An Army Marches on Its Stomach, Unless It's Made of Toy Soldiers

As has been indicated in several of my more recent blogs, I’ve been really hard pressed for new subject matter that would be within the broad theme of the blog, and still be of interest to readers. What seems to occur when you are thinking hard for new subject matter, you get hungry. A quote attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte is “An Army Marches on Its Stomach”. Toy soldiers don’t have to eat, but their designers, manufacturers, purveyors and owners do. So, I thought it would be interesting to do a representative survey by nation of the military field rations carried currently by their respective armed forces.

Before exploring current rations thought I would briefly reflect back on their predecessors. Even though as a young boy growing up, with my dad as a Navy lieutenant and instructor with the V-5 Pre-Flight Program for naval aviation cadets at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. I only recall K-rations as a heavily waxed (waterproof) and sealed olive-drab rectangular cardboard box. Couldn’t remember that there were three configurations, breakfast, dinner (lunch), and supper. As you will see there has been quite an evolution from then to the current configuration, which varies from nation to nation. Here are the contents of each, starting with the Breakfast Unit;

Breakfast Unit: canned entree veal(early version), canned chopped ham and eggs (all subsequent versions), biscuits, dextroseor malted milk tablets (early version), dried fruit bar, pre-mixed oatmeal cereal (late version) Halazone water purification tablets, a four-pack of cigarettes, Dentyne or Wrigley chewing gum, instant coffee, a packet of toilet paper tissues, and sugar (granulated, cubed, or compressed).

Dinner Unit: canned entree pork luncheon meat (Form of Spam, early version), canned processed American cheese, Swiss and American cheese, or bacon and cheese (cheese entree all subsequent versions), biscuits, 15 Dextrose or malted milk (diastatic malt)tablets (early) or five caramels (late), sugar (granulated, cubed, or compressed), salt packet, a four-pack of cigarettes and a matchbook, chewing gum, and a powdered beverage packet (lemon (c.1940), orange (c. 1943), or grape (c. 1945) flavor).

Supper Unit: canned meat, consisting of cervelatsausage (early version), either pork luncheon meat with carrot or apple(first issue), beefand pork loaf(second issue); biscuits; a 2-ounce (57 g) D ration ermergency chocolate bar (early version), Tropical bar, or (in temperate climates) commercial sweet chocolate bar (late version), a packet of toilet paper tissues; a four-pack of cigarettes, chewing gum, and a bouillonpacket (cube or powder).

As some may recall K-rations were followed by a series of C-rations. Typical of this series was the Type C-4 ration (circa 1954-1958), precisely the period of time this author was an NROTC Midshipman attending university. Don't remember eating any during the course of amphibious warfare orientation training with the U.S. Marine Corps at Little Creek, VA.

A sample C-4 ration (stamped March 1954) contained: 

• 1 instruction sheet
• 2 cheesebars (1.5 net ounces/43 g net)
• 2 cerealclass 5bars (1.5 net ounces/43 g net)
• 3 type XII style 1enriched chocolate bars(1 ounce/28 g)
• 1 jellybar(2 ounces/56 g)
• 2 Fruit Cake Bars(2 ounces/56 g)
• 3 sticks Topps peppermintchewing gum
• 3 Domino sugarpackets
• 3 Nestea "soluble teaproduct" packets
• 1 packet of pure soluble sugar
• 1 packet of solublecreamproduct
• 1 bottle water purification tablets (iodine)
• 1 plastic bag

The current U.S. military field ration is the Meal, Ready-to-Eat, more commonly referred to as MRE.

General contents may include: 

• Main course (entree)
• Side dish
• Dessertor snack(often commercial candy, fortified pastry, or Soldier Fuel Bar.)
• Crackersor bread
• Spread of cheese, peanut butter, or jelly
• Powderedbeveragemix: fruit flavored drink, cocoa, instant coffeeor tea, sport drink, or dairyshake.
• Utensils(usually just a plastic spoon)
• Flameless ration heater(FRH)
• Beverage mixing bag
• Accessory pack: 
• Xylitolchewing gum
• Water-resistant matchbook
• Napkin / toilet paper
• Moist towelette
• Seasonings, including salt, pepper, sugar, creamer, and/or Tabasco sauce
• Freeze dried coffee powder

The following series are from a current Milan, Italy exhibit "K-RATION" by industrial designer Giulio Iacchetti, and appeared in an article in the UK Daily Mail. Both Mr. Iacchetti and the Daily Mail are duly acknowledged. and gratitude tendered for the use of the images on a non-profit basis. They are representative of the current issue of military field rations from twenty different countries.

