Here’s one that may require sleuthing. I haven’t figured it out to my satisfaction. Photo is of a Thud WSO circa 1971 (Buff combat pilot for 60 missions before moving to the fast guys) and out of Koran/Thakli. He was running WW missions at the time. Non-standard “bandoliers” on hips shoulders. The rounds are NOT .38s for the typical revolver, nor .45s for those that used them. .556 would be period relevant but there were no survival rifles carried in WW cockpits or similar. Same for .30 cal which is snub-nosed like these may appear to be but also don't appear (even in cut down/foldable versions that were present at the time) to have been carried in cockpits. So that leaves me with “he just put a bunch of non useful rounds in the bandolier for a picture” or, given their tapered yet still stubby appearance, were they perhaps 7.62 which might make sense from a survival POV. I’m not sold definitively on any of these so far.
Identify a Round and Reason For It From Photo
- Thread starter spalind
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You think it’s .30 Carbine?
Don’t really know. Just know from the image it’s not pistol caliber and going on guessing from there. There is a whole lot odd with what is going on. The placement (these are affixed bandoliers, not just links thrown over his shoulder) are in the exact positions his harness would come over his shoulders which would make getting tight in his seat a wee bit uncomfortable as well. So maybe it’s just a photo op? But if so, why stitch th damn things onto your vest? Why are there other examples out there of the same thing (those with .38 rounds in them however)? I just like rabbit holes.
Was Velcro widely used in 1970? This may have been from training at Nellis now that we look closer. Lack of details and payload on plane behind him may indicate this was stateside training.
Chase Sheppard
Active member
That was my thoughts as well. I’ve added two .30 carbine rounds to a size Lg shirt for “science”. Looks pretty dang close to me.
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Chase Sheppard
Active member
Chase Sheppard
Active member
Yup, and there were cutoff and folding stock and standard M1 and M2s still used at the time so the rounds were definitely around…just weird for a WSO to have them in shoulder bandoliers…maybe just a photo op.
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