187th ARCT 2nd Bn helmet

[sgtdorango]

I recently picked up this beauty on ebay, its a 187th ARCT 2nd Battalion M1C with yellow painted insignia on both sides, i have been researching 50s era 11th AB tac marked helmets and from some period black and white pics of the 187th in Korea, some insignia look gray and some look bright white, im thinking the gray insignia could be yellow as Ive heard of the markings sometimes being yellow and white....here it is along side my 187th HQ helmet....will post some period pics too....thanks....mike

[Rakkasan187]

Mike,

looks great, glad you won it, save one for me will ya...

Leigh

[VALERY226]

Bonsoir,

Great! Great!


I exchanged few letters with a former Rakkasan who served in Japan during the last year before the move to Fort Campbell, circa 48-49. Answering to my silly questions, he wrote that helmets received yellow marks.

I noticed that many liners received the 11th Airborne division marks on the both sides.

Congatulations

Cheers

Valery

[cookie]

Interestingly enough the same markings were used by the 515th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 13th US Airborne Division during 1944-47. They were the same half circle with I, II or III divides to denote the 3 infantry battalions. They were painted white. The HQ units had a solid half circle.

Nice helmets.

[sgtdorango]

Thanks guys!...i appreciate the kind words and input as there are only a small amount of people who are interested and know about these markings etc...very interesting info cookie, im always looking for info and pics about this era..late WWII-50s era.....where did you find this info and are there any pics that you know of if you dont mind me asking, i'd like to learn more and i am working on a future book about late WWII-50s era airborne tac marked jump helmets....thanks...mike

[cookie]

Mike,

I bought 'Shoulder Patch of the 13th Airborne Division' by the Turner Publishing Company in 1989. I think it was first published in 1946. It's usually available from Amazon.com or other specialist booksellers. It is basically a yearbook, like from college or highschool and features hundreds of portraits, group shots and location shots taken by the men of the division. There are a number of shots of the 515th at various airbases, preparing to jump, or on parade. They have the half circles painted on in most shots, but not all. They also wore two arm flags, instead of just one...
With regard to the half circles I tried to find an officer, or group of officers and NCO's who served in both the 515th and the 187th ARCT but couldn't find any so couldn't work out where the relation was. Was it a standardised thing in the 50's? I didn't see it on the 11th AB in Japan.

I'll scan some photos tomorrow when I get in from work.

[VALERY226]

Bonsoir,

I think the half circles for the 187th were adopted during the last year in Japan. But I noticed that the 11th A/B were still painted on some steel pots during the operation Swarmer in May 1950. In the other hand, during the exercise, half circles from different Bns could be largely observed.

I noticed that the Co A, 88th Airborne Anti-aircraft Artillery Bn (part of the 187th RCT since 7/29/50) worn an hollowed white (?) circle on the side during the first tour of the ARCT in Korea. However I could see only a picture of this mark, if you have seen it before...

Cheers

Valery

[cookie]

515th PIR, Auxerre, France, 1945...

[sgtdorango]

Bonsoir,

I think the half circles for the 187th were adopted during the last year in Japan. But I noticed that the 11th A/B were still painted on some steel pots during the operation Swarmer in May 1950. In the other hand, during the exercise, half circles from different Bns could be largely observed.

I noticed that the Co A, 88th Airborne Anti-aircraft Artillery Bn (part of the 187th RCT since 7/29/50) worn an hollowed white (?) circle on the side during the first tour of the ARCT in Korea. However I could see only a picture of this mark, if you have seen it before...

Cheers

Valery

Hi Valery....in some of my yearbooks it looks like the 188th used the solid white half circle, maybe after the 187th stopped using it the 188th took it over?.....i havent seen those pics of the 88th AAA....i have lots of pics and info on the many tac marks but it looks like i have lots to learn!!....thanks....mike

[sgtdorango]

[QUOTE=cookie;4752895]515th PIR, Auxerre, France, 1945...
Cookie those are great pics and info about the 13th AB and the 515th!!...i just searchd around the internet and that book is pretty hard to find and quite pricey when you can find one for sale!.....i would like to learn more about the 13th AB and their markings!!!....thanks....mike

[cookie]

Hi Mike,

Unfortunately there are very few sources of information and photographs on the 13th AB and the 515th PIR. I think this is due to their not having participated in any of the airborne operations in WWII. The book has lots of photos but they are of a poor quality as you can see.