The UK ration pack contains: Chicken sausage and beans; Mexican tuna pasta; paella; lemon cake; compote; Oat biscuit; raspberry jam; caramel cereal bar; apricot bar; salted cashews; sweets; hazelnut spread with cocoa; fruit drink; hot chocolate; coffee; coffee whitener; tea; Tabasco; sugar; water purification tablets; paper tissues; matches; chewing gums; wet wipes; spork and a re-usable bag.

The US pack: Vegetarian ratatouille with pasta; hot snack crackers; crackers; almond poppy seed pound cake; peanut butter; tropical punch powder; salt; seasoning blend; sugar; coffee; coffee whitener; chewing gums; wet wipe; matches; toilet paper; plastic spoon; water-activated disposable heaters and a beverage bag.

Denmark: Cereal mix with fruits; pasta with meat sauce; rye bread; biscuits; pate; toothpicks; biodegradable fork-spoon; jam; honey; hazelnut spread; protein bars; isotonic drink; compote; chocolate drink; coffee; tea; matches; raisins; nut mix; chewing gum; sugar; salt; pepper; tomato ketchup; wet wipes and a toothbrush.

France: Beef tortellini; Oriental salad; salmon pate; instant soup; milky dessert; salted and sweet biscuits; coffee; tea; instant chocolate drink; sweets; nougat; fruit jelly; energy bar; muesli; isotonic drink powder; chocolate; jam; tissues; reheating kit; matches and water purification tablets.

Spain: Chicken and pasta instant soup; baked beans with sausages; sardines in vegetable oil; apricot cream; water purification tablets; solid fuel tablets; isotonic drink; chewing gum; matches; stove; papers napkins; toothpaste; hand disinfectant; chocolate with almonds; almond nougat; sesame bar; sweets and isoenergetic gel with vitamins.

Sweden: Yoghurt with breakfast flakes; chicken Rogan josh with rice; meatballs with pasta; sweets; peanut butter; nut cream; chocolate cake; oat biscuits; salted peanuts; honey roasted peanuts; exotic fruit isotonic drink; chocolate drink; chewing gums; wet wipes and coffee.

 Tanzania: Chicken stew; rice; porridge; biscuits; mango drink; orange drink; coffee; tea; sugar; pepper; salt; wet wipe; paper napkin; matches; fuel tablets; water-activated disposable heaters and plastic cutlery.

 Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti's international space station ration pack: Peas' brown rice; champignon mushrooms; mackerel' leek cream; quinoa; dried tomatoes and turmeric chicken.

 Thailand: Yellow soup with fish; jasmine rice; beef with pepper and garlic; chili powder; fish sauce; dried fruits and a plastic spoon.

Estonia: Muesli; whole rye bread; coffee; chicken soup with noodles; dark chocolate with cornflakes and guarana; sweet crackers; toffees; tea; isotonic drink; sugar; salt; pepper; liver pâté; beef goulash; disinfectant wipes; plastic bag and matches.

 Holland: Tea; coffee; coffee whitener; sugar; chocolate drink; jam; fruit jelly; vitamin tablets; instant soups; broth powder; fruit drinks; chocolate biscuits; fruit filled biscuits; meat, fish, vegetable pâté; candied almonds; chocolate; sweets with vitamin C; sweets; sesame bar; sambal; oatmeal block; muesli; meat with peas and potatoes; hot chicken stew; chicken korma; beef and potato hotpot; ham, leeks and potato hotpot; zipper bags; matches; paper tissues; salt; pepper; chewing gums and toothpicks.

 Israel: Chicken meatballs with rice; beef meatballs with rice; beans with tomato sauceRice stuffed grape leaves; vegetarian meal with rice and chickpeas; sweetcorn; green olives; tuna in vegetable oil; chocolate dessert; peanuts; halva; candied fruit mix with pineapple, pawpaw, raisin, and blueberries; plastic bags; tin opener and water-activated disposable heaters.

Italy: Cereal and chocolate bar; fruit jellies; condensed milk; coffee; chocolate; sugar; salt, ravioli with meat sauce; pork in jelly; crackers; fruit salad; multivitamin tablets; bran tablets; pasta and beans; chicken in jelly; energetic bar' toothbrushes; kit for water disinfection; matches; toothpicks; paper rubbish bags; camp stove; fuel bars; napkins; plastic spoon; plastic cutlery.

