Screaming Eagles: Sharing an important past . . .

Talking to scouts at Eisenhower National Historic Site on
D-Day anniversary weekend, June 2011.

Our Mission:
The Screaming Eagles WWII 101st Airborne Living History Group was formed out of a want for authenticity within the airborne reenacting community. Although this is currently a small squad-sized organization, we hope to grow over time. We strive to portray the basic combat airborne soldier of World War Two—tired, dirty, and hungry. The Screaming Eagles Living History Group experienced it’s “baptism of fire” while participating in an annual public history encampment at Penn State Altoona, and continues to attend other living-history events. Many of us became interested in World War Two history because of a relative or neighbor who served in the conflict, and are drawn to the thought of portraying the life of a combat soldier. We would like to formally and graciously thank all those who served in some manner during World War Two—soldier, sailor, marine, airman (male or female), and all those back home who helped the war effort (workers and family members). Furthermore, we invite fellow history enthusiasts to join us!

Brief History of the 101st Prior to Operation Overlord:
On 15 August 1942, the newly formed 101st Airborne Division was activated at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana with recently promoted Major General William C. Lee commanding. At the activation ceremony, Maj. Gen. Lee observed, “The 101st... has no history, but it has a rendezvous with destiny.” Though the first part of his statement was not entirely true, the second certainly was. In October 1942 the division moved to Fort Bragg, North Carolina and began its training under the Airborne Command. By the spring of 1943 the division was ready to face its first test in local maneuvers. Immediately following these maneuvers, the 101st left to take part in the Tennessee maneuvers—a larger scale operation. The division returned to Fort Bragg to continue training and perform various airborne demonstrations for visiting officials until mid-August, when it received orders for transfer overseas. Upon arriving in England on 5 September, the 101st was quartered in Wiltshire and Berkshire, where it continued extensive training operations. While training in England, the 101st participated in three formal exercises: Beaver, Tiger, and Eagle. Operation Eagle, held during the second week of May, was the division's dress rehearsal for its role in the Normandy invasion.

Join us and experience history firsthand!

Uniforms & Gear

As living historians portraying paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division, new recruits are highly encouraged (though not required nor limited) to all of the following. Naturally, reenacting is an expensive hobby. Do not feel obligated to buy everything at the same time. Accumulating the necessary gear is often a multi-year process - but completely worth it.

Uniform and Gear Guide Key:

OL denotes use only for Operation Overlord

MG denotes use only for Operation Market Garden

* denotes non-requirement

82nd Airborne uniform

Combat Clothing

Coat, Parachute Jumper, M42 (Re-enforced*) OL 
Trousers, Jumper, Parachute, M42 (Re-enforced*) OL

Jacket, Field, M43 [with 48-Star Flag Armband*] MG

Trousers, M43 (Modified) MG

Boots, Jumper, Parachute or Boots, Service, Combat MG

Shirt, Wool, Mustard, Special (gas proof feature) with 101st Airborne patch

Trousers, Wool, OD, Special*

Socks, Cotton, OD3 or Socks, Cushion-sole*

Boxers, Cotton, OD3*

Undershirt, OD7* or T-shirt, White*

Suspenders, Trousers and/or Belt, Waist, M37 with open-face buckle

Tags, Identification, Notched and neck chain with S-hooks

G.I. helmet with netting.

Field Equipment

Helmet, M2 with liner and leather chin cup

Helmet Net, 1/2” weave pattern [with burlap scrim OL]

Bag, Canvas, Field, M36

Suspenders, Belt, M36 [with brown felt shoulder pads*]

Cover, Canteen, M10 or M41 (Modified)

Canteen, M10 or M41

Cup, Canteen, M10 OL or M42

Pouch, First Aid, M24 [with Bandage, Carlisle, M41 in tin] or M42 [with Bandage, Carlisle, M43 in box]

Tool, Entrenching, T-Handle, M10 OL or Tool, Entrenching, Folding, M43 [with appropriate cover]

Thompson sub-machine gun, etc.

Weapons and Related Items 

(Choose one primary and two secondary.)

