A nice selection from my 388th Bomb Group negative collecting. Showing some of the more laid back facets of life on base.
Author: portraitsofwar
41st Division Doughboys – WWI Studio RPPC Patch Photo
One of my favorite WWI studio photo types is the patch photo. Doughboys loved showing off their divisional pride! Here is a super example of a pair of 41st Division doughboys from Oregon showing off their uniforms.
And a nice close up of the SSI for patch collectors out there.
The Korean War in Color
This will be a constantly updated theme here at Portraits of War so please check back often.
Today’s posts are from the 89th Medium Tank Battalion taken in 1952 during the middle of the Korean War.
The 89th Medium Tank Battalion was with the 25th Division (insignia seen in the slide below) from between 1951 through the armistice.
The Fall of Munich – 42nd Division, 222nd Anti-Tank Company Takes Charge
WWI Doughboy Medics Pose in France w/ Mascot Terrier
One of my favorite WWI photo tropes is the mascot dog pose. This photo caught my eye due to the presence of the medics with visible red cross armbands but was further enhanced by a little Jack Russell Terrier mascot. Taken in France in early 1918, this image is a wonderful representation of the lighthearted antics that kept front line medics sane during the horrors of WWI trench warfare.
388th Bomb Group Interior Mural Art – Knettishall
Alva must have loved painting murals! He used Red Cross girls and local WAC’s as models…….
388th Bomb Group Artist Negative Collection Continued……………
Two great shots of some of Alva’s work while stationed in England. Note the 388th Bomb Group insignia in the background of the painting.
388th Bomb Group Artist in England 1944 – Alva Villamor Alegre
From the depths of my collection comes a series of amazing negatives taken by a member of the 388th Bomb Group stationed at Knettishall England in 1944. I have over 300 images from this collection and will slowly be posting them over the next few months. Keep checking back for updates. The medium-sized negatives are in immaculate condition and came to me rather inexpensively from an eBay auction. Enjoy!
Alegre was a Phillipino born artist who passed away in the early 1950s at the early age of 40. I one day hope to find a piece of his art!
April 13th, 1945 – 99th Division, 395th Infantry Regiment, in the Ruhr Pocket – Anniversary Post
Earl Denzil Reese
April 13th, 1945 – A combat engineer snapped this series of photos while riding on back of a truck during the Battle of the Ruhr Pocket. A member of the 395th Infantry Regiment , the photographer captured an amazing scene through the lens of this camera in these images. A group of German soldiers surrenders while riding a motorcycle, waving a white flag in a desperate attempt at self preservation. A cigarette dangles from the hand of sidecar rider.
Over 300,000 German troops were taken prisoner during the March and April battles in the Ruhr Valley of Germany.
102nd Field Artillery Band Members in France (26th Division)
The bulk of my collection has been culled from endless pages of ebay listings, but I occasionally have the opportunity to discover hidden gems at flea markets and trade shows. Today I attended a Antiquarian Book and Ephemera show at the Sheraton in South Burlington, VT. I attached a link below to help plug this great organization. Anyway, I eagerly searched through thousands of postcards and photos looking for military related images. I saw a few overprices Civil War images, and a number of lack luster WWII photos. My WWI radar was in full swing and I left with a handful of great images. Please enjoy reading about my favorite find!
This wonderful image depicts two band members of the 102nd Field Artillery of the 26th Division. Taken in France in 1918, this RPPC (real photo postcard) has everything going for it. The two doughboys are wearing French style caps with unit designation affixed. Their collar discs are a mix of MASS National Guard insignia and 102nd Field Artillery band discs. The details on the M1911 pistol grips is superb. Even the embossed leather US is visible on the holster.
Vermont Antiquarian Booksellers Association Website
Check it out!
Portraits of War 
