After Operation Dragoon, between September and late November 1944, the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion was moved to the Maritime Alps to secure the right or eastern flank of the 7th Army. The former jungle experts of Panama conducted alpine and ski patrols against German opposition on a 35-mile front in the mountains of France. ToContinue reading “The 551st PIB in the Maritime Alps”
Author Archives: BAP45
From the Footlocker: Korean War Flight Suit
Here is a little something from my grandfathers time in the Marine Air Corps. After WWII he stayed in the reserves and was called up for Korea. He never ended up being deployed to Korea but managed to keep his helmet and flight suit from the training. My grandmother relayed to me one time thatContinue reading “From the Footlocker: Korean War Flight Suit”
Ghost Stories
In the spirit of Halloween let’s hear your creepy tales. It doesn’t have to be a ghost story can be as simple as that crackhead making some super sketchy comments to you. What ever you got lets hear them! To get you started I’ll give you one of mine. Maybe it was something maybe itContinue reading “Ghost Stories”
Machete Restoration
Got a Vietnam name era machete finally but it was pretty rusty. Not so bad as to be a major problem but nasty. So I got a jug of vinegar and poured it in a big tub enough to cover the blade.I swished the vinegar into the scabbard to make sure it got anything insideContinue reading “Machete Restoration”
Original Inchon Landing Color Footage.
Came across some original (not colorized) footage from the Inchon landings and the day or two after. 71 years ago today actually.
When Guns Are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Have Swords
In that near perfect utopia of the Bay Area California where guns are so regulated as to might as well be jolly old England or Canada a woman has lost her lost head. Figuratively and literally this time. Figuratively for dating and having a kid with a winner such as this. And literally when theContinue reading “When Guns Are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Have Swords”
Steyr Hahn Restoration
Here’s something a little different today. A restoration of an absolutely nasty Model 1912 Steyr Hahn pistol. I’m sure some of you on here will have better methods of restoration but this was thill an interesting watch.
Weaponsman: The Rise and Fall of the Halftrack
As a kid in the sixties, you couldn’t get away from ’em. Turn on Combat with Vic Morrow, and there’d be one in every few episodes, hauling American infantry up to the point where they’d start walking. A couple years later, The Rat Patrol stuck German Balkankreuz symbols on them and made ’em the bad guys. Around that time, they made the TVContinue reading “Weaponsman: The Rise and Fall of the Halftrack”
Let’s Make a Kid Carrier
I have wanted one of those kid carrying backpacks for a while, but I’m also not about to drop $200 on something that I might only use a handful of times. So being the cheapskate that I am I made a kid carrier for our most recent trip. I used an ALICE pack frame andContinue reading “Let’s Make a Kid Carrier”
551st PIB In Southern France Recreation
After the Instagram vote I set out to do a project on the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion. It was originally just going to be a static display with a few carbine pouches but I was having enough fun with it that I decided to do a full to do with it. Brace yourself, it’s aboutContinue reading “551st PIB In Southern France Recreation”