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Here is something not often seen, an inert WW1 US Mk III aerial bomb. This one weighed 50 pounds when fully loaded and was filled with high explosives. Interestingly, a lot of these are being found at older Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and American Legion posts, sometimes repainted.

Very nice! I will have to get one of those replica fuses for mine as well.

My number 15 has landed. Really pleased with it. Bought on an online auction. Nice clean thread so the top removes nicely. Replica Brock igniter obviously. Surprised by how small it is. Considerably smaller than the French Ball grenades.

Probably my favourite deactivated SMG in my collection.In nice original condition. Manufactured in the millions. A crude but effective 9mm weapon and much much cheaper to produce than the Thompson. 32 round magazine but filling to capacity regularly caused jams so 28 rounds was the recommended mag load. Pretty hard to come by in the UK these days. Complete with silencer. This would only be used on semi auto.

Good question, I do like he idea of being able to go see an aircraft in a museum, but also like the idea of going somewhere new and going to historical sites. I remember reading about a P-38 that was recovered from a glacier, which had a lot of publicity. I do feel that history should be preserved in some fashion, and the P-38 story counts, but I do not agree with disturbing war grave sites. I have read numerous stories about warships in the pacific being torn apart for their scrap metal value. http://p38assn.org/glaciergirl/recovery.htm

Two identity discs, Bavaria, one piece later types from 1916. These have name, date of birth and full home address of the bearer, as well as his Stammrollen-Nr. and his unit. Rear sides are blank. Anton Heinle, geb. 22.10.1898, Hochwang 21, Post Ichenhausen 2. Ersatz-Abteilung, Bayerisches 1. Feldartillerie-Regiment, 3.Batterie no personal number! Michael Mossner, geb. 22.8.1894, Mainheim bei Günzenhausen 1. Ersatz-Bataillon, Bayerisches Infanterie Leib-Regiment*, 2. Kompagnie Nr. 3433 (1481 has been deleted) * The Infanterie Leib-Regiment took part in the Battle of Verdun in 1916 (Morte Homme, etc.) Both presumed "survived". Rare to find in this condition.

I do like to see aircraft displayed in their 'as found' condition. The Halifax that was raised from a Norwegian fijord which is displayed at Hendon in London springs to mind. It does beg the question though should wrecks be moved from their original resting places to museums to maintain their integrity & for the public to see. B17F Swamp Ghost now resides in the USA having been recovered from Papua New Guinea. Would it have been the better option to have left her in the place she lay for all those years for a dedicated trekker to see for themselves. The stuff of dreams really.

Here is an example of the Yugo paint, on a copy of the German WW2 Patronenkasten 34 Pattern container. Sometimes the Yugo forces would use WW2 marked items or they made their own copies. But they used a awful green paint color, as shown on this container which held the MG42/34 ammo belt loader tool.

Yes, I remember reading of the flying pencil. I always liked the HE-219 as well.

Yes, most likely used by Yugo forces after the war, I have several items with similar paint.

"É Böm!", as Peter Sellers would say

Here is another one I spotted, looks pretty good, but its a reproduction.

Not a photo, but a very expressive illustration. Battle of Haelen, 12. August 1914 An attack against fortified houses by several regiments of the 17. and the 3. Kavallerie-Brigade was repulsed by fierce Belgian resistance in the small town of Haelen/Halen: The illustration shows a soldier of Pommersches Ulanen-Regiment 9 (Demmin) Uniform illustration is not quite accurate.

Some further background info / photos added. A lot of personal regalia also helmets, unforms of Prinz Alfons have been in auctions in the past 20-30 years.