 Slovenia: Coffee; coffee whitener; tea; vitamin drinks; sugar; vitamin sweets; energy bars; chocolate jam; chocolate muesli with dehydrated milk; dehydrated wild berry yogurt dessert; pasta with porcini; chicken and potato stew; fish and vegetable pâté; tuna in olive oil; bread; chewing gums; disinfectant wipes; can opener; rubbish bag; matches and plastic cutlery.

Lithuania: Beef stew with pearl barley; crackers; almonds; blackcurrant jam; cherry drink with vitamins; chocolate; chicken broth powder; sugar; wet wipe; matches; fuel tablets; water-activated disposable heaters; paper tray; cable tie and plastic spoon.

 New Zealand: Creamy chicken and potatoes; Thai lamb curry; chocolate biscuits; Marmite; tomato ketchup; salt; pepper; sugar; tea; coffee; condensed milk; waterproof matches; chocolate drink; scouring pad; cheese; muesli; isotonic drink; bread; instant soup; plastic bag; peanuts and raisins; chewing gums; chocolate; napkins; onion flakes; sweets; instant noodles; muesli bars and strawberry fruit grains.

 Germany: Ravioli with mushroom sauce; Indian rice with chicken cutlet; bread; biscuits; meat pâté; semolina with fruits; snack; jam; coffee; tea; sugar; coffee whitener; salt; fruit drinks; chocolate; chewing gums; water purification tablets; multipurpose paper; wet wipes and matches.

 Poland: Meat with rice and vegetables; canned pork; biscuits; raspberry jam; lemon tea; dried fruit mix; cereal and fruit bar; chewing gums; sweet with coffee extract; sweet with vitamin C; salt; pepper; plastic lid; napkin; wet wipe; toilet paper; zipper bag; plastic spoon; straw; hooks; water purification tablet and water-activated disposable heaters.

 Russia: Biscuits; Whole-wheat biscuits; beef goulash; salted lard; liver pate; meat pate; beef with buckwheat semolina; meat with peas and carrots; ratatouille, fruit and berry concentrate; cheese spread; jam; compote; chocolate; tea; coffee; coffee whitener; sugar; salt; pepper; multivitamin tablets; chewing gums; sweets; water purification tablets; heater; waterproof matches; disinfectant wipes; paper napkins; plastic spoons and a plastic knife.

Ukraine: Millet flour biscuits; canned meat; canned meat with cereals; canned meat with minced salami; canned fish; jam; tea; sugar; sweets; plastic spoons' paper napkins; disinfectant wipes; meat broth powder; fruit concentrate and multivitamin pills.

Upon closer inspection, and as suspected by both international culinary reputation and Napoleon’s advise, the French military field ration ranks as one of the world’s best.

The name of the ration is called, “Ration de Combat Individuelle Rechauffable” (Combat Ration Individual Reheatable), or RCIR. As previously described each box includes: Main meals x2, Hors d’oeuvre, Soup, Cheese or a Crème dessert, Salted and Sweet crackers x16, Chocolate bar, Package of caramels, Gum, “Breakfast package” (Tea, Coffee, Cocoa, Milk powder, Sugar, etc), Nougat bar, Fruit gelee, Sugar cubes, Paper towels x10, Heating kit with fuel, disposable stove, waste bag and water purification tablets x6, etc. A single ration contains 3200 calories and is intended to provide the nutritional needs for one soldier for one day. RCIRs are delivered in boxes of 12 rations. A single pallete of RCIRS will contain 20 boxes or 240 RCIRs.

1. Soup
2. Cereal bar
3. Chocolate bar
4. Chewing gum
5. Instant cocoa
6. Evaporated milk
7. Coffee (freeze-dried)
8. Stove, esbit tablets, matches
9. Water purification tablet
10. 1st entree
11. 2nd entree
12. Folding paper towels
13. Crackers (salty/sweet)
14. Appetizer
15. Dessert Sugar/sweetener

The Menu variety in 1999 included;

