Passable imitators of pre-war/early war French Paratroops

[GrumpyOldMan]

Hi All

This is such an esoteric area that it is definitely not a candidate for Requests since I think that I'd probably be the only person interested  .

Here are some pictures:-





There are some pictures and even videos here
http://pangea-systems.com/wwiiws/restricted/paratroops-crs/

More information here http://www.ww2f.com/western-europe-1943-1945/25361-french-airborne-troops-1935-1945-a.html

Anyway, does anybody have any suggestions on what I could use. I thought Russian paratroops but then couldn't find any  . Anything in the SCW range that could be used?

After that simple task can anybody point me in the direction of a Potez transport plane  .

Thanks for any help

Cheers

GrumpyOldMan

[NTM]

How about these?

http://www.pendraken.co.uk/MC23-p5555/

[Sunray]

Looks like the French are jumping into VBCW ! As one who used to step out of a perfectly good aircraft at heights of 5,000 + ft, I am intreagued by your French 'airborne' forces.   Have you any info on their history ? ie were they a short term experimenal unit or were they on the muster books?

As to the helmets, they look not unlike those worn by some Warsaw Pack units, that is designed as a jump helmet to protect the skull on the jump, but no use as a battle helmet on the ground.  Such headgear was usually ditched on the DZ - if that helps. 

I am looking at the Italian airborne figures for my 1930s Latin American scanario.  Again the kit looks like a 'jump helmet'   The Russian tankers would have a similar leather type helmet - or indeed the crash helmet heads of motorbike riders?

As to the unit, it would be good to know if they worn a beret, field cap or, being French a Kepi?   This may well be what they would have deployed with into the killing ground of the VBCW ....that has now gone not so British !

SUNRAY out

Sunray Out

[GrumpyOldMan]

Hi Sunray

From one of the two pages I linked to:-

"In 1935 an airborne centre is created by capitaine Geille on Avignon-Pujaut. The first French airborne troops were called "infanterie de l'air" and officially created on 1st April 1937, after a decision taken on October 20, 1936. Two "Groupes de l'Infanterie de l'Air" (GIA.) were formed (601st in Reims and 602nd in Baraki in Algeria).

Each group is composed of :
• one HQ
• one transport aircraft squadron
• one airborne infantry company (= CIA = Compagnie d'Infanterie de l'Air) : 175 men organized in 3 platoons + 1 support platoon (with 2 37mm TR infantry guns and 2 Hotchkiss Mle1914 HMGs)."

They were never used as airborne troops, they were on alert for airborne assault however, they were officially disbanded in 1940 but likely formed the base of the Free French airborne troops. One of the beauties of VBCW is that they were available so I can use them  . Much more information (more than is politic to copy into a forum post  ) is available on http://www.ww2f.com/western-europe-1943-1945/25361-french-airborne-troops-1935-1945-a.html.

In my version of VBCW, France, under the auspices of the League of Nations, had sent in some senior officers in response to claims of atrocities against civilians by the Anglican League. While stationed in an unnamed English city, the scene of a past invasion from France, an officer is murdered by BUF operatives. Using Mussolini and Corfu as a basis, I have then envisaged an invasion by French forces looking for the culprits, aided by an unnamed British policeman stationed in the unnamed English city.

I could go further into my madness by talking about the Communist resistance led by a woman, the English resistance in BUF held areas saying things like "Listen carefully.....", brave French pilots on the run, etc, etc, but it's my own madness and I don't need to inflict it on anybody else  .

Anyway I am considering using the Paratroops in their original doctrine of small groups of saboteurs. Here is a picture from the other link http://pangea-systems.com/wwiiws/restricted/paratroops-crs/ that shows that headgear is beret and peaked cap, seasoned with a due respect for rank and Boys at rifles  .



Cheers, back to Ronnie the Publican "You silly woman!!"

GrumpyOldMan

[Sunray]

Oh, I love the counter factual coherence of this parallel world !   Right Vic, two nuggets that may be of use.

