Helmet Nets of the 101st Airborne in WWII

[@WorldWarWisdom]

Another killer video, great work!

[@standinthedoor1944]

Appreciate that, thank you!

[@WW2_X2]

Hi world war wisdom

[@NINJAoxz.]

Wow is that world war wisdom? Would be wacky if he recently released a video that had stand in the door as a guest!

[@i_basl]

@NINJAoxz completely unrealistic, that could never happen

[@EndureTheFreedom]

Good boi

[@maxsmodels]

I served in the 101st in the late 70s and early 80s but I only learned a few years ago that my unit (2/327th) actually had to land in Higgins boats at Normandy due to a shortage of glider tow planes.

[@rzr2ffe325]

Which beach? Utah?

[@rubenlopez3364]

⁠@@rzr2ffe325Utah was a much smaller battle only 200 Americans died so maybe there.

[@cameronkedas3375]

Elements of the 327th did land on Utah Beach, but I’m not sure if it was in the initial landings with the 4th Infantry Division and elements of the 90th Infantry Division. In a lot of documentaries about D-Day you can see soldiers on landing craft with the club on their helmets.

[@cameronkedas3375]

Thank you for serving🇺🇸

[@brad5015]

When I was younger watching World War II movies, I remember thinking how awesome those 1/4" helmet nets looked, and I wondered why the Army stopped using them. I was a Reenactor with the 501st PIR many years ago, and quickly put the 1/4" net on my helmet. On my first tactical event, I was sneaking through some underbrush when suddenly a branch went underneath the netting as I was moving forward. It snapped my head and neck back violently. I stopped in my tracks to regain my balance and to make sure I was alright. After that, I had a better idea of why I would quit using this netting.

[@standinthedoor1944]

Exactly right. Same struggle vets dealt with in combat!

[@bluemouse5039]

When I was a boy I loved watching WW-2 and the TV series Combat ,Rat patrol, 12 O'clock high , then later as a adult see a lot of errors such as German infantry would be armed with MP40 submachine guns but only had ammo pouches on their belts for the Mauser 98k rifle or the series Combat Sgt Saunders wore a camo helmet that was only used in the Pacific theater

[@brad5015]

@bluemouse5039 Funny! Actually, I believe the cover Sgt Saunders wore was cut from a camouflage parachute. Our lieutenant in reenacting gave me one to use on my helmet for my Korean War impersonation. He loved "Combat," but he told me he seriously doubted anyone wore those on World War II. I do have a picture of a Captain in the Korean War, September 1950, wearing one with the 2 inch khaki netting over the top.

[@furmanmackey5479]

@@bluemouse5039 And I thought I was the only one who noticed the camo helmet cover error and the mag pouch problems.

[@bluemouse5039]

@@furmanmackey5479 Here's one I didn't think about till I got older was on The series Rat patrol, those guys are supposed to be raiders out in the desert for several days or weeks at a time , exposed to all the dirt and sand in open Jeep , carried just enough water to drink, but always had clean clothes with no sweat stains, clean shaven and never a hair out of place on their head like they just left the barbershop, I also saw a rare episode on Combat where I saw Sgt Saunders reload his Tommy gun

[@onyx8420]

So im in the 82nd currently. It's pretty cool seeing old photos of the division. makes you realize what youre apart of.

[@jamesross1799]

Very similar situation with the british airborne. Everything from no helmet net at all through helmet net no scrim to only a few strands of scrim right up to blokes wearing something akin to a small Bush on there head. It's a fascinating subject for those of us who are geeky enough to be interested in what is and isn't accurate.

[@standinthedoor1944]

For sure. Interesting to see how supply chains created the “trends” in each individual unit.