Menu #	Hors d’oeuvre	Main dish A	Main dish B
1	Chicken in Jelly	Beef Salad	Tunny Potatoes
2	Salmon Paté	Salmon Rice Vegetables	Shepherd’s Pie
3	Mackerel Paté	Stewed Beef	While Veal Stew
4	Chicken Liver Paté	Sauté of Rabbit	Chile con Carne
5	Tuna in Sauce	Paella	Stewed Veal “Marengo”
6	Fish Paté	Mutton Stew Flageolets	Stewed Chicken
7	Mackerels in Sauce	Stewed Lamb “Navarin”	Lasagnes
8	Duck Paté	Tuna Salad	Pork and Lentils
9	Liver Paté (Pork)	Earthenware-Dish “Cassoulet”	Cannelloni
10	Pork Paté	Pork and Greens	Stewed Beef and Carrots
11	Pork Paté and Mushrooms	Stewed Pork and Potatoes	Stewed Beef “Bourguignon”
12	Pork Ham Paté	Pork Salad	Seafood “Risotto”
13	Pork Paté	Chicken and Greens “Parisienne”	Sweet and Sour Pork
14	Tuna Fish Paté	Sausage and Lentils	Cockered Stewed in Red Win

The revised Menu in 2004 included:

Menu #	Hors d’oeuvre	Main dish A	Main dish B
1	Tuna paste	North African chicken stew	Tuna and potatoes
2	Salmon paste	Salmon, rice and vegetables	North African lamb stew
3	Mackerel paste	Parisian chicken	Duck, olives and potatoes
4	Chicken liver paté	Sauté of rabbit	Whitefish, rice and vegetables
5	Tuna in sauce	Basque chicken	Squid “Armoricaine”
6	Sardines	Lamb stew with beans	Chicken with spring vegetables
7	Mackerel in sauce	Stewed lamb “Navarin”	Tuna salad
8	Duck mousse	Alsatian pork stew	Pork and lentils
9	Venison terrine	White bean, sausage and duck casserole	Creole pork with rice and pineapple
10	Traditional pork paste	Pork with vegetables	Basque duck and vegetable soup
11	Forest terrine	Stewed pork and potatoes	Sausage and sauerkraut
12	Ham paté	Pork salad	Paella
13	Hare paté	Veal, tomato, and olive stew	Sweet and sour pork
14	Rabbit paté	Sausage and lentils	Beef salad

The following are additional photographs of the current issue RCIRs.

Reading the variety of the menu leaves little doubt why the reported current rate of exchange is 5 MREs for 1 RCIR. There is only one of the entrees which this author has heard that troops do not like. A sergeant in the French Foreign Legion (a native of Northern Italy) on active service in Mali, said in a recent BBC video interview that he tries to avoid the "lamb stew". This has to be either #6 Lamb stew with beans, or #7 Stewed lamb "Navarin", am not sure which one. It may just be a personal preference.

The author is reminded during the composition of this article, when in 1973 during survival training with his naval reserve unit in the undeveloped jungle-like fields outside Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, he and his shipmates would have gladly paid good money for a few RCIRs. At the time our menu consisted of mongoose stew, sprout-papaya-onion-soup and baked green bananas. The following photographs depict our "skills" making an improvised eating container and opening a coconut. Will never forget our instructor SSGT Fillipe, an army Force RECONDO, who as a young teenager had served with the famed Philippine Scouts during WWII. He had a classic frequent remark, "Something to be considered in the area."

During Operation Desert Storm (1991) elements of the French Foreign Legion were embedded within the principal units of the French Army engaged in the action, namely the 6th Light Armoured Division (6 DLB), and the 4th Regiment of Dragoons from the 2nd Armoured Division. These forces of the Allied Coalition were initially deployed on the left (Western) flank, prior to initiating the liberation of Kuwait. This author distinctly remembers an evening news segment in which a Legion chef was profusely apologizing because he did not have the correct wine for his “from scratch” evening’s presentation of Beef Bourguignon. It’s my understanding that for some time units of the Legion had, and still do, have the prerogative of hiring their own chefs.

For those seeking further detailed presentations of individual RCIRs, go to YouTube and in the search window, type in the search term 'French Military Ration RCIR', and literally dozens of video presentations of the meals will come up.

