165th Signal Photo Company, Det. P, 5th ESB, D+1

[parsonsjacket]

Here are some photos of myself dressed in the gear of a Signal Corps photographer of Detachment P of the 165th Signal Photographic Company, attached to the 5th Engineer Special Brigade, circa D+1.

First off, i must apologize for the background... fall in Maine looks nothing like June in Normandy, and i was working around watching my daughter for the day (this is how i spent her naptime, haha), so i took these in our office.

second, i must admit i should have an assault gas mask for this impression. i know this, i don't have one, so please overlook this. And i believe jump boots may have been more appropriate, but i don't have those either. and on the slating board, i have "det. X" when it should be "Det. P" but i'd painted it this way to be somewhat generic. and i should have a Speed Graphic, but all i have is my Argus C3. please overlook these issues, but let me know what you think otherwise.

i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff46/parsonsjacket/My%20D-day%20Impression/100_3828.jpg

i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff46/parsonsjacket/My%20D-day%20Impression/100_3830.jpg

i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff46/parsonsjacket/My%20D-day%20Impression/100_3835.jpg

i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff46/parsonsjacket/My%20D-day%20Impression/100_3837.jpg

i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff46/parsonsjacket/My%20D-day%20Impression/100_3853.jpg

Documentation:

i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff46/parsonsjacket/My%20D-day%20Impression/6thESBphotogs.jpg

i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff46/parsonsjacket/My%20D-day%20Impression/100_0840.jpg

my crappy version:
i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff46/parsonsjacket/My%20D-day%20Impression/6thESBphotogs2.jpg

some gratuitous "after-action" shots with goggles and captured binocs:

i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff46/parsonsjacket/My%20D-day%20Impression/100_3850.jpg

i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff46/parsonsjacket/My%20D-day%20Impression/100_3847.jpg

i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff46/parsonsjacket/My%20D-day%20Impression/100_3846.jpg

i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff46/parsonsjacket/My%20D-day%20Impression/100_3842.jpg

thanks for any comments you may have!

[Schiller]

Looks good *thumbsup*

[redjoshman]

I would ditch the M-44 Goggles. If you have to wear goggles I would go with the M-38 Poloroid Goggles. Otherwise you look good.

-Josh

[165thspc]

Nice Job, Matthew!

FYI -- Jumpboots would mostly likely NOT have been appropriate -- unless these guys came in with the airborne troops, they probably didn't have them.

[williegford]

Nov 5, 2009 1:18:20 GMT -5 165thspc said:

Nice Job, Matthew!

FYI -- Jumpboots would mostly likely NOT have been appropriate -- unless these guys came in with the airborne troops, they probably didn't have them.

Unless I'm missing something I don't see jump boots. I see service shoes with leggings. But it wouldn't necessarily be wrong if he was wearing jump boots. Jump boots were not just issued to airborne troops. Rangers had them, some of the engineering battalions had them, there were even guys in the 29th division who had been part of the disbanded 29th Rangers that landed on Omaha with jump boots.
I agree with Josh to ditch the goggles on the helmet. I've seen a couple of photo's of WWII GI's wearing them but it looks to much like a modern practice to me. I think of a street patrol in Iraq when I see it, not Omaha Beach.
Just my 2 cents.
Other then that, you look great!

Bill

[redjoshman]

From photographs of the Navy ESB on the beaches the most common footwear, by far, appears to be M1942 Jump Boot. According to "Spearheading D-Day" by Johnathan Gawne, the ESBs were issued these boots.

It seems the 1st, 5th, and 6th ESBs did not wear goggles, except for the occasional M-43 Dust Goggles(also called Eyeshields).

The only unit in Normandy that seems to wear goggles on their helmet in any number is the 1st Infantry Division:
i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn24/redjoshman/Original%20Photos/Army/Infantry/1st%20Infantry%20Division/396403924The1STDivisionpreparesitse.jpg

I would highly recomend getting the above mentioned book as it has allot of great informantion that is very helpful for doing any U.S., D-Day, non Airborne, Impression.

P.S. It is to late now but it appears your ESB badge on your helmet is a little to big(it might just be the angle of the photograph).


-Josh

[parsonsjacket]

hey guys, thanks for the comments...

as far as the footwear, i agree that either would be correct, though i'd lean towards jump boots due to the instances of assault troops (particularly ESB troops, to which Det. P was attached) being issued or obtaining jump boots, ostensibly to reduce sand inside the boots?

about the goggles, i'll conceed this round, i should have grabbed my polaroid dust goggles instead

and for the patch on the helmet, i only traced an actual patch, which i figured would be an authentically possible method of doing it.

thanks again, i may post side and rear photos someday if i get the time to take some.

[T-5.Flibble]

Looking very good,

This is an impression I want to put together as well. Already have the patch, just need the helmet markings

There is a Technical Manual for the Argus C-3, but I'm not sure it was actually issued in big numbers, it could definitely have been carried as a personal camera.
In the group photo they're carrying Speed Graphics, Leicas and Bell & Howell Eyemo (or perhaps a filmo) cameras.

Anyway, well done!

Regards,
Rick