Photo of fully equiped fallschirmjäger with MP38/40

[shellmac]

Hi,

I recently bought this imho nice photo of the fully equiped fallschirmjäger. It seems he has over his shoulder hanged MP38 or MP40, cause he also has one MP40 pouch on his belt. As you can see he has also mapcase, P08 holster, gas mask bag and early boots and seems also early helmet cover. My two questions are:

1) From what area and year could be this photo?
2) And what is written on the back of the photo, cause i cant read it.

Thanks to all for opinions

Jiri


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[David B.]

FJ Photo

Nice Photo! Thanks for posting. DJB

[oberjaeger]

many thanks Jiri, great picture.....

[bergler]

The writing:

Für Meister Blase, Willibald

For master Blaster, Willibald ;-)

[Sergey K.]

Perfect example how your mannequin should be dressed. Whish I had same one 😁

[shellmac]

Perfect example how your mannequin should be dressed. Whish I had same one 😁

Agree with you Sergey, would like to have also one like this

[GHP]

Mp-40 ... ever so slightly off-topic.

Here's another paratrooper with an MP-40.

My dad, RVN, May 1966. He got the "Schmeisser" in a trade, and got some 9mm rounds from the CIA who operated outside Camp Widder (An Loc). In his only action with the MP-40, an ambush, he jupmed up and pulled the trigger ... and only one round discharged; jammed!

After the ambush he found out the CIA had given him .380 instead of 9mm parabellum. He ended up trading the MP40 for some plywood to expand the camp's club.

[Jeff V]

Good stuff guys! Love that story of your dad GHP!

[Matt M]

Here's another paratrooper with an MP-40.

My dad, RVN, May 1966. He got the "Schmeisser" in a trade, and got some 9mm rounds from the CIA who operated outside Camp Widder (An Loc). In his only action with the MP-40, an ambush, he jupmed up and pulled the trigger ... and only one round discharged; jammed!

After the ambush he found out the CIA had given him .380 instead of 9mm parabellum. He ended up trading the MP40 for some plywood to expand the camp's club.

That Photo is Priceless
A Bygone Era in the U.S. Army

Thanks for posting it

[GHP]

That Photo is Priceless
A Bygone Era in the U.S. Army

Thanks for posting it

Thanks, “bygone era” is right. He originally served in the 77th as a sergeant first class (from the 505 PIR) in 1954 or so. In his team was a Finnish corporal named “Larry Thorne.” Dad was about the only native-English speaker. Later years they both were commissioned. Dad was in RVN when Thorne’s chopper went down; his final SF assignment was as Training Group’s S-4 under LTC Aito Keravuori in 1968 before being assigned to advise the Thai 11th Regiment (King’s Bodyguard).

You might have heard of Lauri Torni / Larry Thorne and Aito Keravuori?

— Guy