Frank M

Head shot.

Close up of awards. Yes Rick, two swords devices are indeed missing.

Paul - Here's some shots of some of my older Luftwaffe groupings. Some of the members here have seen a few of these before, but thought I would share them here now. Hope these are of some enjoyment to the membership. First one is of an Oberstleutnant of flight.

Paul - Enjoyed reviewing your Luftwaffe material. Thank you for sharing. Frank

Jos - That early cold weather face mask must be an uncommon item. I have not had the opportunity to review such an item before. Congratulations on your having acquired it. Frank

Yes, I can get some close ups, however, it won't be but for a bit. I still have the award, and its packet, but I am not in a position for the moment to take additional shots of it. Just a week out or so should do it. Respectfully, Frank

Although not technically, a "case", here's one of my Luftwaffe Erdkampfabzeichen, and its accompanying packet. Frank

Here, in this final shot, is a good picture for uniform buffs. Note the variety of uniform items being worn by his gun crew. Adolf is the guy lying on his side to the left of the photograph in the foreground. Hope you enjoy reviewing these photographs. Respectfully, Frank

A second shot of Adolf apparently doing paperwork of some sort, or possibly writing home while resting "in coach"? Notice the winged wheel stencil just to the left, on the side of the rail car, from where he is sitting.

A better shot of an 88 mounted to its flat car with Adolf in the fore ground. Notice the "DR" lettering stencilled directly below him, and behind the ladder. "Deutsche Reichsbahn".

One of the unit's Adolf was stationed with was an 88 unit that had its guns mounted on rail cars. Here's one pic of a gun that was assigned to this unit. This picture is rather small, and blurry, but notice the kill rings, and the name painted on the barrel.

His name was Adolf Dwenger. He was born in Bremen, Germany in 1920, spent his compulsory service time in the RAD, and once this was completed, enlisted in the Luftwaffe. He did not become involved in the French campaigns of 1940, but did serve on occupation duty, defending the U boat bases in Brest against Allied aerial attacks, prior to the invasion of Russia. Once this began, he served with Luftwaffe flak units from the beginning of the campaign in Russia until the end of the war. Here's a period studio shot of Adolf.

Back in 1995, some of our family members elected to come and visit us here in the United States. Knowing that I had a love of German World War II history, the wife brought along a series of photographs that her father, my mother's first cousin, took while stationed with a flak unit in Russia, as he had recently passed away, and none of the family living in Germany wanted them. When asked if I was interested in them, I couldn't say yes fast enough. I thought I would share them with the membership.

Jos - As always, you've got an outstanding talent for obtaining the necessary field equipment to add the required depth of realism to your displays. Either that, or you have a very understanding wife, who allows you to get away with financially murdering your household expense account! Nice grouping of "fliegern". Respectfully, Frank

Hmmmm? Jim, that old SD M42 Heer pot you've got there? Sure looks familiar to me. I'd swear that one looks awful similar to an example I had here at my domain once upon a time! Respectfully, Frank

Ernst Schmuck-Barkmann II SS PD DAS REICH

A little more updated portrait of Herr Schrijnen and his wife. I believe this shot was sent to me about three or four years ago in one of his Christmas cards.

Remy Schrijnen, SS Freiwilligen - Legion Flandern Herr Schrijnen has been the one Waffen SS veteran that I have stayed in contact with the most over time.

Hello Mark - I don't have my Waffen SS autographed photo's framed up such as your enjoyable to look at collection is, but I do have a few. Here's but some of my own individuals of whom I have made contact with over the years. As with all my autographed photographs, I store them in acid free paper folders, under light and moisture controlled conditions. Rudi von Ribbentropp, I SS PD LAH, son of Joachim von Ribbentropp.

Thank you Laurence, byf. Laurence, I meant to ask you, does/did your own example happen to have any of the contents located in the butt stock storage compartment, or was it empty? Frank

Further up the same side, another two areas of damage can be seen. Frank

The standard issue G43 that I mentioned previously had been liberated in Italy by an American G.I. does have some battle damage to it. Along the front of the stock, that being the right hand side if one is a right handed shooter, there are some small nicks. or dings, in the stock. It is my assumption that these were caused by grenade splinters, shrapnel, or some other form of assault to its self. I have i.d. these areas as those being with in the red circles. Also, one will note that there is a small hairline crack that I would assume to have been caused at the same time. Frank

Another close up shot of one of the illustrations inside this booklet.

Here is a close up shot of the front of the operator's manual. Reproductions of this manual are numerous, however, this manual of mine is a wartime original. This example came with the sniper variation rifle at the time that I purchased this rifle five years ago. I have seen but one more original example since. It should be considered a rare item to locate, at least in the area of the world I reside.

A storage compartment was created in the butt stock to house the oiler, and contain the operator's manual, etc. This compartment was sealed by having a steel latch held in place by a heavy spring action that prevents the contents from falling out. Riflemen who used this weapons system were issued with a special pouch made from rough leather, fabric, and very late in the war, even a sort of paper, that held two clips. Here is a photograph of some of these items. Frank