Jedburgh Gear?

[SFC Reising]

I am not sure if this is the right area,but here goes. I am trying to find out if American Jedburghs wore U.S. Web gear. The only pics I have found are of Jack Singlaub and he is wearing British kit. My question is whether the Americans wore U.S. Kit ( I.e. Pouches, web belts, etc.).

I am trying to get a good idea so I can do a Jedburgh troop for my collection.

 

[andy101506]

"most" of the time us Jed's jumped wearing US uniform and equipment. I have a picture book " US Army Rangers & Special Forces of World War two. They have many pre jump pics of Jed teams along with lots of info.

From all the pics I have seen, us Jed's wear US paratrooper uniforms and equipment. It seems most were armed with 1911'a and M1 carbines.

 

[SFC Reising]

Can you tell me if any of the Jed pics show them wearing British jump helmets & Denison smocks with US web gear?

 

[Bob a Job]

Hi


Is this of any interest to you ?
http://operationjedburgh.webs.com/


Bob

 

[andy101506]

There are two pictures out of maybe twenty of us Jed's in Brit uniforms. One shows a Jed in a Brit Denison smock with us trousers and weapons and equipment. The other shows a Jed wearing a one piece British camo insertion suit.

From all the pictures it would seem that the wearing of Brit uniform was the exception and not something regularly done. Most US Jed's Wore us paratrooper gear. I would say the m1 carbine (not m1a1) was the main primary weapon used by us Jed's. I only saw one pic of a Jed with Thompson SMG pouches on his belt.

Like I said every pic I have is of Jed's doin prejump stuff right before wheels up. No operational pics of on the ground as I imagine cameras were not allowed. I bet some soldiers would bring there own cameras on mission though so who knows.

 

[SFC Reising]

Bob,

I have found that website in my research, but it is geared towards British/Commonwealth troops. The problem is that the Jed teams were a mixture and figuring out who wore what is difficult, because it seems to be such a mash up of gear/equipment.

Don

 

[Jkidd41011]

Try this book that I read:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008SLRB5U

The impression I got from it was the US soldiers were outfitted with Brit gear.

 

[andy101506]

Officially Jed's were dressed in the uniform of their home nation so in case of capture they would have less of a chance of being hanged as a spy. The book I listed above is a has a lot of photos of Know US Jed's, with info to go along with it.

It would seem that some US Jed's wore Brit clothing but that was a minority while most wore us uniform. The author also said that the Brit made one piece camo insertion suit was the most popular Brit item used by US OSS personnel in the jedbrugh program. All the pictures I have seen seem to support this.

 

[SFC Reising]

I think the confusion comes in when considering the mission. It looks to me like there were two different missions. One linking up with the resistance and the other conducting sabotage/clandestine missions. Maybe that determined the gear. In my Google searches I have seen quite a few Jeds wearing US uniforms and equipment. The pic that throws my off is the one of Jack Singlaub. Maybe all US teams wore US uniforms, but international teams ( US, UK, French) wore Brit uniforms?

 

[Jkidd41011]

Double Post

 

[Jkidd41011]

"Harry" who was with Gen. Gavin in ABTF was part of the Jedburgh program.

http://www.b26.com/page/arie.d.bestebreurtje.htm

That said I think the reason so many were killed was the fact that they were working covert ops and were treated as spies.

 

[joecollectin]

Gents,

The OP made me curious so I did a quick google of the Jedburghs. Curiously enough, it lead me to an OSW post from 2005. Maybe it will be helpful for you.

http://www.onesixthwarriors.com/for...ssissippi-oss-jedburgh-john-singlaub-wip.html