Errors on, Combat show

[Texas Star]

Does it bug anyone else that the bayonet points in the promotional scenes on, Combat point the wrong way, or that GI' s never grab pistols, knives, etc. from dead Germans?

I talked with a man who was in a Sherman tank and he said that his entire crew had enemy pistols as well as their issued 45's. Others told me how prized they were, and the paratrooper who wrote some of the best WW II books, Donald Burgett, captured a truckload of P-38's on D-day. His platoon was delighted, and he kept his and a nickel .45 from his dad until his recent death, I believe. This involved talking a surgeon into hiding his pistols during a hospital stay after being wounded.

 

[growr]

The bayonet pointing the wrong way has always bugged me, however, there may be some hidden and subliminal message in it that you need your super secret agent decoder ring that is in the box to decode the message.

Randy

 

[Texas Star]

I realize that the bayonet points are probably artistic licence, like knife or sword points on some paperback book covers, but it looks silly and even an ignorant artist should be able to draw a sword right.

It reminds me of singers who embellish the national anthem to distinguish themselves at football games.

 

[Muley Gil]

I knew a gentleman who had a Luger that he had captured during War 2. I asked him about it and he said that he was a bit ashamed about it. He told me that he crawled up to a foxhole and killed the German soldier just to get his pistol. He was a very young 2nd LT at the time.

 

[Rudi]

There were many errors in all those early shows. One that always got me was that "Sarge" carried no extra mags for his Thompson. Yet he fired tons of rounds without reloading. I think the only gear he had was a .45, canteen, and 1st aid pouch on his belt. I loved the show as a kid, never missed an episode.

 

[Texas Star]

There were many errors in all those early shows. One that always got me was that "Sarge" carried no extra mags for his Thompson. Yet he fired tons of rounds without reloading. I think the only gear he had was a .45, canteen, and 1st aid pouch on his belt. I loved the show as a kid, never missed an episode.

Still on YouTube, many episodes. I've read that Vic Morrow didn't like guns in real life but Rick Jason did and owned some.

 

[Ματθιας]

All those bullets flying around and no one gets killed! It's about as accurate to real life as sesame street is. It's a Soap Opera for guys.

 

[rockquarry]

Apparently it's impossible for some to enjoy a TV show or movie that's rife with mistakes, yet they still watch it. I don't watch "Combat" nowadays, but did when it was on the first time in the '60s. I didn't want to see a WWII documentary, I was looking for entertainment only and "Combat" was a good for that.

 

[Doug M.]

Such errors are common in shows unless they have a real good consultant who actually gets respected and listened to. I see stuff on cop and lawyer shows that make me crazy. My wife dislikes watching any of the "Law and Order" franchise with me, as the procedural and legal errors in the court scenes are pretty serious.

 

[DWalt]

When "Combat!" was in its first run, I doubt I saw more than a couple of episodes (that was back when it was in B&W) before I tired of it. And I have seen none since. I briefly met Rick Jason once back in my old home town sometime in the late 1960s. He was in town as a parade Grand Marshall, riding in a Jeep and I knew the guy who was driving the Jeep. Poor Vic Morrow was later killed by a helicopter while making a movie.

 

[old bear]

Gentlemen, remember that Combat was a TV show was produced for a vast general audience, not detail hounds. Enjoy it and other, like shows as the simple entertainment it was intended to be.

With everything going on in the world now, I can't help but wonder if there are more important issues to worry about.

P.S. I did notice that the points of the bayonets were facing the wrong way.

Fred

 

[LoboGunLeather]

The bayonets pictured are the US M1905E variant, produced from earlier 16" blade bayonets reground to a "Bowie-style" point. Later modifications included spear-point reworked blades. By late 1943 the newly produced M1 bayonets were being produced with a 10" blade rather than the earlier 16" standard blade.

Bayonets for the US M1 Garand rifle are interchangeable with the earlier US M1903 Springfield rifle, probably a cost-saving decision in the run-up to WW2. Many US units were deployed with earlier US M1905 bayonets with 16" blades. The first orders for new bayonets were for the US M1942, also with 16" blade but featuring Bakelite grip panels rather than the older wooden grips.

By late 1943 the decision was made to change to a 10" bayonet blade. Tens of thousands of earlier US M1905 bayonets were reworked by cutting and regrinding the blades to both the "beak" or "Bowie-style" and later to the "spear-point" profile. These can be identified by the "fullers" or "blood grooves" that remain evident in the modified blades. The later US M1 bayonets with 10" blades are recognizable by the shortened fuller/blood groove.

Later modifications included the 6.5" reground blades common to Korean-issue versions of the M1905 and M1942, followed by the M5 series which did away with the barrel ring and used a stud fitted to the gas tube plug and clips to secure to the bayonet lugs on the rifle.

Books have been written on this topic, and I didn't write those books. I do have a good collection of US military rifles and bayonets of the periods in play. The "Bowie-style" or "beak-style" bayonets are highly prized by collectors, and were quite commonly issued to US forces deployed to Europe during the period 1943-1944.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Gentlemen, remember that Combat was a TV show was produced for a vast general audience, not detail hounds. Enjoy it and other, like shows as the simple entertainment it was intended to be.

With everything going on in the world now, I can't help but wonder if there are more important issues to worry about..

Folks, that right there is what is referred to as a 'pearl'.

 

[vigil617]

You guys do know that Combat! airs every Saturday night at 9 p.m. Eastern Time on the Heroes channel, right?

First, Tour of Duty at 8 p.m., or if you prefer, Black Sheep Squadron kicking off at 7 p.m.

After, two episodes of Rat Patrol (which I can take or leave) and then a full hour of 12 O'Clock High. And if you're still up and awake, Hill Street Blues at midnight.

My wife has learned to just accept that I'm unavailable for any TV movies or any sitcoms during the 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. slot, and she can use the time to catch up on the Hallmark Channel or whatever.

 

[bamacisa]

What do you mean the bayonet pointed the wrong way?

 

[rockquarry]

"Twelve O'Clock High" was a cut above the other wartime dramas. While it its errors probably filled the briefing room and oozed out over the threshold, the show had many good stories and great guest stars.

Someone mentioned "Hill Street Blues". Good show, but I always thought it was well behind "Police Story" and the very best of the cop shows, "NYPD Blue".

 

[Kinman]

Black Sheep was the one that bugged me, how many times did that burning Zero crash into the ocean? You know the scene, it nearly goes in, pulls up, nearly goes in again, pulls up and finally splashes.

 

[Texas Star]

What do you mean the bayonet pointed the wrong way?

Upside down in the handle. Not on real ones, on the stylistic art between scenes.

Go see an episode on YouTube.

 

[Ματθιας]

Maybe they're Czech bayonets as they have the cutting edge reversed.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Oh, the horror!