[@The_Assassin_of_The_Gray]

They gave Matt Damon a khaki helmet net so he would stand out when not in central frame during action scenes There are a lot of errors in _Saving Private Ryan_ a familiar eye will catch Excellent presentation, as always

[@tgc93]

When I was younger I was very curious about the various usage of helmet nets(or lackthereof) across different units in photos and wondered who decided what type of net they used and why certain units like the 101st started off wearing them then ditched them as the war went on. I could never find any good information about it online and one time asked a guy about it at a museum and he kind of gave me this look like “who the hell cares about that” and from that point on I just decided I was never going to get an answer and moved on. Flash forward over 10 years later and your video popped up in my recommendeds. I’m happy to finally get some information about this, even though I had long forgotten it was a thing I wanted to know about.

[@kaibowman4803]

For anyone wondering, the "small hole" helmet nets were also the single most common helmet net in the 28th ID, from the few surviving photos you can find that are verifiably the 28th

[@brendondickerson9563]

I have two example photos of 101st airborne soldiers heading to Normandy using khaki camo nets. I tried posting the links to the photos but KZbin has hidden the comments. :(

[@brendondickerson9563]

Just found 2 more of 101st in Normandy with khaki netting. They are hard to find for sure. I've been looking through all my books cause this video got me really interested.

[@standinthedoor1944]

Ya that is the main point of these videos. We want to point out the most concrete facts that we can so guys can do their own research to confirm what is accurate for their impression. Too often we simply get in the rut of complacency and need help getting out of if it to make our representation of American heroes as accurate as possible. Hope to see you in the next video!

[@jasonrusso9808]

I could watch these videos all damn day. Good job brother! Carry On.

[@F1lmtwit]

So, little problem here. 1) B&W film isn't the unsaturation (monochroming) of color like you just did. 2) Instead B&W film chemically interpreters the color to shades of grey. 3) color filters will alter that grey scale, so if you had for instance a yellow filter it would increase contrast, if you were using orange filter, it would soften skintone and darken some reds.

[@jhnshep]

@2:25 depends on availability at the time I guess. Nothing really related but I was in the legion paras and we used strips of inner tubes from jeeps to hold helmet covers in place, but for one reason there wasn't any available, so guys in 2nd company got hold of door trimmings which are strips of u shaped metal covered in plastic that the guys folded on to the helmet rim and pressing it in with pliers. On the parade ground it could be an eclectic mix of helmet covers. (yes we jumped with steel helmets, even though we deployed with kevlar).

[@markleviner2540]

Realy Man you are a true speaking man. Good info. My wifes Grand Dad was a full bird Cornl Tank Comander He would only talk to me about he went through. RIP Three Star General Papaw Smith. Burried Him on his 101st birthday Love MMLZZZ

[@standinthedoor1944]

Thanks brother! I want to present the best information I can in the most honoring way possible. Not too many vets make it to their 101st. He sure got close though.

[@ZacharyBurgard]

Grate video I have all of these helmet nest that I got in a box at a antique store

[@standinthedoor1944]

Lucky dog! Such a great find!

[@WhatHoSnorkers]

Superb work for re-enactors, sir!

[@twostep1953]

(Army Infantry veteran, Ranger tab, Airborne wings, commissioned in 1976 while still using the WWII helmet but with a cover, and band around it.) The color of the helmet, or the camouflage-cover we put on it, is almost useless; same for cloth woven into a net-cover. The distinctive shape of the helmet is what will get you shot; you have to break up the outline. Look at early war Japanese, and early war North Vietnamese using brush, not only on their pith helmets, but on their backs. When they lie down to fire, they 'disappear'. But the truth is, after a while no one does it anymore; a running bush still gets shot at. . We didn't even bother to use it in Ranger School. Except our faces, and even then no patterns; you lighten up dark areas (around eyes, under neck) and darken things which stick out (forehead, nose, cheekbones, chin, ears). The stuff wears off your hands and smears on things; I recommend fingerless wool or synthetic-material gloves (not cotton, absorbs and holds moisture but can't hold warmth when wet). In Korea, I used fingerless gloves inside a trigger-finger mitten (keep your trigger-finger in with the rest to warm up). My left hand had a regular glove, right hand fingerless; sometimes you have to pull your hand out of the mitten to manipulate equipment or dials, and flesh touching freezing metal isn't good. Camouflaging your position - and that includes behind you so you don't silhouette - and being VERY still & silent, is more important than personal camouflage.