It is not widely known that the Legion has its very own winery. For those who might be interested see;

https://riviera-buzz.com/features/food-drink/item/french-foreign-legion-wine.html

https://www.legion-boutique.com/les-vins-de-la-legion-xsl-376.html

https://www.wineterroirs.com/2008/09/legion_wine.html 

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/french-foreign-legion-wine

A Memorable Flight in a CAF Warbird - The C-47A Skytrain Military Transport

Today together with my wife, I had the unique and significant opportunity for a birthday gift flight in a restored Douglas C-47A Skytrain Military Transport belonging to the Commemorative Air Force. In the specific configuration used in the dropping of paratroops 380 aircraft were built and designated the C-53 Skytrooper. Production of the C-53 was ended due to the greater versatility of the C-47A, and both aircraft configurations were used for paratroop and glider operations. As most of you already know the C-47A, only slightly modified from the highly successful DC-3 commercial airliner, was by far and away the singularly most produced Allied military transport, paratroop carrier and glider tug of World War II. 

Starting with production in October 1941, over 10,000 were built by Douglas Aircraft Company at facilities in Long Beach and Santa Monica, California and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, during the course of the war. Also flow by the RAF, where it was designated as the Dakota. Among others, including the Willy’s Jeep, and the .30cal Garand Rifle, it’s considered one of the United States’ greatest industrial contributions to the winning of World War II.

The specific aircraft we flew in began life at the Douglas plant in Long Beach, California in 1942, with the designated tail serial of 42-23518 (shortened to 223518), and was delivered to the U.S. Army Air Corps on April 19, 1943. Its construction number is 9380. This is personally noteworthy to the author who worked at the same plant location for then McDonnell-Douglas Corporation, as a systems engineering/threat analysis manager and advanced development engineer from 1987 to 1997, on the P9D, a proposed replacement for the Lockheed P-3 series Orion ASW patrol aircraft, and the C-17A Globemaster III military transport, when I retired.

A photograph contrasting the C-47A Skytrain and the C-17A Globemaster III in flight together.

A photograph of one of the three C-47A production lines, this specific line in Oklahoma City was capable of producing 13 aircraft a day.

The following are the specifications for the Douglas C-47A Skytrain Transport:

The Douglas C-47 Skytrain is an all-metal, twin-engine, low-wing monoplane transport with retractable landing gear. It was operated by a minimum flight crew of two pilots, a navigator and a radio operator. The airplane’s control surfaces are covered with doped-fabric. The primary differences between the civil DC-3 and military C-47 airframes was the addition of a cargo door on the left side of the fuselage and a strengthened floor in the cabin.

The C-47 is 64 feet, 5½ inches (19.647 meters) long with a wingspan of 95 feet (28.956 meters) and height of 17 feet (5.182 meters). Empty weight of the C-47A is 17,257 pounds (7,828 kilograms) and the maximum takeoff weight is 29,300 pounds (13,290 kilograms).

The C-47A was powered by two 1,829.39-cubic-inch-displacement (29.978 liter) air-cooled, supercharged R-1830-92 (Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp S1C3-G) two-row 14-cylinder radial engines with a compression ratio of 6.7:1. These were rated at 1,060 horsepower at 2,550 r.pm., up to 7,500 feet (2,286 meters), maximum continuous power, and 1,200 horsepower at 2,700 r.p.m. at Sea Level for takeoff. Each engine drives a three-bladed Hamilton Standard Hydromatic constant-speed full-feathering propeller with a diameter of 11 feet, 6 inches (3.505 meters) through a 16:9 gear reduction. The R-1830-92 is 48.19 inches (1.224 meters) long, 61.67 inches (1.566 meters) in diameter, and weighs 1,465 pounds (665 kilograms).

The C-47 has a cruising speed of 185 miles per hour (298 kilometers per hour) at 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) and service ceiling of 24,100 feet (7,346 meters).

The C-47 could carry 6,000 pounds (2,722 kilograms) of cargo, or 28 fully-equipped paratroopers. Alternatively, 14 patients on stretchers could be carried, along with three attendants, or as a glider tug for either the Waco CG-4A or Airspeed AS-51 Horsa Assault Glider, Mk I/II.

Although not directly associated with this flight, below is a copy of a photograph given to the author by Harry Gann when we were both working at McDonnell-Douglas in Long Beach. For those who may not know, Harry was a renowned design engineer on several of the Douglas programs, not the least of which was the U.S. Navy A-4 Skyhawk attack bomber. His main claim to fame however, was being an aircraft historian and aviation photographer. This is one of his photos (note absence of any US Army Signal Corps, or other, attribution markings) of a formation of C-47As towing Waco CG-4A gliders in the 1942-1943 time-frame. Given the background it's probably near Oklahoma City, although there is an outside chance that it could be near Troy, Ohio, the main plant for Waco production. These aircraft are of very early WWII production, the tail serial of the nearest plane being 118385.

