I need a good WWII 101st ABN historian/reenactor?

Question

So this is just a small question always on my mind when playing Brothers In Arms,or watching Band Of Brothers,or etc.So it's just always something that gets me.Did more paratroopers camouflage their helmets with burlap,or not camo them at all.Like in Brothers in Arms ,which is based off of real pictures and journals, more guys have just the helmet net,but in Band of Brothers everyone has camo on their helmet.I've looked at pictures online and in books I have and it seems like it depended on what stick you were in or company or regiment so on so forth,like in some pictures of a stick everyone has a camouflaged helmet and in another no one does.I know this is a small detail but it's just always on my mind!Oh and I'm not asking about 82nd,strictly 101st.

Answer 1

Good question and about good games and TV series and book. Those things varied depending on the unit SOPs and then once a paratrooper hit the ground on the situation and/or also his individual preference. After D-Day you would see a big change in uniforms and in the 82nd who had been in combat 1 1/2 year before the 101st.

Real unit pics from WW2

http://www.ww2-airborne.us/units/506/506...

Reenactors you can ask with pics. These guys spend all their time researching and wearing this stuff. Me, I just asked the actual vets whenever we had "All-American Week" every year at Bragg or went to the 82nd ABN Museum or just thumbed through any of the dozens of books I have. But with the 'Net now, your lucky noways:

http://www.able506.com/

http://www.506pirhqco.org/uniform01.html

http://www.506th-pir.org/

http://www.airborne101st.com/

Answer 2

Ask these guys, they know their stuff!

http://www.506thrps.com/

Answer 3

Everyone of these movies and shows has a military advisor. And that advisor tries to keep things realistic and accurate. But, you also have to weigh the concerns of the director, the cinematographer and the camera operator when it comes to how the helmets and equipment look on film So, some historical accuracy may have to fall victim to the dictates of the art form. Sometimes the "goof" is the result of not having the right props or material to work with. The movie "Platoon" is a classic example. Even though the movie was about an Army platoon, all of the radio chatter heard was using terms that only the Marines used in radio transmissions. That happened because the military advisor, Dale Dye, only had tapes of Marine radio chatter to work with.