[@Snargfargle]

I still have my helmet. When I got out, I turned in another one I found on a tank trail in Germany. We had a brown and green reversible camo cover but as I recall we never used the brown side. The cover had slits in it that you could stick twigs in for more camouflage. The only time I ever did that was in Basic. I still have a couple of tubes of face paint too. The "woke" crowd nowadays would have a hissy fit had they seen us white guys with black-painted faces on night maneuvers. I notice that almost none of the "woke" crowd has ever served though. That face paint was a mess, especially when you had to don your gas mask. I kept a bottle of bug repellent attached to my helmet by the elastic camo band. Bug repellent was a must have where I was stationed.

[@usmc12345678910]

Why did they use helmet nets at all? Was it simply to put scrim in for camouflage?

[@standinthedoor1944]

It helps break of the silhouette of the helmet slightly but primarily to cut down on the glare of the sun shinning off your helmet revealing your position.

[@Anon54387]

@@standinthedoor1944 If that was the case why not simply stretch fabric over the helmet rather than a net? The metal shows through the netting, after all.

[@postrock12]

Good of you to tell people to be skeptical & look for themselves 👏

[@Soldier1287]

I think I saw the netting even nowadays very briefly during my time in the 101. Like on one or two guys. Most of the time, we used camo net and cable ties or tucked under the cat eye band.

[@markaxworthy2508]

Sometimes one can have no real interest in a subject but the presenter's investment, expertise and clarity overrides this. This is one such case - a model presentation of a very niche subject.

[@standinthedoor1944]

I am so glad you enjoyed the video. A very niche topic to be sure but one that is a cornerstone for historical accuracy. Hope you subscribe and I see you in the next video.

[@BlindAlanAlda]

In regards to color the khaki net is correct when reenacting 82nd Ab in Sicily as they seem to be pretty common there.

[@frederickking1660]

A family I met thru my girlfriend had a family member in the airborne post ww2. They had a picture of him with his group. They had it digitally redone and framed. I took one look and proclaimed , that's Spiers! He was the co of the group. The young man who had the picture made stood their mouth agape. He said I never knew that.

[@haavardbraathen9687]

what was the intended function of the inner helmets strap? I always used it as a neck strap to prevent the helmet to move forward when hitting the ground. But I seldom see it used like that.

[@lloydgoldston3620]

Great video complete with a well detailed breakdown for Normandy, Holland, and Bastogne. I have originals of each style including the brown helmet net which is harder to find. I’ve always wondered if any the parachute regiments wore the two tone OD and brown British helmet net. Airborne!

[@standinthedoor1944]

Nice! Ya I have never seen a Gi with a British 2 tone either!

[@lodragan]

Is there any documentation of foliage being put in the helmet net? My post Vietnam era M1 helmet cover had slots in it that we would insert foliage to break up the shape of the helmet; and when we were issued the K-pot, its helmet cover similarly had slots built in. Were they not using the helmet net for this same purpose?

[@standinthedoor1944]

Very rarely, at least in the 101st and 82nd. I can’t think of a picture with foliage in their helmets. Other units may have done it but pretty uncommon.

[@WW2_X2]

Nice video and thanks for putting that info out there

[@standinthedoor1944]

My pleasure want to present the best facts I can in the most honoring way possible. Want to build people up, not tear them down.

[@WW2_X2]

Yeah ww2 reenacting is like monkey see monkey do so I like how you carefully research not say you things that aren’t ture or poorly presented. 😀👍👍

[@JelMain]

Just a quick reminder that the net is only a base. From c1942 when Lord Lovat made his estate and staff available to UK Special Forces and SOE, ghillie suits started to appear on snipers, consisting of a net base, scrim, and local vegetation. The watchwords for things to avoid were Shape, Shine, Silhouette, Shadow, and things like the net broke the rules on shape. But, starting on a twig foundation, you could break up the helmet shape, as well. That in turn meant the mesh had to be large enough to take the trigs, and a quarter-inch isn't. Colour's also a giveaway.

