Research of original Documents, Maps & Eyewitness Statements were the main essential feeds of the Para Research
Team (c)
Pictures of unearthened items are also donated to the PRT, sometimes by sources (& locations) who choose to remain anonymous.
Over the years we've specialised in WWII presentations, Tours & Research (books/maps/paperwork and 'hands on' in the Field)
Informative meetings are organised by popular demand: we can relate to any generation including the youngest kids or teenagers.
During the past decades we have visited many WWII Battleground locations: again and again, often with the WWII veterans...
There is still enough 'untold History' out there, waiting to be un-earthened by our dedicated crew of Researchers and Trackers.
We operate with the support of men that jumped into our country in '44. The results of our findings are published on this website.
Our field-searches are conducted with great care and with strict procedures, after intensive research of our documents and maps.
In this Menu we want to present you some of these dug-up relics.
-- FINDS FROM 2001 - 2008 --
You will see History as if you were there in the fields yourself.
2007: From an Anonymous Source
2007: Normandy Trip (June)
2007: Normandy Field Trip - Barn find...
2007: Armor Piercing Cartridge
2007 Research of 1/502nd PIR Lines (12-44 / 01-45 Bulge Area)
From the treeline these foxholes were mostly facing sloping fields and woods and were lined with straw.
Rations were eaten and lots of debris was kept inside the foxhole. Many, many cartridges were fired and
lots of shrapnel of various sorts of grenades were found inside the foxholes and in the vicinity of the holes.
Field Relic Archives below this Point
Amongst the most common finds, next to the zillion particles of shrapnel, are cartridges in all shapes and sizes.
We will show you some cartridges and explain the 'headstamps' markings, still visible on these battlefield relics.
More common are the smaller rifle cartridges. Below you will find some pictures of cartridges found in 'plain sight' on
several former WW2 battlefields. On the left an U.S. .30 cartridge dating back to 1943, marked 'S L' which represents the
St. Louis Ordnance Plant (MO) USA. In the middle a German cartridge, belonging to a 'Sturmgewehr'. On the right a 1942
American .30 cartridge marked DEN for the Denver Ordnance Plant, found near 502nd PIR B-Co positions in the Ardennes.
More common headstamps abbrivations:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - DM = Des Moines Ordnance Plant, Des Moines Iowa - US
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - FA = Frankford Arsenal. Philadelphia PA - US
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - HN = R.O.F. Hirwaun - UK
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - K/K2/K4/K5 = ICI Ltd. (Kynoch) - UK
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - RA = Remington Arms, Bridgeport CT - US
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - RC = Raleigh Cycle Co Ltd, Nottingham - UK
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - UT = Utah Ordnance Plant, Salt Lake City UT - US (early)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - U = Utah Ordnance Plant, Salt Lake City UT - US (late)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - VC = Canadian Government, Verdun, Quebec - Canada
there was still a visible bump in the ground. Below the surface we found this very nice, clearly marked knife-handle.
Get your books out ! In the 'G.I. Collectors Guide' you'll find this M-1926 knife (plastic handle) on page 180.
In the book 'Doughboy to G.I.' this particular one (LF & C 1941) can be found on page 208, indicating variations.
Due to lack of materials this knife was later manufactured without the plastic/bakelite handle. This could indicate
that this knife belonged to an 'old soldier' since he still owned an early M-1926 type knife with a seperate handle.
Some holes in the field were merely used as dumps. Every now and then you come across such a dump and you're stunned !
And then you find some things which are obviously misplaced in a quest for WW2 provenance. What are these things ?
Well, actually you are looking at a Dutch coin dating back to the 17th century and a 'Musket' bullet from similar era.
The coin is a Ducate from Gelderland or Gelria, which is still a provence of the Netherlands, with Arnhem as capital.
The coin reads: 'ducatus Gelrić' which means 'coin from the 'Hertogdom' or Duchy of Gelderland. On the backside you
can see the shield of Gelderland (two standing lions facing eachother under a crown), and the text 'Deo spes nostra'
meaning as much as 'our hope in the Lord'. An amazing discovery amongst the shrapnel in this area: 240 year old coins.
Talking about shrapnel... check out these chucks below !
And then you have the glass-objects you just have to trip across. The famous brown GI beerbottle, the Coca Cola bottle.
Both are dated on the bottom, 1944 or 1945. But some unidentified Items turn up pretty often. These objects are easily
ID's as being from the WW2 era since they are found amidst WW2 relics, but what have they contained ? What are they ?
Lots of other items haven't been identified yet. It is nice to know that there is still so much research to be done !
You can't go out in the field and just start digging. You might just find oil ! Research and reports are priceless !!
Above a bunch of field found items. In the middle of the hole you'll see some parachute cord, top left a material used
for wrapping (very deteriorated). On the green table at the right a bunch of metal WW2 items just waiting to be cleaned.
Our field searches are conducted with the permission of the proper field owners.
Grounds are always returned in the exact state as before the field search started.
Searches are executed with the greatest of care and (p)reservations. No jackasses.
An expert is always on site. History rocks but you do not want to be blown into it!
© Paratrooper Research Team - Field Research