Para Smock Identification

[Stormfighter]

Can anyone tell me what model para smock this soldier is wearing? This photo was taken in Germany in April 1944. Any other comments about this soldier's gear would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Barry

[besslein]

looks like green m40 "step in " smock btw nice photo

[Larry F.]

Very nice photo for sure!

Is it a M38 "Green" Step In (no pockets) or M40? Looks like an M38 to me.

He's also got a gasmask around his neck, jump gloves, and what looks like elbow pads in his belt.

Best,

Larry

[David Fettes]

Is that an army breast eagle poking out or are my eyes getting bad?

[B. Dietz]

Thoughts on what is behind his left hand. Knee pads or the other elbow pad?

[Stormfighter]

Thanks guys, keep the comments coming. Through everyone's PMs and e-mails, I have learned that the smock is an M 38 since it clearly has no pockets. I will be able to post a better scan of this photo next week. By the way, this soldier (whose name I will reveal once I know it) served with the Stab (Headquarters) of the III./FJR 6. This photo was taken when he attended jump school before he was stationed in Rougeval, southwest of Carentan, where he served directly under Horst Trebes who had a very eventful and tragic military career and was killed during the fighting at Normandy. Does anyone perhaps know which jump school the soldiers of FJR 6 were trained at in the spring of 1944? Or did they attend various jump schools?

[R.Howard]

I think FJR6 was trained at Köln-Wahn

[Willi Z.]

I think FJR6 was trained at Köln-Wahn

That is a Truppenübungsplatz where the 2nd FJD trained after they left Russia in May of 1944. FJR6 was already in France, but I am not sure where they received their jump training.

Nice photo Barry! It does appear to be a M38 smock. I think it is a Luftwaffe eagle.

[falls1944]

Hi,

Very nice photo . But i doubt that she was taken in Normandy. The architecture of the house is not Norman. The closure also. It seems to be in Germany, IMO.
I know only 2 jump school in Normandy : FLERS (1943) and DREUX (1944) but not for the FJR6 .

Thanks, David

[Stormfighter]

David, the photo was doubtlessly taken in Germany. I did some more researh and it turns out that R.Howard is correct, FJR 6 was trained in Köln-Wahn, which I believe was not a paratrooper school, but a training area. Thus, the photo above was without a doubt taken in Köln-Wahn sometime in the spring of 1944.

[Willi Z.]

Barry, thanks for the additional information. I knew FJRs 2 and 7 trained there.