[@nightjarflying]

The net is not "only a base" - it significantly reduces the 'shine' of a wet helmet. Adding scrim inside the net is practical whereas vegetation is just a nuisance with no value for most soldiers in most environments. [not talking about sniper disguises].

[@JelMain]

@@nightjarflying I am. I told you why. You have to break up shape.

[@Dej24601]

Can anyone explain something I noticed in B.O.B. - in a few scenes (episodes 6 and 7, for example) a few guys had white helmets or white coverings on their helmets. I thought I saw the actor playing Shifty Powers with a white helmet, but not the medics, and several of the German soldiers (also it seemed some of them were dressed in white). I thought it might relate to the weather and snow, but it seemed then everyone would have white, not just a few. Were there white helmets or did I get confused by the cinematography or lighting? If so, what was the purpose. Thank you.

[@theanimalguy7]

From what I’ve heard, the white helmet covers were from bedding sheets

[@mr_marti7663]

I have one question! In Band of Brothers there is a scene were a Easy soldier has a helmet with scrim AND a wood plank taped to his right side of the helmet. Its in the First Episode at the end where they get into the plane, and im wondering why were they using planks for their helmets during D-Day?!? I know that some soldiers used First Aid kits on the front of the helmet and scrim too but wood planks is something diff.

[@lukashaz4548]

The “wood plank” you saw is a Composition C charge if I recall correctly. But don’t ask me why he taped a demolition charge to his helmet.

[@rzr2ffe325]

While putting the first aid packet on the helmet is incorrect for DDay, tieing it off to webgear M36 suspenders is correct. Stuffing grenades and hawkins mines into pockets is correct. Jumping into enemy lines meant to strapping on every bit of gear you could because it was all you were gonna have for a while

[@standinthedoor1944]

It’s actually not a wood plank. That is a block of demolition. Either TNT or composition B. Why they put that on there I have no idea as there is no photographic evidence of troopers doing that. You actually don’t see paratroopers wearing first aid kits on their helmets until market garden and even then it was only the 502nd in Holland.

[@johnbeauvais3159]

If memory serves there’s a passage from “The First Men In” that describes a trooper taping blasting caps to a piece of wood to protect them and then taping that to his helmet. His logic is a bit strange to me but it seems it was something that happened

[@lukashaz4548]

@@johnbeauvais3159 Blasting caps already came in a wooden box, 6-cap or 10-cap box.

[@brendondickerson9563]

I really love these videos. Keep it up!

[@standinthedoor1944]

Glad you like them!

[@dismemberedlamb9104]

Quick question. The famous photo of Major Winters standing under that arch like structure in what I believe is a market garden operation uniform is there scrim on his helmet. I could never tell if so gotta be very minimal does anyone know what I’m talking about????

[@standinthedoor1944]

It is hard to know for sure but it looks like a little bit. He also wore the larger “Normandy” style net rather than the later war small hole net.

[@kurttate9446]

Question: I've always assumed the helmet nets were meant to be used with vegetation as camouflage. Is that true or was the net itself the camouflage? I know the cloth camouflage helmet covers also have small slits in the material in order to attach pieces of vegetation for additional concealment.

[@nightjarflying]

Rarely used with vegetation - the most useful function of the net is to reduce 'shine' on a wet helmet. In real WWII soldiering vegetation is only useful if one keeps absolutely still which is a very rare circumstance outside of being a sniper. A bush on the head that moves bodes ill for the wearer!

[@paulackley2882]

Helmet insignia is too large. See original photos. They were hand painted, not sprayed through a stencil.

[@julienlequien8267]

Great video ! Don’t forget the wearing of « medium mesh » brown helmet net during Normandy campaign for paratroopers and many others units ! Really like your job !

[@standinthedoor1944]

For sure. Doing a video on 82nd troops next.

[@4002corbe]

As the allies pushed further across Europe and into Germany itself the feeling of victory was more prevalent, and the need for recognition of fellow armies was necessary. Unit recognition was paramount over concealment and the orders from SHEAF dictating this from campaign to campaign.

[@standinthedoor1944]

Exactly right.