1.  Aircraft - I have sourced a AZ model 1/144 Fokker tri-motor at around £11 ,its the right period and even Avro build a version under license.  Was going to use a couple for my 1930s Latin adventure.  You could construct a scanario whereby such jumpships were used over England  as they blend with British commercial types and fit in  with refugee airtraffic, thus not to create an international incident ?  Hannants should have models in stock, some versions cheaper than others.

2. Got a close up on that jump helmet. Actuallly its not unlike the HALO jump helmet (based on a civvy skydiving model) that the Parachute Regiment and
    RAF No2 Regiment 'Pathfinders' sectons use . I can assure you that such kit is definately 'dumped' on the DZ in war time action . Paras do not fight in them, they present a hight silhoutte and are uncool  sweatbuckets. So, unless you want a few  models jumping in, I would go  for beret types from Pendragon SCW and WW2 Commando ranges ?

Has the makings of an interesting VBCW scanario game
SUNRAY OUT

[GrumpyOldMan]

Hello Sunray

Thanks for the pointer on the AZ models, I am trying my hand at unfolding a 3d model of a Dragon Rapide using Pepakura to see if I can use it on anything apart from buildings but it is nice to know that there is a backup plan in case of the unlikely event I completely stuff it up  .

Again thanks for the pointer on the helmet and more likely headwear, I'm trawling through the likely candidates even as I type -  .

Cheers

GrumpyOldMan

[republic of tolworth]

Hello GOM.
I say old chap, wonderful idea for your VBCW. I assume your south coast town is near a hill and an abbey? I presume it's Big Scrap Abbey. Loverly place I done a reenactment of the Big Scrap of south coast town there.

Have you got the French sneaking in anywere else? Just putting the finishing touches to my VBCW French forces. Inspiration, and downright idea theft always welcome.

Cheers.

Adrian.

[Sunray]

GOM - Looking at the amazing images you sourced, it looks like our French airborne are wearing some type of mono overall for the jump.  To my knowledge the Germans were the first to design the distinct para 'smock' and  the British quickly copied it into what we call the Denison.

It is therefore likely that on a combat jump,  French issue combat clothing/jacket would have been worn underneath the mono.

If any expert on the forum has anything to add, the range is yours ...'watch and shoot'

Sunray Out.

[GrumpyOldMan]

Hi RoT/Adrian

Hello GOM.
I say old chap, wonderful idea for your VBCW. I assume your south coast town is near a hill and an abbey? I presume it's Big Scrap Abbey. Loverly place I done a reenactment of the Big Scrap of south coast town there.

Must have given too many clues  , yes and it has funicular railways too, reactivated tram system and electricty supply station that needs protecting.

Have you got the French sneaking in anywere else? Just putting the finishing touches to my VBCW French forces. Inspiration, and downright idea theft always welcome.

Cheers.

Adrian.

At the moment the French are consolidating their beachhead with Fusiliers Marin and landing parties (FPW sailors). I believe you saw my announcement about the release of French recon. types from another manufacturer on another forum. My next step is to land some dragon portes with vehicles, paratroop special forces, minimum armoured vehicles and possibly some FFL. Then I can expand out (as time and money allow). However there are some problems in that the leftist government is also keen to assist the leftist militias/SDV, which is being taken hard by the Anglican League  .

Cheers

Vic/GrumpyOldMan

[GrumpyOldMan]

Hi Sunray

GOM - Looking at the amazing images you sourced, it looks like our French airborne are wearing some type of mono overall for the jump.  To my knowledge the Germans were the first to design the distinct para 'smock' and  the British quickly copied it into what we call the Denison.

It is therefore likely that on a combat jump,  French issue combat clothing/jacket would have been worn underneath the mono.

If any expert on the forum has anything to add, the range is yours ...'watch and shoot'

Sunray Out.

I might use some of the International brigade figures with beret or filed down adrian helmet, as you know poring over the various alternatives can be almost as much fun as the actual construction, well for me anyway. Found a Potez on eBay that I'm thinking of using as a ubiquitous paratroop transport, bomber, VIP transport and combat objective - that's how I'm convincing myself to spend the money 

Cheers

Vic/GrumpyOldMan