r/WW2Photographs

I randomly found this USO calendar posted at work in 2021. Had to do a double take; that’s my grandfather 3rd from left. Walter Cronkite (far right) flew with them that day to hit a nazi rocket site in France. Feb 4, 1944

I know this is most likely a m35 model helmet but can’t find hardly any info on it anywhere . Any ideas on what group would have used this ?

On the right

Source:https://archive.org/details/nsdap-schulungsbrief-1941-01-sonderdruck-deutsches-blut-kehrt-heim/page/28/mode/2up

The crimes of Fezzan and the title of "Butcher" Graziani's great operational relationship with Libya began at the end of the twenties; he was sent to repass and subdue the Fezzan region (in southern Libya). There he faced fierce resistance, but responded with unprecedented methods of military ferocity. The use of chemical weapons: Historical records and memoirs document Graziani's use of the most abject means, including the order given to the Italian Air Force to launch lethal toxic gases (such as phosgene) against concentrations of populations, oases and tribes in the desert, resulting in genocide of humans and animals and the poisoning of water sources. Because of these terrifying massacres committed against unarmed civilians in the South, he earned the nickname "The Butcher of Fezzan".

This is a photo of the US Navy Salvage Diver School that was established in 1942 at Pier 88 in NYC, on the site of the capsized USS Lafayette (formerly SS Normandie), which is quite a story itself.

Though the two men up on the balcony standing to the right are obviously US Navy personnel, I'm having difficulty identifying the group of men standing to their right. Their uniforms look a little like Soviet to me, based on the single row of buttons and epaulets. Opinions welcome.

Colourised photo of the legendary Hans-Ulrich Rudel's Junkers Ju 87G Kanonenvogel (Cannon bird). This was the final operational anti-tank variant of the Stuka dive bomber. Introduced in 1943 to counter the massive waves of Russian armour on the Eastern Front, it was equipped with two underwing 37mm Bordkanone BK 3,7 cannons. Note T-34 profile painted on the engine cowling

designed in 1939 and flew in 1942.

Future 222 victory ace, Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern (Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords) holder, 1,000 missions veteran, Staffelkapitän 6./JG 2 Richthofen, Gruppenkommandeur II./JG2, Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 7 Nowotny, the world's first jet figjter unit and finally Gruppenkommandeur II./JG 54 *Grünherz (*Green Hearts) Major Erich Rudorffer, seen here in December 1944. He flew in the Battle of France, the Battle of Britain, the Eastern Front, the Mediterranean and finally Defence of the Reich. Of his 1,000+ missions, over 300 of them resulted in aerial combat.

Shot down by flak and/or fighters 16 times, had to hit the silk (parachute) 9 times. He shot down 10 US 4-engined bombers using the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter. He survived the war and went on to fly commercial aircraft. Starting with flying Douglas DC-2s and DC-3s in Australia. The change of climate in sunny Australia compared to the Eastern Front must have been stark (and welcome). He later worked for Pan Am. He died in April 2016 at the age of 98 in Bad Schwartau, Germany. At the time of his death, he was the last living recipient of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords