French Indochina era?

[weinsoldner]

A few years ago I bought a photo lot of pictures belonging to a german WW2 para. Among these pics was also this photo that I believe shows French para's. This is not realy my field of expertise but due to the different clothing and camouflage styles I thought it might be a French Indochina photo??

All comments are welcome.

Regards
peter

[zvezdah1]

WOnderful photo and certainly looks like indochina period, some of our experts will no doubt be able to confirm, Herle ? Valery?

Chris

[VALERY226]

You're sharing us a very interesting photo. Even if it's not fully accurate, I could date this picture from the late stage of the Indochina war till the early years of the Algeria war.
Most of the paratroopers wear TAP 47/52 airborne sets and TAP Mod 50 equipments. It is interesting to note that pistol belts are TAP50/53 with the large RAPCO style belt buckle. These belts appear in the late months of 1953 in Indochina and only few units (like the TAP 47/52 sets) received it. Two paratroopers wear US WWII camo localy made beret. That's for me a little bit mysterious. It credits the Indochina thesis (even if some scarce examples in US camo material still appear during the Algeria war). This type of headgear was widely used in the Groupement Aéroporté Nord (Northern Airborne Group).
The man with the camo beret wears a pair of trousers from a different style than the others (without front pockets). It could be a 47/51 or 52 with removed pockets or a 47/53 scarcely and lately used in Indochina (I trust more this assesssment). This last detail gives sense to time frame extended till the early years of the Algeria war.
Hope it could help
Cheers
Valery

[weinsoldner]

replies

Thank you Valery for the huge amount of information you give.
As I said this is not my field of interest since I collect photos of KC and/or GC holders. If I understand your estimate correctly you think this photo was taken at the end of the french indochina war or in the beginning of the algerian war?

regards
Peter

[weinsoldner]

maybe a close up will help?

regards
Peter

[VALERY226]

Thank you Valery for the huge amount of information you give.
As I said this is not my field of interest since I collect photos of KC and/or GC holders. If I understand your estimate correctly you think this photo was taken at the end of the french indochina war or in the beginning of the algerian war?

regards
Peter

You're right! Is it the only picture from this era?
Cheers
Valery

[weinsoldner]

Yes Valery this is the only picture I have from this era.

Regards
Peter

[kammo man]

This is a great shot .
owen