my uncle Cpt Joe Hilsman was in April 1945 a Thompson carrying MD with 5th Rangers,
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my uncle Cpt Joe Hilsman was in April 1945 a Thompson carrying MD with 5th Rangers,Sorry being an old cynical bastard, but
- Name of the "Uncle" is not revealed. In his place I would say it in every post in bold letters.
- No unit or rank is revealed.
-"Nazi people whose homes and belongings they seized for war reparations"
I think it did not work that way, unless you are talking about looting.
I do - the P-51D-5-NA 44-14434 OSZ Maria was belly landed. Sent to Service Group Hanger and modified for two place.Great info, thank you. Your pics look like a 2-seat P51 that dad an uncle are in. I see other discussion about 2-seat mustangs on another post in this thread. I don't know about other nations' use of P51 and mod to 2-seater. I have read the USA made a TP/TF-51D that was a trainier. Do you know the background of the 2-seater in your pics?
Sorry being an old cynical bastard, but
- Name of the "Uncle" is not revealed. In his place I would say it in every post in bold letters.
- No unit or rank is revealed.
-"Nazi people whose homes and belongings they seized for war reparations"
I think it did not work that way, unless you are talking about looting.
The Corsair could engage in air combat anywhere on earth, including almost anywhere on the 70 percent of the planet's surface covered by water!I'm curious which of these were better in the air to air role and why.
Bill, a few sidebars:Dr. Joseph H. Hilsman Jr., 102: Medicine was WWII vet’s lifelong love
Joseph Hilsman knew at a very young age that he wanted to be a doctor, and he never wavered. He pursued that goal through medical school at Vanderbilt University and as a U.S. Army medical officer on World War II battlefields who participated in liberating the Buchenwald concentration camp...www.ajc.com
I may have gotten Dachau confused with Buchenwald - but maybe one of us was confused when he interviewd for the article.
He was at Vanderbilt U at same time as my father, although they did not meet until 1945, two years afer my father married his youngest sister.
I stated Cpt, 5th Rangers. Attached is his picture. Note railroad trcks on shoulder, Ranger patch upper left arm
He didn't speak of 'picking up' souveniers or reparations, but he still had an MG 42 and MP 44 and two Lugers and a Walther that he smuggled home. Still had them last time I saw him in 1996. I was not overly close to my cousins but I loved him.
I never fired either but do have time on M2 and the MG42 knock off - the M-60. IIRC the ROF for the M-60 was about 1/2 MG42.Bill, a few sidebars:
In 1964 during a cross-country train trip (I was much younger then) I struck up a conversation with a D-Day vet on or about the 20th anniversary. He said throughout training "they" were told that We have The Best of Everything. "I believed that up to the high tide mark on Omaha Beach where I realized our MGs went rat-a-tat and theirs went BRRRRRRT.
I have some trigger time on a coupla 42s. Bipod technique matters for dispersion downrange. The 1200 rpm cyclic was one reason why German infantry squads were the reverse of ours: We used MGs to support the riflemen. They used riflemen to support the MGs--according to competent sources.
BUT
The MP.44 (aka "Schmeisser") remains well up my Ballistic Bucket List.
As I understand it, the Germans on D-Day ran out of ammunition on their rapid firing MGs despite being in defensive positions with a lot of ammunition. A soldier assaulting from a boat would run out even quicker since they only had what was carried.Bill, a few sidebars:
In 1964 during a cross-country train trip (I was much younger then) I struck up a conversation with a D-Day vet on or about the 20th anniversary. He said throughout training "they" were told that We have The Best of Everything. "I believed that up to the high tide mark on Omaha Beach where I realized our MGs went rat-a-tat and theirs went BRRRRRRT.
I have some trigger time on a coupla 42s. Bipod technique matters for dispersion downrange. The 1200 rpm cyclic was one reason why German infantry squads were the reverse of ours: We used MGs to support the riflemen. They used riflemen to support the MGs--according to competent sources.
BUT
The MP.44 (aka "Schmeisser") remains well up my Ballistic Bucket List.
I heard the same, That said, a LOT of rounds 'connected' at Omaha Beach.As I understand it, the Germans on D-Day ran out of ammunition on their rapid firing MGs despite being in defensive positions with a lot of ammunition. A soldier assaulting from a boat would run out even quicker since they only had what was carried.
I thank the gods I was not involved in anything like that in my life. From what I understand of the planning, the worst case scenario saw heavier losses than those suffered at Omaha on all the landing grounds.I heard the same, That said, a LOT of rounds 'connected' at Omaha Beach.
I heard the same, That said, a LOT of rounds 'connected' at Omaha Beach.
I agree BAR. Loved to shoot it, but carry it? not so much. I also liked the M-14 better than the Mouse Gun.We were allowed to fire the BAR, M-14 (not full auto-causes excessive barrel wear) and the M-60. My favorite is the BAR, chunka-chunka-chunka, because it goes right where you point it. They all used the same ammo as my assigned M-1 Garand.
I literally teared up each time I visited - same at Matingly and Liege.
I don't know how true it is but I've read of one MG42 gunner who shot off 12,000 rounds during the D day landings, they would have needed barrels as well as ammo, again I don't know how true it is but wooden practise rounds were in the belts also.As I understand it, the Germans on D-Day ran out of ammunition on their rapid firing MGs despite being in defensive positions with a lot of ammunition. A soldier assaulting from a boat would run out even quicker since they only had what was carried.
I saw a documentary that involved an interview with a German gunner from a beach "pill box" they ran out of barrels and ammunition and the support crews were knackered carrying barrels ammunition and water to cool the barrels. The pill box itself was full of spent cases.I don't know how true it is but I've read of one MG42 gunner who shot off 12,000 rounds during the D day landings, they would have needed barrels as well as ammo, again I don't know how true it is but wooden practise rounds were in the belts also.
We can't imagine what either side experienced on that day.I saw a documentary that involved an interview with a German gunner from a beach "pill box" they ran out of barrels and ammunition and the support crews were knackered carrying barrels ammunition and water to cool the barrels. The pill box itself was full of spent cases.
Uncle Joe has liberated himself a very nice German Barnac Leica in that top photo!Interestingly (?) my uncle Cpt Joe Hilsman was in April 1945 a Thompson carrying MD with 5th Rangers, when they 'liberated' Dachau. They were, according to him, so horrified that they rounded up all remaining SS in the camp and shot them. He mentioned to me his regret afterwards because he suspected the really bad actors had 'departed in Haste' as Pattons forces were closing in.
Joe Hilsman was one of the most prominent 'Gut man' at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta and continued as a consultant until he was in his 90's.
The images below are around Gablingen post VE Day when my father was 355th CO and both he and his brother in law were about to come home.
Circa Sept 1945. 5th Ranger Btn was nearby.
I'm not exactly sure what the dress code of the day was in front of 5th Rangers, but it would have difficult to identify my father as a Group Commander or have a clue regarding who was suppsed to salute first.
The image with dad in cockpit has Joe about to climb in, then he next shot is on taxi way
View attachment 738217View attachment 738216View attachment 738218View attachment 738219
That picture was taken near Gablingen approximately September 1945. Might have been librated with cash - or services, he was a very good surgeon by reputation.Uncle Joe has liberated himself a very nice German Barnac Leica in that top photo!