Long Thrust VI

As a youngster, I served in the Ground Observer Corps, an organization of Citizen Volunteers trained by the U.S. Air Force to spot & report Soviet aircraft. In my little Southern Colorado town, there were approximately fifty Volunteers in our GOC Post (AJ14Black). Most Volunteers were WW II Veterans -- our Post Supervisor was a 82nd ABD Veteran, captured in Sicily. The town's mayor, a Marine Corps Veteran of both World Wars was a Member. The GOC deactivated in about 1956, upon completion of the northern defensive-radar installations between the U.S. & U.S.S.R. Looking back, even now I take pride in my GOC service.

Greetings, Gordon. My retired West Berlin Police friend reports the photos I posted were taken at different times. One showing BEPO firing a light mortar is from the early 1960s. At that time, BEPO (Bereitschaftspolizei) & another police paramilitary organization, Einsatzkommando or "E-Kommando," existed. In 1974, both units were replaced by Einsatzbereitschaft or EB. My friend served in BEPO briefly in 1965 & returned to police service in 1974. Other photos show EB training at Parks Range in 1970s & 80s. In late 1967, West Berlin Police replaced Allied WW II weapons with Bundeswehr 7.62mm NATO arms (MRA3 light machine guns & G3 rifles). Following reunification, Berlin Police Department released its stocks of strictly military weaponry, keeping only pistols, submachine guns, & special sniper rifles. Hopefully, this information is helpful. My regards, John a/k/a Long Thrust VI

Thank you, Gordon. Hopefully, my posts have not rudely hijacked this forum on West Berlin Police headgear. My "dating system" for these photos is dubious, at best; based primarily, on the Battle Dress Uniforms of U.S. Army personnel in the final photo & my assumption that they were all taken during the same time frame, perhaps, even the same day. Please feel free to share these photos with others. I'll get more definitive time-frame information from my source, a retired West Berlin Police official & get back to you. My understanding is that the M-53 helmet was designed, by BGS, as an improved M-35/40 with a top-suspension liner, not requiring exterior rivets & that the "vent-less" model came later as an experiment. Unfortunately, my written sources are packed away now as my wife & I are moving. In any case, I just found this website & am in awe of the knowledge of you participants -- it's a true learning experience for me to be here (& I haven't even begun exploring the whole site)!

Here are 1980s-era photos of BEPO training at U.S. Army's Parks Range in West Berlin. Notice the variety of weapons: rifles, pistols, light machine guns, light mortar, sub-machine guns, light armored vehicle (the M-60 Main Battle Tank belonged to Co. F, 40th Armor, U.S. Berlin Brigade). Steel helmets appear to be M-53 variants (without side vents). Footgear appears to be pull-on boots but not the heavy model worn by Bundeswehr troops. Notice on the far right of the first photo are men wearing white jackets & helmets with red stripes. Parks Range was situated next to the Soviet Zone of East Germany -- East German border guards were only yards away from some firing lanes.http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_10_2013/post-16322-0-18753400-1381849204.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_10_2013/post-16322-0-85254800-1381849337.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_10_2013/post-16322-0-87827000-1381849391.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_10_2013/post-16322-0-32722500-1381849423.jpg

Red Eagle & Gordon, Thank you for your replies & for sharing your photographs. Both your collections must be outstanding! A Berliner friend, retired from the West Berlin Police Department, has sent pictures of that agency over the years. I'll attempt to post a couple here (Please understand I'm new to this site). One photo is of a West Berlin Police Department para-military unit referred to as BEPO, on parade in about 1960. The unit commander was reportedly reprimanded for parading with fixed bayonets. The other photo shows President Kennedy reviewing a West Berlin PD unit on 26 June 1963. Policemen are wearing traditional shako headgear which have apparently been discontinued. Regards, John

What a fine-looking cap! In 1963, I served in the U.S. Army in Berlin & recall West Berlin police caps as appearing more "plain" than the one shown. No insignia appeared on the upper-front of this style cap. Of course memory grows dim over a half century. However, not long ago I saw a film of President Kennedy delivering his memorable "Ich bin ein Berliner" address. Standing behind him was a high-ranking West Berlin police official wearing this style cap with no insignia on the upper front. West Berlin policemen patrolling along the infamous Wall often wore M-43 style forage caps & were armed with U.S. M-1 .30 caliber carbines.