I had at least Eight Uncles and Great Uncles who fought during World War 2 and I may have had others as well. Two were killed in Action, One died of his wounds after the war and two others received various wounds. I am fortunate to have some materials from their service including numerous photos from one uncles which I allowed the US Army Military Police Museum to make copies of my negatives. These show military personnel wearing a wide variety uniform combinations and some good photos of equipment and markings. In addition some photos of Mustangs and B-17s with their nicknames can be seen. I have not included comments on individual photos since you cannot verify them in a book.

In the Unit History book of the 346th Infantry Regiment of the 87th Infantry Division, of Patton's Third Army, I found several interesting photos.

There are photos of Generals Patton, Middleton (Corps Cdr) and Culin (Div Cdr) in the front.

Pg 10. A.30 cal MGis deployed in a farmhouse window in the Metz. There are several pages of training photos which shows a variety of uniforms and activities.

Pgs 23-25 shows winter uniforms 'in the St Hubert area of the "Bulge" operation. Some men wear parkas but most wear just overcoats and helmets. One photo shows German POWs helping to free a stuck jeep. A second photo shows an engineer section clearing land mines in the snow. Despite the cold the men digging up the mines have removed their gloves.

Pg26. General Goerge Patton is shown (on Jan 30, 1945) riding in a gunjeep. Considering his reputation for sharp appearance, I view this as a rare photo. He wears a wool toboggan under his steel helmet. His outer garment is a hooded parka with rank straps and gloves. His pants appear to be of the rubberized wet weather type. The MG on the back is a .30 cal. The Gunner is a high ranking officer apparently wearing a non-regulation coat with a fur parka hood.

Pg 28. Halftracks are leaving a village and are overloaded with troops. In the rear halftrack, sixteen men are clearly visible, not including the driver. Two are on the hood and three are riding with legs over the side.

Pg 29. Shows an amphibious river crossing. The basic landing craft is carrying a thirty man load and they are tightly packed.

Pg 33. A machine gunner is prone among heavy debris in Koblenz firing a snipers. It is unusaul because he is firing a water-cooled MG. He also wears a unique helmet covering/neck flap on the back of his helmet. It appears to be a uniform colored cloth (neckerchief, banket strip?) extending over the entire helmet and secured by being tucked between the helmet and the liner.

Pg 34. More scenes of street clearing operation in Koblenz. Three men are shown. Two with rifles and one with a tommy gun. Two if the three wear the unique helmet covering which extends into a back neck flap.

Pg 35. A pontoon bridge on the Rhine is shown with four tanks and two jeeps crossing at extended intervals.

More Unique Facts of World War II Uniforms

Introduction
US Army Pictorial Record: Mediterranean
US Army Pictorial Record: Germany and France
VFW Pictorial Record: Germany
VFW Pictorial Record: Japan
US Army Pictorial Record: Japan
346th Regt, 87th Inf Div, US Third Army: Additional Notes