Primary Options:

Rifle, Caliber .30, M1 [with M3 combination tool*, oiler*, grease pot*, and M1907 Sling]

Bayonet, M1 and Scabbard*

Belt, Cartridge, M23 or Belt, Pistol, M36 with Pouches, Rigger, M1 (3-4)

Bandoleer, Ammunition, M1 (2)*

Bag, Spare ammunition, M1*

Container, Rifle, Individual, Aerial delivery, 1st pattern, (Modified 1st pattern Griswold bag)*

Carbine, Caliber .30, M1A1 [with OD3 web sling and oiler]

Belt, Pistol, M36 with M1 Carbine Pouches (2) or Pouches, Rigger, M1 (2)

Bandoleer, Ammunition, M1*

Scabbard, Carbine, M1A1 (standard or rigger modified)*

Rifle, Caliber .30, M1903A4 (sniper variant with scope)

Belt, Cartridge, M23

Bandoleer, Ammunition, M1 (2)*

Submachine Gun, Caliber .45, Thompson

Pouch, Magazine, 5-cell, Thompson (2) or Pouches, Rigger, Magazine, Submachine Gun (2)

Bag, Spare Magazine, Submachine Gun*

Container, Aerial Delivery, Submachine Gun*

Submachine Gun, Caliber .45, M3

Belt, Pistol, M36 with Pouches, Rigger, Magazine, Submachine Gun (2)

Bag, Spare magazine, Submachine Gun*

Rifle, Caliber .30, Automatic, Browning, M1918

Belt, Magazine, B.A.R, M37

Secondary Options:

Pistol, Automatic, Caliber .45, M1911A1

Holster, Hip, M1916 or Holster, Shoulder, M3

Pouch, Magazine, Pistol, Caliber .45

Knife, Fighting, M3 [with M6 or M8 Scabbard]

Knife, Pocket, M2 [with para-cord lanyard]

Grenade, Hand, Fragmentation, MKII*

Grenade, Hand, Anti-tank, No. 75 (Hawkins Mine)

Grenade, No. 82 (Gammon Bomb)*

WWII U.S. weaponry in camp.

Miscellaneous Field Gear

Armband, Gas Detection

Bag, Duffel or Barracks Bag

Bag, Leg, M44

Blanket, Wool, M34 or Bag, Sleeping, Half-zip, M44

Cricket OL

Compass, Wrist with leather strap

D, Ration (emergency chocolate ration)

Disc, Helmet, Luminous

Gloves, Riding, Horsehide, M38

Goggles, M43 or M44

Kit, Mess, M42 with fork, knife, and spoon

Map Pouch, Escape and Evasion

Mask, Gas, M5 with M7 Rubberized Assault Bag

Packet, First Aid, Invasion

Parachute, T5 OL or T7 MG with reserve parachute

Poncho, Canvas, Rubberized, OD7

Rations, K (Breakfast, Dinner, Supper)

Rope, Let-down, Paratrooper

Scarf, Identification

SCR 300 (Walki-Talki)

SCR 536 (Handi-Talki)

Half, Shelter, OD3 [with 1folding pole, 5 wooden stakes, and 1 cotton rope]

Vest, Life, Pneumatic, B4

WINTER CLOTHING

Cap, Wool Knit, M41

Gloves, Wool, OD, Leather Palm

Overcoat, Wool Melton, OD

Sweater, Pullover, Wool, High Neck, 5-button

Scarf, Neck, Wool

Socks, Wool, OD

DRESS UNIFORMS

Early-Mid War

Coat, Dress, Wool, M37 [with 101st Airborne patch & appropriate rank]

Shirt, Wool, Dress, Enlisted, M37 [with 101st Airborne patch & appropriate rank]

Trousers, Dress, Wool, M37 with M37 waist belt and open-face buckle

Cap, Overseas, Wool, OD7 [with light-blue parachute patch]

Tie, Neck, Cotton, OD3

Socks, Cotton, OD3 or Cushion-sole socks

Boots, Jumper, Parachute

The Class A Uniform: Suitable for all classy events--including college graduation!

The 101st Division at Normandy

“101st Airborne Division: The Story of the 101st Airborne Division" was published by the G. I. periodical Stars and Stripes throughout 1944 and 1945. Included in this unit history is a chapter discussing the division's exploits during the Normandy Invasion. The following excerpt was transcribed by Lone Sentry, a website which is an amazing resource of original WWII documents, photos, and publications.

"JUNE 6, 1944: the echoing rifle fire of a 101st A/B Div. "baggy pants" paratrooper heralded the greatest military operation of its kind. The invasion of Europe for which an anxious world waited had begun -- born in hedgerow-lined fields, in apple orchards and in the country lanes of Normandy where paratroopers and glider fighters of Maj. Gen. Maxwell D. Taylor's Eagle Division had dropped behind German troops manning beach defenses.

General Maxwell Davenport Taylor behind his Willy's Jeep in Normandy.

As daylight mellowed into dusk June 5, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower circulated among 101st troops at England's departure fields to wish them Godspeed, good luck.

Cocky fighters, armed to the hilt and assigned the mission of striking the first blow at Hitler's Fortress Europa, wise-cracked as they boarded C-47s. Less than four hours later in Normandy, these Airborne soldiers wrote the first pages of their glorious story with blood and courage.
They penned the lines of a combat diary with a phrase in French and a hand grenade at Pouppeville, with German dead stacked in roadside ditches on the march to St. Come du Mont, with a blinding bayonet dash across the swampy approaches to Carentan.