Of the current inventory of 170 aircraft comprising the Commemorative Air Force, “Old Number 30”(attributed to classic railroad steam engine numbers) by far and away holds the record as a true combat veteran, having officially logged over 2500 actual combat hours. Its total number of combat flying hours are a bit cloudy due to the fact that for a period during WWII it flew classified missions for the OSS. It served with the US Army in North Africa and Italy in World War II. It entered the civil register as American Air Express NC53426 on June 10, 1947 and has had many operators over the years. ADA Industrial Building Corporation reregistered it as N53ST on May 4, 1980. The American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum acquired it on May 28, 1915 and registered it as N147AZ on February 5, 2016.

The following are photographs of the actual aircraft at Falcon Field, Mesa, Arizona, the Arizona base and museum of the Commemorative Air Force, and at a fly-in at Luke AFB, Arizona. A sharp eye will discern an apparent temporary inconsistency in tail numbers, subsequently corrected.

Obviously while committed to all theatres of WWII, the C-47A had a major, if not predominant role in Operation Market Garden, as both a paratroop carrier, glider tug and resupply aircraft, under IX Troop Carrier Command. Combined with Stirling/Horsa, Halifax/Hamilcar, Halifax/Horsa tug and glider combinations flown by the Glider Pilot Regiment, there were a total of 1,438 C-47/Dakota Troop Transports of which 131 C-47A Dakotas, towed Horsa gliders, all in the initial lift of the airborne assault. The 20,000 troops comprising the first lift were flown in 1,545 aircraft and 478 gliders. Of these, 1,049 C-47s dropped paratroops. Of the C-47s committed to Operation Market, over 100 pilots and aircrew were killed in the 144 transport aircraft which were lost.

For those, like myself, who might be interested in a more detailed account of the C-47As and other aircraft participating in Operation Market Garden, I'm indebted to "Carronade" on the WWIIFORUMS. Sincere thanks for the following data.

"On Day 1 there were 1,545 transport aircraft and glider tugs.
1,049 C-47s dropped paratroops:
145 - 1 Airborne Brigade, 1 Airborne Division personnel including men of the airborne reconnaissance squadron
480 - 82nd Airborne Division including all 3 Parachute Infantry Regiments (117 planes each) and a parachute artillery battalion (48)
424 - 101 Airborne Division including all 3 PIRs.

There were 478 gliders, some towed by C-47s, many of the British gliders were towed by converted Stirling or Albemarle bombers:
320 - 1 Air Landing Brigade (one battalion, 2 South Staffordshire, was only able to land 2 companies and bn headquarters on the first day), vehicles, guns, and equipment for the division and 1 A/B Bde, vehicles (mainly jeeps) for the a/b recon squadron.
32 - vehicles and equipment for 82nd Airborne and the PIRs (4 gliders each with jeeps and equipment).
38 - I Airborne Corps Headquarters, landed in 82nd sector. Many people including myself think this was unnecessary, since corps HQ had little to do while each division was operating on its own. The gliders could have been used to bring in more combat troops like the remainder of 2 South Staffs.
50 - 101st Airborne vehicles and equipment including PIRs (4 each) and most of a parachute artillery battalion (the 101st had parachuted artillery at night for D-Day in Normandy but the troops, guns, and vehicles were widely scattered, so they chose to land them by glider for M-G. As it turned out the daylight artillery drop for the 82nd went smoothly).

12 Stirlings and 6 C-47s dropped pathfinders.

For Day 2 ABTF give 1,336 C-47s and 340 bombers of which 1,205 were towing gliders. Unfortunately I have mislaid some of my information, but this included 126 planes dropping 4 Airborne Brigade in the British sector and an unspecified number, probably 12-20, dropping one parachute artillery battery to fill out the battalion in the 101st. A further 252 B-24s dropped cargo canisters.

It had been intended to land all remaining elelments by the third day, but as you probably know the weather caused operations to be spread out over several days. The only remaining parachute unit was the Polish brigade, which used 114 C-47s plus 46 gliders for vehicles and equipment.

Landing the airborne forces took approximately 1,300 planeloads of paratroops and air-dropped artillery and 2,500 gliders; I don't have figures for supply drops.

