quota of
rolling stock for the division, usually at gunpoint. Every newly
acquired vehicle got a quick coat of olive-green paint and a U.s. star
slapped on its side; then it joined the 83rd. The men of the Rag-Tag
Circus had even managed to liberate a German airplane and, harder, had
found someone to fly it, and it was spreading consternation all over
the front. First Sergeant William G. Presnell of the 30th Infantry
Division, who had fought all the way from Omaha Beach, knew the
silhouette of every Luftwaffe fighter. So when he saw what was
obviously a German plane heading in his direction, he yelled "ME-109!"
and dived for cover. Puzzled when there was no burst of machine gun
fire, he raised his head and stared as the fighter sped away. The
plane was painted a blotchy olive-green. On the undersides of the
wings were the words "83rd Inf. Div." "

"The Last Battle". Cornealius Ryan

JCFalkenbergIII · #80 (**permalink**) June 21st, 2008, 07:39 PM

I wonder if there are any pics or artwork of the 109?

redcoat · #81 (**permalink**) June 21st, 2008, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCFalkenbergIII

According to the article it was captured by the 4th Armoured Battalion - Coldstream Guards of the British 6th Guards Tank Brigade.

This might be of interest
Cuckoo

skunk works · #82 (**permalink**) June 21st, 2008, 09:53 PM

there's a bunch...both ways, and why not ?

skunk works · #83 (**permalink**) June 21st, 2008, 09:55 PM

some more

Skipper · #84 (**permalink**) June 21st, 2008, 09:58 PM

I love that Stuka, it's a bit small though. Is the roundel British or French ? (the picture doesn't get any larger than the thumbnail)

skunk works · #85 (**permalink**) June 21st, 2008, 09:59 PM

still more

skunk works · #86 (**permalink**) June 21st, 2008, 10:01 PM

still

skunk works · #87 (**permalink**) June 21st, 2008, 10:02 PM

and still

skunk works · #88 (**permalink**) June 21st, 2008, 10:04 PM

and, still

skunk works · #89 (**permalink**) June 21st, 2008, 10:05 PM

still more

skunk works · #90 (**permalink**) June 21st, 2008, 10:07 PM

more yet

skunk works · #91 (**permalink**) June 21st, 2008, 10:09 PM

skunk works · #92 (**permalink**) June 21st, 2008, 10:10 PM

and and