From 0015 in the darkness of June 6, 1944, when Capt. Frank L. Lillyman, Skaneateles, N.Y., leader of the Pathfinder group, became the first Allied soldier to touch French soil, and for 33 successive days 101st A/B carried the attack to the enemy. This was the beginning of the Airborne trail.

Captain Frank Lillyman with some of his Pathfinders.

Gen. Taylor's sky-fighters had been assigned three missions: secure causeways leading from Utah Beach for assault troops to storm ashore from landing barges at dawn; destroy bridges across roads leading into the key road and rail communication center Carentan; protect the south flank of VII Corps.

Fighting its way through hedge-lined fields, the division took every objective. When the "Battle of the Beaches" was won, many 101st units were awarded the Presidential Citation.
Congratulating the division on its work. Lt Gen. Omar N. Bradley told Eagle soldiers: "You have destroyed the myth of German invincibility."

FLAK and fog -- nemesis of cloud-hopping troops. German ack-ack and the weather joined forces to disperse the sky fleet of troop carrier planes ferrying paratroopers over the Nazi-held coastline. Methodical assembly by units was out of the question. Commanders gathered roving bands of well-briefed, battle-hungry Airborne soldiers, regardless of unit, then marched on division objectives.

An odd assortment of men was culled from thorn-thick hedges and ditches along roads to storm Pouppeville. Division Commander, Chief of Staff, clerks, MPs, artillerymen, signalmen, a sprinkling of infantry parachutists -- all combined to form a task force against this village that blocked the entrance of a causeway leading from Utah Beach. So abundant were staff officers that Gen. Taylor remarked, "Never were so few led by so many."

It was near Pouppeville in early morning darkness that a passing German patrol caught Maj. Larry Legere, Fitchburg, Mass., and thinking him a French native, asked him what he was doing out so late. "I come from visiting my cousin," the major replied in French while he pulled the pin on a grenade and let fly.

Pouppeville fell to this small band. Similar displays of adaptability and initiative by other groups nullified enemy opposition at similar key points, and causeways were secured for beach assault troops. Early in the day, the 4th Inf. Div. marched up causeways without opposition. The first obstacle to the invasion had been overcome.

Map showing general troop movements in and around Pouppeville.

At dawn of the second day, the 506th Parachute Inf. Regt., commanded by Col. Robert F. Sink, Lexington, N.C., advanced southward. Germans stubbornly defended previously fortified Vierville. The town was taken after severe fighting, and the enemy grudgingly fell back to St. Come du Mont.

Col. Robert F. Sink.

Angoville au Plain fell to the division by noon, and skyfighters smashed through hedges and over roads to the outskirts of St. Come du Mont. Resisting savagely, Germans blunted the thrust.
The Eagle was ready. Ahead lay St. Come du Mont, defended by well dug-in German parachutists. Here, 101st A/B soldiers were committed in the first large-scale attack launched by the division in the invasion campaign.

From hedgerow to hedgerow, through field after field, onto the road into town, fierce fighting raged as Eagle troopers swept into the streets of St. Come du Mont. Here the 101st Airborne first met the German 6th Parachute Regt., later to be encountered again in the Holland campaign. Twice this crack Nazi unit was to develop a healthy respect for the fighting skill of the "Yankees with the Big Pockets."

By 2000 June 7, all organized resistance ceased at St. Come du Mont. Carentan loomed next on the list of vital Allied objectives. Its seizure would provide the link necessary to coordinate the assault forces on Utah and Omaha Beaches. If Germans retained the town, Allied power would be divided during the campaign's most crucial phase. Carentan had to be taken. The Screaming Eagles were assigned the job.

Some G.I.s taking ten in the streets of St. Come du Mont.

But the path leading to it wasn't easy. Later described as "Purple Heart Lane," the route covered canals, swamp lands and the Douve River, all guarded by Germans.

Corps engineers brought up assault boats by concealed routes. Under cover of heavy artillery, the regiment crossed the river, seized the small village of Brevands, secured a supply route to support the attack on Carentan from the east. The division, attacking Carentan from three directions, achieved its objectives. Resistance ceased within the city June 11. A defensive position was immediately organized.

Later near Cherbourg, Gen. Taylor stood high atop a captured pillbox and told his battle-hardened veterans, "You hit the ground running toward the enemy. You have proved the German soldier is no superman. You have beaten him on his own ground, and you can beat him on any ground." Field Marshal (then Gen.) Sir Bernard Law Montgomery pinned the British Distinguished Service Order on Gen. Taylor's jacket.

The Eagle Division was ordered to its base in England, closing the first chapter in its combat record."

 Eric and Chuck portraying the liberation of Carentan, France - 1944.