Captain, US Army 82nd Airborne

Although perhaps not as well known as the 101st, the 82nd were just as dangerous to have as an enemy.

This Captain is ready to lead his men in Operation Neptune, the night attack into France to start proceedings for Operation Overlord, D-Day, 6th June 1944 .

Because he is battle-ready he has discarded his normal headwear for an M1-C paratrooper helmet with special leather chin cup with a first aid kit attached to the front.

His weapon is the M3A1 "grease gun" .45-caliber submachine gun with a 30-round box magazine and a webbing sling.

The grease gun, so-called for its obvious resemblance to the mechanic's tool of that name, was introduced in 1942 as a less expensive alternative to the famous Thompson submachine gun.  With an effective range of only 55 yards, the M3 was less popular than the Thompson among regular infantry,  but its smaller size, lighter weight and better reliability in battlefield conditions made it ideal for airborne troops as a close-combat lead sprayer.