[@stopmotion0013]

How do you find photos of specific units in the 101st Airborne Division during WW2? Im having some trouble finding photos of the 502nd PIR.

[@standinthedoor1944]

Check out D-Day Publishing in Normandy.

[@truthsayers8725]

about 3 decades ago, i did reenacting in california. we had a big (6 or 7 unit) reenactment at Fort Ord on the their MOUT site. it was a Market Garden reenactment. because a LOT of us were active duty Air Force and couldnt afford much more than the late OD green (1944-ish?) fatigue and field jacket let alone a Jump Suit (and paratroop helmet liners with chin cups were not very prevalent either), we did the 327th GIR. i dont remember which battalion (2nd??? had the 6 oclock tick mark) i think we had the 1/2-3/4" netting. i dont know if the 327th would even have had netting. have you got any insight on that?

[@JayMac-gh1kx]

Cool video 😊about us AIRBORNE warrior's! Keep the gd work up an running from a oldswet my self an ex'service AB ALL THE WAY BROTHER from the U.K. an British PARA that's atm on the 80th anniversary of D-DAY JUMP an so on. Green on mucker lots of memories from a oldswet my self an ex'service AB ALL THE WAY BROTHER from the U.K. 😊

[@The509er]

Can you do a video on the painted camouflage on M1942s and how they were done? I’m joining a unit that will be portraying the 509th PIB during WW2 and that specific unit had camo M1942s.

[@tagabundok1]

It's possible they put Matt Damon in the lighter net so the audience could more easily keep track of him during the battle scene that he's in.

[@red88chevy]

Very interesting, even at 3am!

[@standinthedoor1944]

lol late watch!

[@theathletearchives]

Fascinating video. Thank you.

[@shannonhagemo9624]

Great video

[@standinthedoor1944]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Rat_Master792]

I do 100th Infantry battalion and from Italy to France we switch from the 2” net to the shrimp nets.

[@standinthedoor1944]

Nice! All units were different. It’s great when there is a lot of photos of your unit throughout the war so you can see the differences.

[@ronaldfinkelstein6335]

What is the purpose of the helmet net?

[@CycolacFan]

I was wondering the same thing… ‘The United States Army often used nets to reduce the helmets' shine when wet and to allow burlap scrim or vegetation to be added for camouflage purposes.’

[@Thenogomogo-zo3un]

You could attach your wet socks onto it to get dry while marching. (also applies to underpants, after washing them, preferably. Dont want Jerry to 'sniff you out') Also good to use as a hairnet to keep your hair in place on the way to the dance.

[@emilyhermanson6874]

stand by the door 1944 is the best app iv ever seen

[@fazole]

The other feature of these WW2 helmet nets was that the top ripped open because many GIs sat on their helmets. Do you see that much in reenactments?

[@guillaumepare9651]

Excellent narrative.

[@olafruckelshausen5911]

My first Question would have been: What is it for?. So I was out after one minute

[@L_Train]

It's used to attach foliage or scrim to in order to help break up the silhouette of the helmet. Strips of cloth or plants can be weaved through the netting.

[@jasonrusso9808]

551st PIB, parachute infantry battalion, "GOYA Birds" (Get Off Your Ass) lol. wow.... Nice reference, not many people even know about them or mention that amazing unit.

[@SteveVi0lence]

I hate to be that armchair historian, but we all know we live in a simulation, and the earlier updates to the matrix just couldn't handle the resolution of the 3/4 inch nets.

[@JohnDoe_75]

Was wearing those nets in 1996 in the para's, no idea what they do these days.

[@davidgood1072]

Great job!

[@rubenlopez3364]

Theres historical photos I’ve seen of standard infantry using a tighter woven net cover maybe homemade with burlap sacks

[@standinthedoor1944]

Yeah those were definitely around. Just varies from unit to unit.

[@Thenogomogo-zo3un]

I'd reckon alot of the time they'd just get anything they could utilise or get their hands on to use. Improvise!

