Simon F Posted February 14, 2009 Posted February 14, 2009 I picked these pictures up from evilbay a while ago now, there are 56 in all and very interestingly record the life of a French soldier.They are all to a Colonial Para by the name of Claude SOMNY, from 1960 through to about 1961. I believe that he became an NCO during this period with G.I.B.P.O.M, later known as 1e R.P.I.Ma. I understand that this was the training unit for the R.P.I.Ma. I think they are a nice representative group recording the life of a Paratrooper and worthy of further research. Any useful insights/information on these will be greatly received..First up Claude.
Simon F Posted February 14, 2009 Author Posted February 14, 2009 This is an nice piece, recording, I suppose, the final stage of his parachute training.The back reads " Pau (B.P.) Stage de saut Samedi 17 sept.60.This piece is as large as a TR award doc, so about A5.
Simon F Posted February 14, 2009 Author Posted February 14, 2009 Claude in his finest dress. Note the G.I.B.P.O.M hanger over his breast pocket.
Simon F Posted February 14, 2009 Author Posted February 14, 2009 Presumably a family member Note the hanger but no para badge. This is dated August 1960, so yet to complete jump training.
Simon F Posted February 14, 2009 Author Posted February 14, 2009 Capturing a jump from the training tower.
Simon F Posted February 14, 2009 Author Posted February 14, 2009 A couple of shots of an aircraft before jump. I am presuming the significance of this is that it is either his first live drop or his final jump for qualification. The number 2501 feature on these the back of the next couple of pics so possibly the aircraft number?
Simon F Posted February 14, 2009 Author Posted February 14, 2009 A front view with paras boarding the aircraft.
Simon F Posted February 14, 2009 Author Posted February 14, 2009 Another para geared up and waiting to jump.
Simon F Posted February 14, 2009 Author Posted February 14, 2009 Capturing a jump that looks to be freefall, I am not sure as to the use of static line?
Simon F Posted February 14, 2009 Author Posted February 14, 2009 Three large format prints before and during parade.First one with MAT 49 and CR 39 folding stock rifle.
Simon F Posted February 14, 2009 Author Posted February 14, 2009 Nice shot of MAT 49s. I am assuming that the CR 39 is only being carried for parade purposes at this point in time and not used in actual combat? Perhaps someone can enlighten me on this point?
Simon F Posted February 14, 2009 Author Posted February 14, 2009 My thinking is, is that the fellow on the left of picture is a class/squad leader, as he has no jump wings in keeping with the rest of the squad but carries the MAT 49 and has insignia of rank?
Simon F Posted February 14, 2009 Author Posted February 14, 2009 This fellow features heavily in the group, this has to be my favourite study.
Chris Boonzaier Posted February 14, 2009 Posted February 14, 2009 I once read something about the Marine and the badge on the shoulder board... I cannot remember what it was.....can anyone enlighten me? A previous unit? I think it was a marine only tradition?
GRA Posted February 14, 2009 Posted February 14, 2009 Just a speculation, but could the unit badge on the shoulder board be the unit he was assigned to or the unit he?s about to be assigned to, since he seems to wear the training unit badge on the pocket? Do I see a backing to the parachutist?s brevet?Nice pics Simon, makes one want to experience that tingling feeling of jumping again.../GRA
Simon F Posted February 14, 2009 Author Posted February 14, 2009 Thanks Chris/GRA. I don't have my notes here with me at the moment, but yes my understanding is, that it is the unit badge of the one he was assigned to within G.I.B.P.O.M/1e R.P.I.Ma. Indeed you are correct with the backing for the wings..
noir 7 Posted February 14, 2009 Posted February 14, 2009 Just a speculation, but could the unit badge on the shoulder board be the unit he was assigned to or the unit he?s about to be assigned to, since he seems to wear the training unit badge on the pocket? Do I see a backing to the parachutist?s brevet?Nice pics Simon, makes one want to experience that tingling feeling of jumping again.../GRAIt isn't a unit badge. It is the "PMP" badge. PMP means Pr?paration Militaire Parachutiste: it's a parachute course for young people, which are about 16-18 years old but aren't soldiers. The course length is 2 weeks and they have to do 3 jumps.
GRA Posted February 14, 2009 Posted February 14, 2009 @ noir 7: Why wear a brevet like that when a fully qualified para? I thought that a PMP brevet would be relegated to the drawer when once awarded the "big thing". /GRA
Chris Boonzaier Posted February 14, 2009 Posted February 14, 2009 is it not a PMP unit badge as opposed to a brevet?I remember some vague thing on an RPIMA site saying something about a tradition of the 1st unit a guy served in been worn on the eppaulette. The site was by an RPima guy in Algeria and had him with one Rpima badge on the breast pocket and another on the eppaulette
Simon F Posted February 14, 2009 Author Posted February 14, 2009 I finally found the link to my favourite resource, lots of very good info here.. http://perso.modulonet.fr/~tanghedo/debut.htm
noir 7 Posted February 14, 2009 Posted February 14, 2009 People don't always do what is logical. It was and is normally forbidden to wear this badge for active duties soldiers, even when they don't have the "big one", but it is done... more rarely today than thirty years ago, but it exists!
noir 7 Posted February 14, 2009 Posted February 14, 2009 @chris Boonzaier: yes, this tradition existed, but here i'm sure it isn't a unit badge but the PMR diploma
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