Prinz Alfons Erinnerungszeichen, 1920-1960 Maker's mark, M.Heinloth (München). Silver version on blue ribbon with white edging. There was also a gold version on a red ribbon with green edges. A private and unofficial decoration from the beginning of the Weimar period, awarded by Prinz Alfons Maria Franz Clemens Maximilian von Bayern to persons who had distinguished themselves in the service of the war veterans associations, (Krieger- und Militärvereine) and also shooting associations, Schützenvereine. The decoration was continuously awarded after the death of Prince Alfons in 1933. It was probably suppressed as from around 1936 till after 1945. Known to have been further awarded by the House of Wittelsbach till the late 1950s or early 1960s. Prinz Alfons was a General of Kavallerie and the honorary colonel in chief of various regiments, such as Dragoner-Regiment von Manteufel (Rheinisches) Nr.5. Several of his uniforms were in auctions and for sale in recent years. Prinz Alfons von Bayern, 1862-1933, portrait photos 1880 1. Infanterie-Regiment "König" 1881 3. Feldartillerie-Regiment "Königin Mutter" 1882 1. Schweres Reiter-Regiment "Prinz Karl" 1891/2 Kriegsakademie 1884 Rittmeister 1892 Major u. Regimentskommandeur 1899 Generalmajor u. Kommandeur d. 1.Kavallerie-Brigade 1901 Generalleutnant 1905 General der Kavallerie 1913-18 Hon. Chef des Kgl.Preuß. Dragoner-Regiments Freiherr von Manteuffel (Rheinisches) Nr. 5 in Hofgeismar In the costume of a Hunting or Rifle Association, based on Bavarian national dress (grey serge, dark green facings) In the uniform of a Chevauleger Regiment (either regiment 7 or 8, white facings) A wartime photo in fieldgrey Prinz Alfons in Bavarian Generals uniform, photo from late 1920s or early 1930s Tomb in the Wittelsbachergruft, Michaelskirche zu München Other private awards given by Prinz Alfons

Good point. I have no idea though.

Oh yeah I have seen the repro's of the splatter masks, and have seen originals. Most repro's are sold as such, but there are some unscrupulous folks aging them and trying to pass them off as originals. Last original one I saw was close to $1000 US.

Pure Science Fiction

This photo was forwarded to me just now. Pause after a battle. Apparently no description with this, so this could be one of several regiments, the shoulder straps have some sort of monogram, but unclear in photo. Field covers are worn on the busbys. Could be Husaren-Regiment 8, 13, 15 or 16

Here is another Yugo re-work, a WW2 period German Patronenkasten, which naturally has been re-painted in the green color, with leather added to the handles. It is marked what looks like brh/40.

The Dornier Do 17 has been little mentioned in the past decades, whereas the Ju 88 and He 111 are the most frequently described bombers of WW2. Unfortunately the only surviving example worldwide is the wreck that was found on the Goodwin Sands off the southeast coast of England. It lay on the seabed covered with sand for nearly 70 years until it could be raised and recovered some years back, and now undergoing conservation at RAF Cosford. The condition is such, that it can be no longer restored for normal display, but has undergone conservation for several years to stabilise the aluminium and other materials. It will therefore be displayed in future in it's wrecked condition. This operation cost more than a halb a million pounds, but was considered worthwhile to preserve an important heritage and reminder of the Battle of Britain, where this was one of the three principal bombers used at the time. The Do 17 was sometimes know as the Flying Pencil due to it's long elegant fuselage, however, by 1940 generally outdated, it proved to be insufficient in it's role and was replaced after 1941 by the Ju88. The bomb load carried was limited and the armament insufficient.

Here is a WW1 era Austrian made Zylndergranate, a very simple design, a handle that activated the fuse was locked in place by a pull ring. There are traces of the feld-grau paint on the bottom of the grenade. It is basically an upgraded Lakos type, which was a tube grenade.

Looks like the first item has been repainted at some stage, also the strap would never have a brass buckle. Wehrmacht items were never made of brass.

An airfield in Northern France during the Summer of 1940

There are manufacturers stamps inside under the leather on splatter masks but fakes are a plenty apparently. Buyer beware.A whole gang of blacksmiths out there !

Until I find some sort of documentation or actual photo examples, like Fritz said, I am very wary of these types. I have seen at least half a dozen variants so far, all coming out of Russia/Eastern Europe.

Speaking of aerial recon, here is another interesting endeavor. Time release camera strapped to a pigeon, in the hopes of catching some images of enemy emplacements. Photo source, internet

Interesting device that supposedly enhanced the sound of enemy artillery and muzzle flashes, no idea on how effective this was. Airplanes typically made items such as this obsolete for reconnaissance purposes. Photo source, internet

The Leipzig War Crimes Trials were a series of trials held in 1921 in which only 12 alleged criminals were brought before the courts. Article 228 allowed the allied powers to try any German accused of war crimes, even the Kaiser was charged and the allies wanted him to be extradited. The trials were seen sort of as a joke as the sentences were very light and others saw it as a disservice to justice. In 1922, these trials were abandoned. Although Mackensen was a decorated and respected leader, I suspect that some of the victors wanted revenge of sorts.

