World War II Training Manuals?

[AmateisGal]

Anyone know where I could find some info on World War II training manuals? I'm specifically looking for the brochures they handed out on what bomber crews and other airmen were supposed to do if they were shot down in occupied territory. I know that going to the archives of the 8th Air Force would be the best place (Penn State has one here) but I can't make the trip right now.

Also, I read in a novel (so I'm double-checking the claim) that the airmen carried photographs of themselves in civilian clothes in case they were shot down, but the Germans knew when these photos were fake because they all used the same tie in the photographs. True or false? And where could I find that information?

 

[Story]

After a quick-and-dirty search, the first hit was:

TM 10-420 Emergency Food Plants and Poisonous Plants of the Islands of the Pacific (15 April 1943); 149 pages, 113 illus.Price 15.00 {Item No.3785}
http://www.military-info.com/MPHOTO/p023.htm


In the event that there are helpful FL agents near these two sources, check:
http://home.clara.net/clinchy/neeb6c.htm

See also:
Aircrew Survival Weapon Use. WW II Data Base.
http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA057795


http://books.google.com/books?id=SQ...=X&oi=book_result&resnum=10&ct=result#PPA3,M1

 

[AmateisGal]

Thanks, Story! Very helpful.

 

[p51]

I have a copy of the "waht you should do if you're captured" booklet which is pretty hard to find, I'm told.

Also, I read in a novel (so I'm double-checking the claim) that the airmen carried photographs of themselves in civilian clothes in case they were shot down, but the Germans knew when these photos were fake because they all used the same tie in the photographs. True or false?

Very true. They were called "Escape and Evasion" photos. The Germans who interrogated captured airmen often could indeed tell what unit the guy was in by the tie they wore. They usually had two such photo taken, one head-on and the other in a 3/4 profile. This was because you couldn't count on the resistance to have a camera or for the airman to not be beat up after being shot down (it would look odd for your "old" ID card photo to show the same black eye you had at the time). I have an extensive grouping of items from a 91st BG B-17 pilot and have both of his E&E photos. If you want, I could scan them to show you what they looked like. I did find one from a 100th BG pilot online: http://www.100thbg.com/mainmenus/349th/images03/8_23_2.jpg
As for my personal interest, I'm also a life member of the 91st BG association. I think this photo speaks volumes. I'm knealing in the front row to the far right:

 

[AmateisGal]

I have a copy of the "waht you should do if you're captured" booklet which is pretty hard to find, I'm told. Very true. They were called "Escape and Evasion" photos. The Germans who interrogated captured airmen often could indeed tell what unit the guy was in by the tie they wore. They usually had two such photo taken, one head-on and the other in a 3/4 profile. This was because you couldn't count on the resistance to have a camera or for the airman to not be beat up after being shot down (it would look odd for your "old" ID card photo to show the same black eye you had at the time). I have an extensive grouping of items from a 91st BG B-17 pilot and have both of his E&E photos. If you want, I could scan them to show you what they looked like. I did find one from a 100th BG pilot online: http://www.100thbg.com/mainmenus/349th/images03/8_23_2.jpg
As for my personal interest, I'm also a life member of the 91st BG association. I think this photo speaks volumes. I'm in the front row to the far right:

WOW. You have a copy of that booklet? How cool is that? Don't let that thing out of your sight! And I would indeed be indebted to you if you scanned some of those items in to share. I'd love to see them.

GREAT photo, BTW.

 

[p51]

WOW. You have a copy of that booklet? How cool is that? Don't let that thing out of your sight!

Oh, no danger of that happening, I collect US WW2 stuff and have two drawers in a dresser filled with TMs and language guides and books like that.

I would indeed be indebted to you if you scanned some of those items in to share. I'd love to see them.

I've been meaning to get photos of all his stuff anyway and get it together online. When I do, I'll post the photos here. FYI, I wrote up a narrative of that vet's last mission (where he ditched his B-17 in the North Sea) which is now in the book "Dinghy Drop: 279 Squadron RAF 1941-1946" by Tom Docherty (which I'm certain nobody here has ever read).

 

[AmateisGal]

Sometimes I amaze myself with my uttery stupidity. While cleaning today, I came across a B-17 Pilot Training Manual that I had printed out months ago. Granted, I've moved house since then and stuff is everywhere, but how on earth could I forget this? At any rate, I did, but hopefully I can redeem myself by posting the link for anyone interested:

http://www.stelzriede.com/ms/html/mshwpmn1.htm