WWII 1911 Question

[Guest frankcostanza]

I recently finished reading Parachute Infantry by David Kenyon Webster, who was a paratrooper in Easy Company 506 PIR (Band of Brothers) during WWII. Anyways, he stated in his book that the .45 pistol was not actually issued to the troops, but it was each man's responsibility to purchase his own pistol if he wanted to have one.

I was under the impression that the 1911 pistol was standard issue to most if not all American soldiers during WWII. Can anyone clarify this for me? Were the pistols a standard issue item or not?

[Garufa]

I may be wrong here but...

Pistols were not issued to enlisted men. If they had them the guns were "acquired" by whatever means.

Officers were issued sidearms and/or bought them. That's the part I'm not too clear on.

[Guest Ghostrider]

The M1 carbine was the compromise between issuing every swinging Richard either a Garand or a 1911.

Most (not all) officers were issued 1911. An enlisted man, cook, clerk, medic; was usually issued a carbine. As the war progressed and the "spring" of US manufacturing released max power, more 1911s were more available as were carbines, so it was pretty much a choice at that time.

Many years ago I carried a 1911 as my backup, close order weapon and a 16 as a primary (or sometimes secondary) midrange weapon when I was using my "long gun" for distance shooting. I usually brought back the long gun and the 1911, but I left a bunch of non-functional 16s over there, either due to lack of ammo, or lack of function. I'm sure if charlie found them, he made tanks or mortars or some such out of them, but if they found 'em, they sure as hell had to work for it.

[Moped]

Now a days it depends on what your job is. When I was in Desert Storm the surveyors all carried .45s. But since I was the supervisor I carried a M-16. if you performed a job that required two hands to do something or had to carry special equipment, you got a 1911, otherwise you carried a rifle.

[Guest HexHead]

Now a days it depends on what your job is. When I was in Desert Storm the surveyors all carried .45s. But since I was the supervisor I carried a M-16. if you performed a job that required two hands to do something or had to carry special equipment, you got a 1911, otherwise you carried a rifle.

You got a 1911 and not an M9? I'd have thought the 1911's would have been phased out by then?

[Moped]

I was in a Reserve Engineering Battalion. The M9 hadn't filtered down that low at the time. Neither had M16A2s. Even some of the active duty units didn't have M9s yet. I fixed the grips on the Battalion Commander for the 54th Engr out of Ft. Carson, Co, when he came visiting our compound to coordinate a handover. He was still carrying a 1911 too. The 54th was a Regular Army unit.

[broylz]

im in a MP unit so we all get pistols as a sidearm.

[nightrunner]

from what ive heard EVERYBODY over there wants a 1911 over the M9 if they can get it. and if you can claim and/or prove special forces or similar ties, you can still get a 1911 and some even get M14s over a m16 or m4

[Moped]

Just before I went to Desert Storm, I made the ARCOM Rifle Team and was issued my very on NM M-14. They made me turn it in when I got called up. Man, that was the rifle I wanted to take to the desert!!!

I understand that now they are fixing up a lot of those old NM M-14 and reissuing them as sniper rifles. I believe the nomonclature is the M-21.

[broylz]

i wish i could have had my 1911 and m14 over there. had to get one of each for myself when i got home.

[Guest Muttling]

You got a 1911 and not an M9? I'd have thought the 1911's would have been phased out by then?

Last I heard (2007), SOCOM units could still get the 1911's. And it's not limited to special operators....their support personnel can get them as well.

In GW1, we were VERY short on 9mm ammo so we weren't too anxious to convert the units that still had 1911's. A friend of mine who was a reserve communications specialist in the Marines deployed with only 8 rounds of 9mm. We had plenty of 5.56, but not 9mm.

[MikeW]

Mt grandfather was in the 507th PIR. I never heard him speak of an issued to him 1911. He did have a paratrooper M1 Carbine that was issued to him. I have several of his PIR/Paratrooper items and was shocked when I learned the history of the PIR units.

[Moped]

We did have plenty of .45 in GW1.

When we got to Ft. Bragg after activation, they immediately took all our rifles and pistols and worked them over. The 1911s came back looking about the same, but they sure shot a lot better. The armorers at Bragg really did a nice job tuning them up! I understand that they placed every slide in a vase right off and forced the rails in. Then they placed them back on the frame and then refitted them to match the frame! All the barrels were replaced, along with the springs and firing pins. They weren't much to look at with their WWII finishes and all the scratches, but they ran flawlessly. They might have been old, but we were proud to have them!

They also worked our M16's over. I ended up with A2 hand guards on mine. It also got a new barrel. I had no problems with it either.