Notoriety? He was not a criminal

Feuerwehr Erinnerungszeichen, 25 Jahre, 1884-1918 Inauguration, 24. June 1884 by König Ludwig II. for 25 years service with the fire brigades in Bavaria. Gilt bronze mounted on pinback ribbon. Makers were Quellhorst and Weiss & Co., München Decoration was issued in a red case with sliding lid, red cloth lined, lid impressed with gold Bavarian coat of arms. Pinback Maker's mark: Quellhorst (München)

Landwehr-Dienstauszeichnung Landwehr-Dienstauszeichnung 1. Klasse, Silver. For 20 years service in the Landwehr: Introduced by König Ludwig II., 1876. Suppressed 1918. Landwehr-Dienstauszeichnung 2. Klasse, 1876-1913, 1st type (Schnalle) Landwehr-Dienstauszeichnung 2. Klasse, copper bronze, 1913-1921 Landwehr-Dienstauszeichnung 3. Klasse, Neusilber, 1913-1921 (on replaced modern ribbon) Dienstauszeichnung, 3. Klasse, 1876 - 1913 Landwehr-Dienstauszeichnung, 2. Klasse, 1876 - 1913

Long Service Decorations Offiziers-Dienstauszeichnung, 24 Jahre. 2nd type as from 1906. Gilt bronze on original slightly frayed ribbon Dienstauszeichungen, 1913-1921 1. Klasse, 15 Jahre 2. Klasse, 12 Jahre 3. Klasse, 9 Jahre

Commemorative Prinz Regent Luitpold Medaille in Bronze, 1905. Reverse with crowned Coat of Arms, 1905 and motto: In Treue Fest. Removed from a medal bar, ribbon faded and stained. Prinz Regent Luipold Erinnerungsmedaille in Bronze, 12.III.1905, "Am 70. Jahrestag Meines Dienst Antrittes Der Bayerischen Armee - gewidmet XII.III. MCMV" (12.3.1905), mounted for wear, removed from a medal bar, most original finish. Hochzeitserinnerungsmedaille 1918. Zink/Kriegsmetall, on original ribbon. Unissued. "Zur Erinnerung an die Goldene Hochzeit 20.Febr.1916", portrait of Ludwig III. and Königin Marie Therese.

Campaign Decorations Campaign Cross for 1813 and 1814, Maximilian Joseph. Toned bronze on modern replacement ribbon, awarded 1817 Campaign Cross for 1866 (Ludwig II.), toned bronze on narrow replacement ribbon of pre-1945 manufacture

Here is a WW1 era No. 15 ball grenade. It was introduced in 1917, and had ammonal filling. The grenade used a fuse that had a match head on the end that was ignited before use. These grenades could also be used on catapults.

Here is a WW2 US M7 grenade launcher attachment for the M1 Garand rifle, the M1 Carbine used a different model (the M8). This launcher attached quickly to the front barrel of the rifle, and utilized a blank cartridge to propel the grenade from the launcher and had a range around 200 meters. Several grenade types were used for this launcher, such as fragmentation, smoke and flares to name a few. Below is the M1A1 grenade projection adapter and used a M2 fragmentation grenade, which was held in place by metal prongs. The spoon was secured by a clip so the pin could be pulled and the grenade would not go off until it was fired and the spoon was released. Also shown is a M19A1 signal flare, still sealed in its container.

Interesting, they look so out of place in WW1, so basic in appearance and function.

The Polish army was much stronger in 1939. The brochure states three and a quarter million men in time of war! I saw more information somewhere, can't remember where. They were a force to be reckoned with, and they had a lot of tanks and also aircraft, despite what propaganda preached about having only cavalry and being antiquated, that is not quite true. Their leadership was not too good. Poland after it's formation after 1918 became rather corrupt and inefficient, until Josef Pilsudski took over for a few years. With French assistance he managed to repel a Bolschewik invasion, although in earlier times, he had been a socialist revolutionary, who had associations with Lenin's brother, and was involved in an assasination attempt against the Tsar of Russia. After stepping down from state leadership, he was Minister of War till his death. Poland did also provoke Germany for several years and persecuted many ethnic Germans still living within it's boundaries since 1918, which was another reason for the German invasion. The date would be definitely 1934/35 - see introduction of the brochure - "Die Wehrmacht ist mit Volk und Staat unlöslich verbunden..." and refering to how the future emblems would look!

