WLA placement in a Infantry Divisional Structure

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Littlewood
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WLA placement in a Infantry Divisional Structure

Post by Littlewood » Mon May 22, 2017 1:07 am

Hi guys, this is quite broad but I'm trying to find out were a WLA motorbike would fit in a divisional structure, unit of interest to me is 2 I.D 1944 D-Day ? If I could pick out a unit within this Division so I can correctly have the markings done on my WLA. Also how many WLA's would be allocated to each Division, in particular the 2 I.D Any help appreciated. Thanks James
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199th MP
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Re: WLA placement in a Infantry Divisional Structure

Post by 199th MP » Mon May 22, 2017 2:53 am

Littlewood wrote:Hi guys, this is quite broad but I'm trying to find out were a WLA motorbike would fit in a divisional structure, unit of interest to me is 2 I.D 1944 D-Day ? If I could pick out a unit within this Division so I can correctly have the markings done on my WLA. Also how many WLA's would be allocated to each Division, in particular the 2 I.D Any help appreciated. Thanks James
check out this page, and talk to the guy who runs it.
http://www.theliberator.be/liberator3.htm

42swing
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Re: WLA placement in a Infantry Divisional Structure

Post by 42swing » Mon May 22, 2017 7:53 am

Also post your question on the Motorcycle forum just below this one. Lots of knowledge there including the Liberator webmaster.
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Littlewood
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Re: WLA placement in a Infantry Divisional Structure

Post by Littlewood » Tue May 23, 2017 1:29 am

Thanks you, I'm a fan of the Liberator site, I have now costed to the motorcycle section. thanks again James
1945 MB Willy's
1944 M29C Weasel
1945 GMC CCKW353
1945 Gemco 1/4 Trailer
1944 WLA
1944 Ford M8
Radios : BC1306, BC-1000, BC-611F's, BC-620, SCR 528 PE-120, PE-237, GRC-9, SCR499
Generators: PE 210-B & PE-75

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John Neuenburg
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Re: WLA placement in a Infantry Divisional Structure

Post by John Neuenburg » Sun Jul 09, 2017 11:59 am

Finding a 2nd ID history book with an order of battle for June 1944 would be the ideal way to come up with a unit. The division had 2nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop, Mechanized, 2nd Signal Company, and 2nd Quartermaster Company. They had a MP platoon - I don't know it's number but probably safe to call it 2nd MP Platoon - and don't know if MPs stayed members of it or became members of the various infantry regiments, field artillery, tank, tank destroyer, and engineer battalions they might have been operating with. FYI the infantry regiments assigned to 2nd ID prior to and in June 1944 were the 9th, 23rd, and 38th. If you want to know what all the battalion were, let me know.
2nd ID MP platoon soldier.jpg
Found on internet. Example of how the MPs painted their helmets
2nd ID MP platoon soldier.jpg (13.7 KiB) Viewed 1440 times
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John Neuenburg
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Re: WLA placement in a Infantry Divisional Structure

Post by John Neuenburg » Sun Jul 09, 2017 12:25 pm

I did a little more sleuthing and you are in luck if you want to portray a MP from 2nd ID. There is book written about the author's father, a MP in that division. Hopefully there are some motorcycle photos:
https://www.amazon.com/Defining-Moment- ... 1612540899
Military Vehicle Collectors of California
MVPA 7404
1942 Ford GPW British Special Air Service Regiment Replica
1944 Willys MB
1941 Indian 640
BSA Folding Bicycles
M1942 Command Post Tent

Littlewood
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Re: WLA placement in a Infantry Divisional Structure

Post by Littlewood » Tue Jul 18, 2017 6:13 am

hey thanks for the link, too rich for me but the preview gives a bit of information and some pics. Ive found the Combat History of the Second Infantry Division in World War II in a book on eBay. information you have would be welcome, I've just returned from Saint Nazaire to tour the Uboat pens, unbelievable structures, hopefully next trip will be to Brest to tour some of the territory the 2ID fought over. thanks for your input. James
1945 MB Willy's
1944 M29C Weasel
1945 GMC CCKW353
1945 Gemco 1/4 Trailer
1944 WLA
1944 Ford M8
Radios : BC1306, BC-1000, BC-611F's, BC-620, SCR 528 PE-120, PE-237, GRC-9, SCR499
Generators: PE 210-B & PE-75


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