Painting U.S Airborne Miniatures, 1942-1945
A Guide for miniatures in all
scales.
I.
Purpose
I have seen the question “what color should I paint my...”
appear many times online in modeling and gaming groups. My purpose is to provide a painter/modeler
with the background to make their own choices in creating something that is
correct for their shelf or tabletop. Well intentioned people with great
research skills and personal knowledge will argue passionately about what is
historically appropriate (without reaching agreement). At the end of the day,
you and your friends will be the judge of what is accurate for your
gaming/modeling universe. I hope this proves useful in providing historical and
technical background that allows you to make the choices that satisfy your
modeling/gaming needs.
II.
Introduction & History
The United States’ experimentation with Airborne combat began
officially on 25 June, 1940, as the French were signing the instrument of
surrender in a rail car in Compiegne. On that day, the Commandant at Fort
Benning, GA received classified orders from the Adjutant General in Washington.
He was to provide from the 29th Infantry Regiment stationed at Fort
Benning, a platoon of volunteers. From this Test Platoon, the story of the US
Airborne begins. By September of that year, the 501st Parachute
Battalion was formed. By June 5th, 1944, U.S. Airborne forces had
expanded to five full Airborne Divisions.
III. PIR:
Regiments, Timelines and Variations
Over the course of 4 years, the US Airborne went through many
TO&E changes. Regiments added and removed, basic uniforms and equipment
updated. This occurred at different times for different regiments, and does not
include significant individual differences between units. There is never a
single answer to “what did they wear”; it is always affected by what regiment
(and in some cases, battalion), when and where. The lists below reflect the
typical organization in theater, with exceptions as noted. The specifics of
each uniform variant are discussed in section IV.
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Rgt/
Btn
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Division
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Activated
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Campaigns
/ Battles
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Basic
Uniform
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Notes
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Parachute
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501
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101st Airborne Division
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11/42
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OVERLORD France, MARKET-GARDEN Holland, Belgium, Germany
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6/44 - 8/44 M42 (Reinforced); 9/44-5/45 M43 (rigger modified)
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Reinforced Knees, elbows, pockets in OD #7. Flag brassard on
right shoulder through MARKET-GARDEN. Regt symbols on helmets
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Parachute
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502
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101st Airborne Division
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3/42
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OVERLORD France, MARKET-GARDEN Holland, Belgium, Germany
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6/44 - 8/44 M42 (Reinforced); 9/44-5/45 M43 (rigger modified)
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Reinforced Knees, elbows, pockets in OD #7. Flag brassard on
right shoulder through MARKET-GARDEN. Regt symbols on helmets
|
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Parachute
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503
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None - Not Assigned
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2/42
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New Guinea, Phillipines
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M42 (un-reinforced)
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There are pics of 503 in HBT coveralls, but no company models
that.
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Parachute
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504
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82nd Airborne Division
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2/42
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TORCH North Africa, HUSKY Sicily, Italy, MARKET-GARDEN Holland,
France, Belgium, Germany
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6/44 - 8/44 M42; 9/44-5/45 M43 (rigger modified)
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Flag brassard on right shoulder through MARKET-GARDEN.
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Parachute
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505
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82nd Airborne Division
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7/42
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HUSKY Sicily, Italy, OVERLORD France, MARKET-GARDEN Holland,
Belgium, Germany
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6/44 - 8/44 M42; 9/44-5/45 M43 (rigger modified)
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Flag brassard on right shoulder through MARKET-GARDEN.
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Parachute
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506
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101st Airborne Division
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7/42
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OVERLORD France, MARKET-GARDEN Holland, Belgium, Germany
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6/44 - 8/44 M42 (Reinforced); 9/44-5/45 M43 (rigger modified)
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Reinforced Knees, elbows, pockets in OD #7. Flag brassard on
right shoulder through MARKET-GARDEN. Regt symbols on helmets
|
|
Parachute
|
507
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82nd Airborne Division; 17th Airborne Division
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7/42
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OVERLORD France; transferred to 17th ABN DIV: Belgium, VARSITY
Germany
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6/44 - 8/44 M42; 9/44-5/45 M43 (rigger modified)
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Flag brassard on right shoulder through MARKET-GARDEN.
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Parachute
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508
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82nd Airborne Division
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10/42
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OVERLORD France, MARKET-GARDEN Holland, Belgium, Germany
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6/44 - 8/44 M42; 9/44-5/45 M43 (rigger modified)
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Flag brassard on right shoulder through MARKET-GARDEN.
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Parachute
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509
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Independent
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11/42
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TORCH North Africa, Italy, DRAGOON Southern France, Belgium,
Germany
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TORCH M42, Italy M42,
Dragoon, M42, Belgium, M42
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Some companies had field applied camo of green and black
spray-painted stripes on ther M-42 uniform and helmet. Some of the helmets
continue to be seen later with non-camouflaged uniforms.
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Parachute
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511
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11th Airborne Division
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2/43
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Phillipines
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M42
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|
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Parachute
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513
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17th Airborne Division
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12/42
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Belgium, VARSITY Germany
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M43 (rigger modified)
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Flag brassard on right shoulder for VARSITY
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Parachute
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515
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13th Airborne Division
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12/43
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No Combat
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M43 (rigger modified)
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Parachute
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517
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Independent
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11/42
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Italy, DRAGOON Southern France, Belgium, Germany
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Italy, Primarily camouflage 1 M42; Dragoon Early Mix of 42s and
43a, camouflage 2. Late Dragoon 43s, minority camouflaged. Belgium and beyond
wools, 43 jackets, no camouflage.
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3 color spray-painted stripe camo on uniform and helmet; base
uniform, and irregular sprays of black and green.
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Parachute
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551
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Independent; 13th Airborne Division
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11/42
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DRAGOON Southern France, Belgium
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DRAGOON, M42. Belgium, M43
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Parachute
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555
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Independent
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12/43
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No Combat
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M42
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