New item I just got in, a WW1 era Lewis Gun manual from Savage Arms. BSA in England could not keep up with the manufacture of the Lewis gun as the demand was so high, so they contracted Savage Arms in New York. The US forces eventually adopted the weapon as well, by the end of the war, the US had purchased 34,000 of them. This manual has 63 pages with diagrams, parts lists and operation instruction.

Original press photo of Oberst Robert Fuchs, Kommodore of Löwengeschwader - Kampfgeschwader 26 from 29. September 1939 till 15. October 1940. He received the Ritterkreuz from Hitler on 6. April 1940 for the outstanding services of his squadron with its attacks on shipping in the North Sea and the Channel. Unteroffizier Walter Neusüß also took part in these actions, later promoted to Oberfeldwebel. See previous related topics. The text to the rear of the photo is: Kommodore des Löwengeschwaders mit dem Ritterkreuz ausgezeichnet. Der Führer und Oberste Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht verlieh Sonnabend dem Oberst Fuchs, dem Kommodore des bekannten Löwengeschwaders, das Ritterkreuz zum Eisernen Kreuz. Oberst Fuchs (u.B.) wurde diese höchste Auszeichnung zuteil in Anerkennung der Kampfleistungen seines Geschwaders, das durch seine kraftvollen Angriffe gegen die britische Seemacht sich besonders hervorgetan hat. 7.4.40. PK. F 508 Wb. "KG" Es ist zu nennen: Foto: PK.-Ruge (Weltbild) "Fr.OKW" The photo was apparently the copyright of the publishers Weltbild Verlag, which still exists today (Augsburg). Ruge was probably the photographer. "Fr.OKW" probably stands for "Freigabe durch die OKW" - passed by OKW censor. (31.1.2017)

Document on first page. Signature is Leutnant Abenhausen (?)

Ehrenliste der Deutschen Luftwaffe, 7. September 1942 These were regular bulletins published almost every week. This edition contains exclusively awards for the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold. Other examples will also include other decorations such as the Knights Cross or the Fliegerpokal, etc. These documents have now become scarce and expensive. This example includes at least one well-known name, such as the famous Battle of Britain pilot, Gerhard Barkhorn. At the end of the page is the facsimile signature of Hermann Göring. Unteroffizier Erich Baxmann, Bordfunker in einem Kampfgeschwader Gerhard Barkhorn, Oberleutnant in einem Jagdgeschwader

Nice grouping on decorated Austro-Hungarian troops. The are armed with the Mannlicher M1895 rifle as well as the Zeitzünder M15 grenade which is hanging from their belts. They are wearing the german made M16 helmets and their own version, the M17, the Austrian models had a cloth chinstrap and the helmet was more of a mustard brown color. They also appear to have the Austrian made gas mask cans (tapered at the bottom) and the German made gas mask cans as well. Most of the Austrians gas mask came from Germany, although they did make their own out of rubberized silk, but it was not strong enough for field use. Note the leggins, some leather and the rest canvas.

Hi Guys.........I know kenny is selling repos of this badge,had this one a number of years picked it up cheap........Never really thought of them as repro or fake what do you think this is.

Another dispatch rider group, on the Eastern Front, they must have had some hard riding by looks of them.

Very nice Fritz, I found some as well, adding to the thread. Here is a group of dispatch riders taking a break. Good photo showing the coats, gloves and associated gear.

Hi folks, this was my favourite buy of 2015. Erich Lin©k? Served in the early days in Poland, France, Baltic states & Italy. Soldbuch pic sees him in his tropical uniform. He was a driver with an armoured recon unit. The KBA doc is a nice unit variant, signed by Major Peter Ziegler (DKiG Sept '44) & 3 Kompanie Pz Abw. Abt 29 paper's signed by Hauptmann Feustel. Lin©k? Was also awarded the Ost medal & KVK2 w/s. Stewy

It's not in the best of condition Euan, is it wartime ?