[@ThePyramidone]

One of the reasons why Matt Damon's character might have worn the lighter helmet net was the producer-director's attempt to make him stand out as a disliked character in the movie. Damon did not have to go through the "boot camp" phase that the other actors had to participate in. He was not allowed to socialize with the other actors. Also, it may have been that the uniform research was not meticulous enough or the equipment availability was not there.

[@standinthedoor1944]

Ya the production team does that for their main characters a lot. If you notice Tom hanks wears a much lighter jacket than everyone else. This is really appreciate when the uniform is wet in the. Each or in the rain.

[@Thenogomogo-zo3un]

To make him stand out. A bit like the camouflage parachute silk helmet cover Vic Morrow wears in the series 'Combat' to identify him from the others. Most actors with helmets on from a distance or if filmed from behind will all tend to look the same. Helps the audience to follow the story.

[@pickplaygames2147]

very good

[@standinthedoor1944]

Thank you for watching!

[@Nyllsor]

Intresting!

[@standinthedoor1944]

Glad you liked it! Be sure and subscribe for the next video!

[@Nyllsor]

@@standinthedoor1944 Been subbed since som time back since you make so intresting, well-made and well-documented videos! Keep up the goodwill work :) and have a good day!

[@jacobalexander4961]

551st PIB GOYAs! Grew up hearing the stories of their attack on Rochelinval before they were disbanded from my grandfather. Also, their dog Furlough!

[@fredgohlke4128]

Get Off Your Asses. Nice to hear the 551st mentioned.

[@DesertPackrat]

Matt Damon’s color could have need Director’s artistic license so that he stands out.

[@davidstorme8748]

Dude, no-way would I have followed orders into Omaha Beach… Starters: Boats Doors should’ve opened at left-front/right-front providing a shield, further, these doors should’ve been lined with steel-sheets like a ream of paper, dropped-down for individual transportable shields, individual scuba gear for ten minutes underwater breathing, the squad assembled into a shielded-phalanx underwater, advancing into the beach behind a steel-shield, in waves of pre-assembled men, shields w/shooting-ports… etcetera.., Yeah, I woulda fragged my lieutenant immediately and had a pow-wie with the boys concerning our Plan B… 🎻🎭🤺

[@masudashizue777]

After noticing that the beach obstacles were facing the wrong way, I lost all faith in the accuracy of Private Ryan. You can see them placed correctly in The Longest Day.

[@rzr2ffe325]

Or their fake T55/Tiger I or their fake Marder II. Or the bunkers on Omaha that every videogame copies but were never a thing. Jackson continuously shooting more than 5 rounds out of his Springfield. German sniper not bracing his weapon for a long range shot. Randomly throwing on a different scope to engage him. Idk why Saving Private Ryan is put on this pedestal when clearly it is lacking in the accuracy department.

[@Mongooseonthaloose]

@@rzr2ffe325it’s the “pedestal” for the fact it shows the ferocity of those battles depicted. I don’t believe there is an abundance of German Tiger 1 tanks that were available for filming at the time of production, same with the Marder. The beach landing scene was so chaotic and intense… no other film captured that in that way until that point.

[@standinthedoor1944]

@@Mongooseonthaloose couldn’t agree more!

[@johnbeauvais3159]

@@rzr2ffe325It’s not a T-55, it was a T-34-85 that served as the basis for the Tiger in that movie and Band of Brothers.

[@SouthwestTed]

The khaki net would more easily give your position away IMO

[@standinthedoor1944]

Yeah totally! Not very good camouflage!

[@pyry1948]

Ryan most likely had the tan net on for character recognition purposes only

[@rzr2ffe325]

I won’t allow it. Historical accuracy comes first

[@standinthedoor1944]

For sure. Movie productions often do the snowflake effect for their main characters.

[@pyry1948]

@@rzr2ffe325 well that is really the least of the troubles of that film

[@Losermachine35]

That stuff gets bleached out in the sun tho so if youre doing a late war impression the lighter color wouldnt be wrong

[@MT-it9qt]

Stand in the Door - book about the 1st US paratroopers to jump into combat, 509th PIB - the Gingerbread Men.

