Military
American Paratrooper Helmets
American Paratrooper Helmets. All the amateurs of the history of the American parachutists know the author of this work for his multiple publications relative to their story published at D-Day Publishing. Until today, the author had rather accustomed us to produce books accumulating an impressive number of period unpublished photographs dealing with the history or the men, that a study on the equipment. It is here for our biggest pleasure that he agreed to open the display cases and reserves of the D-Day Paratrooper Historical Center, to present this Bible of the American paratrooper helmet. For those who would not know him, for the last three decades, this specialist of the American airborne troops, share his time between Belgium, where he dedicates its time to the publishing, Normandy, where he runs a Historical Center and the United States, where he conducts his researches. Rather known for his certain level of requirement, not only the quality but also the quantity and the rarity of pieces accumulated in his WWII airborne collection make it unequalled. This book is unique, since only this collection could have been its support and only the author’s naughty defect to go dig new images in the drawers of the veterans could have brought the iconography necessary to illustrate the study on the various markings of helmet. This is first of all a magnificent lesson of what a passion can bring to collect. It is then the first study of the complex question of the multiple markings of parachutists' helmet. Always with its singular approach to make an object telling its story, the author has profusely illustrated this work with multiple never before seen period photographs and hundreds of historical pieces. Doubtless, it will reserve to the most advised readers some hidden surprises and will delight the amateurs in search to satisfy their knowledge. Hardback, English version, 272 color pages.
Book - Airborne 1940-1945, ETO-MTO, Numbered and signed by the author
Book Airborne 1940-1945, ETO-MTO by Günter G. Gillot, Jr., published by Collector's Academy Press in 1989. This work is dedicated to the US airborne units during the Second World War. Text in French. Soft cover, 285 pages, 8.6 x 11.8 inches. Second hand book, in excellent condition. This copy features number 156 out of 1,000 in total.
Book, The legendary cricket of D-Day
Since the end of WWII, stories and legends about the Airborne cricket's use have grown and flowered. Many untruths were proposed by various media and other sources leading not only to deformation of history but also to an erroneous presentation of one of the most un-warlike and incongruous items of "battle gear" carried by the American parachutist! This booklet, with many pictures, based on historical facts, interviews of key personalities related to the introduction of the cricket within the airborne units, and vintage documents tries to dismiss the generally accepted ideas and report the true history of the legendary cricket of D-Day. Who initiated it all, where were the crickets produced, and who produced them? What type was official issue and which units used them? For the first time, these questions have now been answered. Paperback Book - English Version. Delivered with a reproduction of the cricket.
Book, Col. Ben Vandervoort, The Way we Were n°4, 82nd Airborne
Col. Ben Vandervoort is the fourth volume in noted historian Michel De Trez's WWII paratrooper portrait series titled The Way We Were . The 505th PIR of the 82nd Airborne Division is one of the finest parachute infantry regiments to emerge from the Second World War. Its second battalion did much toward earning this reputation, and the records show that its intrepid commander, Lt. Col. Benjamin H. Vandervoort deserves much of the credit due in securing these accolades. His two Distinguished Service Crosses are certainly evidence enough to support this claim. Among the more riveting stories of heroism in WWII is that of Lt. Col. Vandervoort, who led his battalion of paratroopers to victory on D-day, despite having broken his ankle when he dropped on Ste. Mere Eglise in the early morning hours of June 6th. His coolness under fire, outstanding courage and initiative, coupled with his dogged determination, contributed materially to the successful completion of the missions assigned to him. Colonel Vandervoort s role in the Normandy campaign was immortalized when actor John Wayne portrayed him in the Hollywood epic "the Longest Day", based on the best-selling novel by Cornelius Ryan.
Book, Col. Ben Vandervoort, The Way we Were n°4, 82nd Airborne, Limited Edition
Limited edition (hardcover) printed to 82 copies only. Col. Ben Vandervoort is the fourth volume in noted historian Michel De Trez's WWII paratrooper portrait series titled The Way We Were . The 505th PIR of the 82nd Airborne Division is one of the finest parachute infantry regiments to emerge from the Second World War. Its second battalion did much toward earning this reputation, and the records show that its intrepid commander, Lt. Col. Benjamin H. Vandervoort deserves much of the credit due in securing these accolades. His two Distinguished Service Crosses are certainly evidence enough to support this claim. Among the more riveting stories of heroism in WWII is that of Lt. Col. Vandervoort, who led his battalion of paratroopers to victory on D-day, despite having broken his ankle when he dropped on Ste. Mere Eglise in the early morning hours of June 6th. His coolness under fire, outstanding courage and initiative, coupled with his dogged determination, contributed materially to the successful completion of the missions assigned to him. Colonel Vandervoort s role in the Normandy campaign was immortalized when actor John Wayne portrayed him in the Hollywood epic "the Longest Day", based on the best-selling novel by Cornelius Ryan.
Book, Colonel Bob Piper - The Way we Were n°2, 82nd Airborne, Limited Edition
Limited edition (hardcover) printed to 82 copies only. "Colonel Bob Piper" is the second volume in noted historian Michel De Trez's WWII paratrooper portrait series titled The Way We Were. Col. Piper is a paratroop officer who served as a platoon leader, regimental adjutant (S-1) and regimental intelligence officer (S-2) in "G" company, 505th PIR, 82nd Airborne Division during the Second World War. He made all four combat jumps of the 505 and fought in all six of the 82nd's campaigns, being wounded only one time. As a member of the regimental staff, one of the many tasks assigned to Piper was ensuring the security and wellbeing of the only female member of the 505. Surprisingly, there were women with some of the paratroop units in the combat zones of the ETO. And, yes, they did wear jump boots, jump wings, the All-American shoulder patch and the ubiquitous steel pot! They were very few, indeed, but they were there. Colonel Piper took this task so much to heart, that when the war ended, he couldn't bear the thought of having to stop, so he took an oath to care for her for the rest of his life. 72 pages, 220 illustrations, English version.
Book, Doc McIlvoy and his Parachuting Medics, The Way we Were n°3, 82nd Airborne
"Doc McIlvoy" is the third volume in Michel De Trez's WWII paratrooper portrait series titled The Way We Were. Major Dan McIlvoy was a medical officer in the 82nd Airborne Division s famed 505th PIR. As a proud member of this unit from its first day of existence, he was only apart from it for two days, while being MIA in Normandy. The saga of the 505th Medical Detachment is retold through Doc McIlvoy s own story. As a battalion surgeon, and later as a regimental surgeon, Doc McIlvoy instituted many new methods of caring for, and evacuating, the unit s many casualties. Many of these innovations were later adopted as standard operating procedure by the US Army Medical Corps. Throughout his history of service, Doc McIlvoy supervised the treatment of hundreds of combat casualties. Through his great initiative, surgical skill and devotion to duty, he was able to save the limbs and lives of a great number of his wounded comrades. Soft cover, 168 pages, 360 illustrations, English version.
