What weapons were issued to pilots, whether it be American, Japanese, or German? (1 Viewer)

[special ed]

Although not actually involving pilots hand guns, my late brother in law was in charge of the firearms property room of a large city and had to dispose of some firearms depending on circumstances. This meant crushing in a large hydraulic press. As he liked firearms, he would strip the parts and crush only the frame with the serial number. On occasion, Feds would want something crushed and it had to be observed. One day, he was rather quiet and I asked why. He said the Federal Reserve Bank sent over an M-16 and five old Winchester parkerized shotguns (WW1 era) in perfect shape, apparently unused that had to be completely crushed.

 

[MIflyer]

In the movie Kong Skull island there is a combat between a Japanese fighter pilot and an American Mustang pilot. When they both have to take to their chutes they continue it on the ground. The American had Model 1911 .45 and the Japanese had a Mauser Model C96 "broomhandle." When I saw that I thought, "What? Couldn't the prop people find a Nabu pistol?" But later read about combat on Guadalcanal I discovered that the C96 was indeed a favorite of Japanese pilots.

 

[Hardrada55]

In the movie Kong Skull island there is a combat between a Japanese fighter pilot and an American Mustang pilot. When they both have to take to their chutes they continue it on the ground. The American had Model 1911 .45 and the Japanese had a Mauser Model C96 "broomhandle." When I saw that I thought, "What? Couldn't the prop people find a Nabu pistol?" But later read about combat on Guadalcanal I discovered that the C96 was indeed a favorite of Japanese pilots.

Some kind of large capacity 7.65mm Spanish made Browning clone, maybe a 20 shot Plus Ultra, or a 12 shot Royal.

 

[R Leonard]

My father was aboard Yorktown (CV-5) in VF-42 when the ship went west in December 1941. Up through Midway his issue sidearm was a 1911A1. When his next squadron, VF-11, went to Guadalcanal in April 1943 he was, again, issued a 1911-A1. I have his hand-made shoulder holster around here somewhere, this from his trip to the Solomons.

 

[Joe Broady]

The TV series Forensic Files has an episode on the murder of a former waist gunner in his home. When the killer was caught, there was a most unusual pistol in his possession. It was an ex-GI .45 auto with an obliterated serial number and magazine filled with antique cartridges headstamped UMC. The killer's partner said were burgling the home and thought nobody was home. Then the old man came downstairs with his pistol. Afterward they found the gun was loaded but he hadn't chambered a round.

A detective said the victim's son told him the aircrew all kept their guns - just scratched out the serials and took the guns home. Huh? When I was in the USAF (decades later), stuff issued to us was accountable. For instance, when I was assigned to a northern base I got a parka. But it had to be turned in when I left the base. I guess in the big war a little thing like a pistol was too trifling to worry about.

 

[MIflyer]

A friend of mine celebrated his 18th birthday on VE day and joined the Merchant Marine. He was assigned to an LST carrying a number of half tracks to support the invasion of Japan. In the cab of each half track there was a Thompson and when it became obvious during the voyage that there would be no assault invasion of Japan, he tried to figure out how to "liberate" on the Thompsons for his own use. So he hid one in a funnel but never had the opportunity to retrieve it. He wondered if when that LST went to the mothball fleet that gun was still there.