[@jessetrills]

not much of a site if everything is sold out

[@maineoutdoorsman677]

It's just ,fishing net from used ,an as sain gets bleached out it turns white ,tan Kacie ,the black isn't real black it tared to add strengths , They had millions of fathoms of sain ,an that's what they used ww2 ,where everthing * was rathioned ,or scares so

[@rayzimmermin]

i think the reason mats character had that particular color net was just so you could always tell what one was him because it stood out and that's why you should not take war movie as accurate because sometime movies do things that would not be accurate to make a character stand out so you do not lose them in the action

[@gracepidgeon76]

Okay

[@BĹİŤŻżẒ̌88]

The pisspot helmet as we called them in Belgium.

[@Pudentame]

Did the soldiers ever weave foliage into the helmet net once they were on the ground?

[@standinthedoor1944]

Very rarely, at least in the 101st and 82nd. I can’t think of a picture with foliage in their helmets.

[@D2C3R5]

never understood why the army didn't use a helmet cover like the marines did. since paint wears off on helmets, you see photos of GIs with shiny reflective helmets. you can see that a mile away.

[@bostonrailfan2427]

the only way they’re shiny like that is if they’re polished and brand spanking new…in the field dirt, mud, dust, vegetation etc. gets on it and isn’t getting cleaned thoroughly and if the helmet is getting so worn that it’s starting to wear out the paint something is off

[@standinthedoor1944]

It’s because the Germans were using camouflage patterns for their helmets and the army didn’t want friendly fire. GIs thinking other GIs were Germans. Elements of the second armored tested out frog-skinned patterned camouflage in Normandy which led to a number of guys being killed by other Americans so they stopped using those uniforms in the European theater.

[@jaybeeonyt]

I heard that frog pattern friendly fire story is just a myth.​@@standinthedoor1944

[@dannyd464]

So you're saying there's a chance.....🥜

[@dogmadogma5398]

Liked and sub'd

[@AngeloJJ]

Ackshoolee

[@MoviesFirearmsandGear]

Thats not khaki its sun faded 😉

[@samhavoc1066]

Plenty of examples of gear in history that some lab rat thought was a good idea that gets chucked shortly after first use.

[@drvonschwartz]

What? Matt Damon's net looks pretty OD.

[@spokanefut]

No.

[@Snuffy03]

Paratroopers did not wear helmets. They, like Marines, had bulletproof skulls.

[@Mongooseonthaloose]

You win the comment section 😉

[@standinthedoor1944]

Amen to that.

[@rzr2ffe325]

God Saving Private Ryan is so stupid. I personally blame Stephen Spielberg for misleading us. Especially those pathfinder guys with the giant nets and the gd main character Ryan being completely f’ed up. I can’t believe these myths were allowed to spread this far.

[@katazack]

We get it. You don't like the movie. Just ignore the fact that SPR and Band of Brothers caused an explosion of interest in WWII. It enabled WWII vets to earn acclamation from younger generations who otherwise would not have learned of their bravery and sacrifice. I wish more movies were as "stupid" as SPR.

[@andym9571]

Spielberg was also asked why there were no Brits portrayed in Saving Private Ryan. He said " there were no Brits at Omaha ". Well he got that wrong.

[@zaynevanday142]

Wear what you want 😂😂😂

[@Thenogomogo-zo3un]

Yes.....🧔

[@willsta21]

I hate click bait! All those about to watch - they did where these there is no huge controversy save yourself 12mins.

[@seedy1959]

OMG really nets....My life has been wasted by this video.....

[@Black_Patriot-Veteran-1970]

The 1/4" helmet net was British made, is that right?

[@Rosnoseros]

The many mistakes disrespecting all nations in private ryan makes it quite a shit film unfortunately.

[@BcFuTw9jt]

Wow...Seriously??? A dude mad at how dudes are pretending??? Let the basement dwellers dwell, mom will run out of tendies soon with todays prices.

[@brendondickerson9563]

Wait, are you mad at a dude being mad at how dudes are pretending?!? That's some inception level anger right there.