Officers of 22nd Ind Para Coy synchronise their watches in front of an Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle. Copyright Airborne Museum Duxford
A few days ago was another step for the build up to the celebrations of the Normandy landings 75 years ago. Some may know what I’m talking about, others (the urchins) may have only heard about it in passing. However, this is an all important historical military event which was recorded by numerous soldiers from the Army Film and Photographic Unit (AFPU).
Corporal Thomas Gibbons (Royal Corps of Signals) in modern parachuting equipment and Lance Corporal Tim Mayanrd (Royal Corps of Signals) in Second World War vintage Paratrooper equipment.
On this occasion I was able to use my position as the Brigade Photographer to take pictures of modern Paratroopers in the the Multi Terrain Pattern (MTP) uniform and with the aid of the Airborne Museum Duxford and a Guru of all things PARA Regt, Jim, I was able to recreate an iconic picture with a few alterations
The other pictures show the Dakota plane in which Paratroopers jumped out of onto their Drop Zones, Some DZ’s were more than 20 miles behind enemy lines which cut off the Paratroopers but as well were a huge ‘Broad Sword’ in the Nazi’s side.
The compare and contrast pictures of vintage World War Two uniform and MTP uniform were worn by Paratroopers from 216 Signal Squadron which I’m throughly grateful for their time patience. Cheers!
Source Andy Reddy at Moonshine Images
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