It's sometimes speculated that M-G would have benefitted from making two flights on the first day. This would probably not be possible for gliders, but it might be for paratroops. British and American paratroops, including 4 A/B Brigade, used a total of 1,175 planes. These could have been delivered by say 644 planes of which 531 would have to fly a second mission to the same drop zones as the first. This would free up about 405 planes to tow additional gliders, mainly for American glider troops. This in turn would allow some 500 plane/glider loads to come in on Day 2 which historically were delayed until Day 3 or later."

A restored British C-47A Dakota in late WWII European Theatre camouflage color scheme and invasion stripes. This is the standard color scheme of the aircraft that flew in Operation Market-Garden, with both RAF and USAAF insignia.

A brief set of comparative images of the cockpit and cargo/passenger compartment of a C-47A and a C-17A. First the C-47A:

And then the C-17A:

Quite an amazing contrast in time and technology!

One of the most intriguing parts of its operational history, paralleling the level of secrecy accompanying that of Calcutta Light Horse WWII action (See; http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2012/01/the-reincarnation-of-calcutta-light.html) of “Creek Force” with the SOE at Mamagoa, then Portuguese Goa. This was a record setting of clandestine rescue missions conducted in Yugoslavia by the OSS in August thru December 1944, which was so politically sensitive (to Allies and enemy alike) that it remained classified well after the war. Only in 1997 (after 53 years) was the operation declassified.

Known as Operation Halyard, it was the rescue of 512 U.S. and 22 Allied downed pilots and aircrew-men from within the interior of German occupied Yugoslavia. Largely unknown and forgotten by historians, the complete operation is chronicled in a book entitled, The Forgotten 500, Freeman, Gregory A., Penguin Random House, New York, 2007 (ISBN: 978-0-451-22212-1).

Without getting into details, “Old Number 30” was the fourth aircraft in the initial flight of four C-47A aircraft to land on a literally hand-hewn improvised runway amongst the dense forests around the village of Pranjane, Central Yugoslavia, in the dead of night at 2200 (10 PM) August 9, 1944. Minimum runway length of 700 ft. was required for a trained, competent, military pilot. The first plane had to abort its first attempt to land, and the second plane used the absolute entire length of runway, only stopping at the very end of the field.

Subsequent flights would continue to the last one on December 27, 1944. Of the total 512 airmen flown out of Yugoslavia, 345 were Americans, four British, four French, seven Italian, and 12 Russians were flown out between August 9 and September 1, 1944. Another 167 Americans were rescued before the operation ended.

The half hour flight over the rocky and desert area around the metropolitan Phoenix area at 1000 ft. altitude could well have been reminiscent of some of the aircraft’s early flights over the terrain of North Africa. Depending on factors including surface wind, terrain, flak and small arms fire density, WWII combat jumps were made in the range of 800 (most common) to 1500 ft., with some jumps made as low as 300 ft. Although painted in the desert camouflage of the USAAF, the interior was still appointed in the luxuries of a 1950s corporate executive aircraft, in which it had served post-war for the Hoover Vacuum Cleaner Company. Consequently, no need for flight jackets or ear protectors. All in all, a most appropriate, memorable and enjoyable birthday present.

The following images are of a C-47A interior restored to correct WWII combat paratrooper configuration (which is what I had more or less expected), and then our accommodations.

 With full acknowledgment and gratitude to Ed Whisenant, the following is a short video of the actual aircraft we flew in, flying from the same air field.

An Addendum to the Abridged Field Guide to Regimental Ties

Although there may be limited redundancy with the ties depicted in the original guide; https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2017/02/a-field-guide-to-regimental-ties.html , this author has observed sufficient additional regimental ties at additional other sources meriting this addendum.

With both acknowledgement and gratitude expressed to the Ben Silver Collection of Charleston, South Carolina, those ties are presented herein.  All still being available from that establishment, however like all endangered species, their value has jumped significantly.  One of particular personal interest is that of the Calcutta Light Horse Regiment (http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2012/01/the-reincarnation-of-calcutta-light.html ).

Readers with the sharp eye of a Regimental Sergeant Major or Quartermaster Sergeant Major will note a few typographical errors in the names. The Queen’s Bays (2nd Dragoon Guards), Royal Tank Regiment, and Royal Army Pay Corps are examples.

Plate 1

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This additional segment of regimental ties comes from The Regimental Shop in Great Britain to whom this author expresses both acknowledgement and gratitude. With apologies, again there may be a few cases of redundancy with previously presented ties.

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