17th Airborne Division

EQUIPMENT

Helmet M2:

A special helmet was issued to all paratroopers.  It was basically a regular steel shelled M1 helmet with removable fiber liner that had an added 'A' frame on both sides of the liner with a leather chin cup.  It had round chinstrap loops welded to the shell that the normal chinstrap was sewn to.

Helmet M1C:

This was the 2nd pattern paratrooper's helmet that was introduced in the fall of 1943.  The difference was that the chinstrap loops were now square in shape and would swivel to reduce breakage. 

Parachute first aid packet:

This was a waterproof pouch that contained a first aid dressing, a tourniquet, and a 1/2 grain of morphine in a syrette and could be attached to the netting of a helmet, tied to webbing, or anything else a trooper needed it to be attached to.

T-5 Parachute:

This parachute was adopted in 1941 and had one main chute as well as a reserve attached to the chest.  It was secured to the troopers with many straps connected to each other using metal clips and loops.  It was found to be hard to get out of when the shock of the opening chute tightened the straps.  It was then that they decided to modify the chutes by adding a quick-release box like the British were using on their X type chute.

T-7 Parachute:

The T-7 was a T-5 that had been converted by adding the quick-release box to the chest straps.  It made the removal of the chute quicker, but some troopers were not properly trained in how to release the straps and were either killed or hurt during future combat jumps.

Parachutist's Rope:

This was simply a 30' long piece of 3/8" rope that was used to lower a trooper from trees, roofs, etc. that they may have landed in by accident on a jump.

M2 Pocket Knife:

The M2 pocket knife was a switchblade type knife used to cut the parachute harness webbing or riser lines when a trooper landed in a difficult position. 

MORE TO COME: