Victory question
- Thread starter jim58
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Was there any particular variant of the Victory for Marine aviators, or would they have had the Navy model? My father carried one in the Pacific 1943-1946. He was a gunnar/radio operator on an SBD dive bomber, Ace of Spades squadron.
john traveler
Member
The Navy model. At that time, the Marine Corps was part of the Navy, and all equipment and issued gear came through Navy procurement channels.
opoefc
US Veteran
Not all Victory Models used by the Marines were obtained through Navy supplies. I have a Victory Model that letters as shipped to the Marines in May 1942 by S&W, and I am aware of several others. Oddly enough. the one I have also has Israeli Police & Military markings. A picture of these Israeli marks on my gun is shown on page 150 of Charlie Pate's book " US Handguns of WW2" This is a Victory Model that one can say " I wish it could talk!"
semperfi71
US Veteran
As an aside to "Marine Victory Models". I have read where an entire flight [4 or 5 planes] of F-4U Corsairs went into the water in the Pacific in WWII. All of the men stayed together on their rafts and were rescued.
While they were "enjoying" their "sailing trip" the sharks came swimming around and they decided to shoot one and hope the others would eat him and leave the rafts alone.
They couldn't get any of their .45s to operate because they had rusted in the slides. But one of the aviators used his .38 revolver [S&W or Colt?] and shot one. It swam off bleeding and the other sharks went after him.
While they were "enjoying" their "sailing trip" the sharks came swimming around and they decided to shoot one and hope the others would eat him and leave the rafts alone.
They couldn't get any of their .45s to operate because they had rusted in the slides. But one of the aviators used his .38 revolver [S&W or Colt?] and shot one. It swam off bleeding and the other sharks went after him.
Semperfi71,
My dad was an Airedale in the Pacific during WW2 and mentioned going through a number of firearms before he found a combination he felt comfortable with. Started out with a M-1 Carbine but just didn't like it. Carried a Type 38 carbine for a while, and eventually traded into a 'civilian" version Thompson, with the vertical foregrip. The Thompson seemed too heavy for daily use and when the M-3 Grease Guns became available he carried that until the end of the war. Handgun wise he said he had both a 1911A1 and a S&W 38, but carried the 38 because he felt it shot better and was more compact.
The 1911 was sold late in the war to a Marine pilot who felt he was going to be involved personally in the invasion of Japan and wanted more firepower than his issued 38. The price was $100, a lot of money in 1945.
The Thompson almost came home with dad. He said he had it disassembled and packed in his sea bag. Then word got out that all bags would be searched before the men were allowed to board ship. Fearing repercussions he traded the Thompson for a Japanese sniper uniform at the last moment. Ironically at 6'2" dad was the tallest member of his unit, and at 23 was one of the oldest surviving enlisted men, so he was the one chosen to search the bags. I asked him if he confiscated much and he said the only thing he drew the line at was explosive ordinance. He was supposed to pull alcohol, pornography, firearms, ammunition, and body parts. But by that time he was so fed up with the military all he was concerned about was some idiot dropping a knee mortar round and killing him on his way home.
My dad was an Airedale in the Pacific during WW2 and mentioned going through a number of firearms before he found a combination he felt comfortable with. Started out with a M-1 Carbine but just didn't like it. Carried a Type 38 carbine for a while, and eventually traded into a 'civilian" version Thompson, with the vertical foregrip. The Thompson seemed too heavy for daily use and when the M-3 Grease Guns became available he carried that until the end of the war. Handgun wise he said he had both a 1911A1 and a S&W 38, but carried the 38 because he felt it shot better and was more compact.
The 1911 was sold late in the war to a Marine pilot who felt he was going to be involved personally in the invasion of Japan and wanted more firepower than his issued 38. The price was $100, a lot of money in 1945.
The Thompson almost came home with dad. He said he had it disassembled and packed in his sea bag. Then word got out that all bags would be searched before the men were allowed to board ship. Fearing repercussions he traded the Thompson for a Japanese sniper uniform at the last moment. Ironically at 6'2" dad was the tallest member of his unit, and at 23 was one of the oldest surviving enlisted men, so he was the one chosen to search the bags. I asked him if he confiscated much and he said the only thing he drew the line at was explosive ordinance. He was supposed to pull alcohol, pornography, firearms, ammunition, and body parts. But by that time he was so fed up with the military all he was concerned about was some idiot dropping a knee mortar round and killing him on his way home.
johngoboom
Member
Now that is a cool story...To bad we've lost so many of our WWII vets. Now those guys had some good stories...
My dad, also a sailor, told me the same basic story, except that the search was to be before they left the ship. He tossed a 1911 into New York harbor before the ship tied up to the pier.
The bags were never searched!!!
semperfi71
US Veteran
walnutred, great story, thanks for sharing.
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