OSS use of M1 carbine

[Garandy]

Heres part of a letter i received from a very old former OSS man i met while researching my OSS Colt M1903. He was posting looking for any other elderly OSS vets, on a board I found, for former OSS/CIA men/women.
I asked him about the "Liberator" .45 [Flare Projector] and his seeing M1 rifles, and M1 carbines in the field as an OSS man.
His response;

[No, never had any experienced with the aluminum single shot 45, as far as I can remember, but, yes, to the others cited; plus the use of German weapons. The M1 carbine was a favorite of mine. Added to that weaponry was the experience of learning how to blow up railroads with plastic explosives.

We didn't complete our training without meeting Major Fairbairn who demonstrated how to undue your enemy with a rolled up newspaper, among other ways, and then of course how to effectively use his famous F-S fighting knife. He was with us for only one day, but the training was intense. It was pure joy talking with him afterwards, both personable, and friendly in makeup.

On the trip over to England we were treated like kings - the last ones on, and the first ones off the Queen Mary. Our quarters were on the promenade deck. We were unique in that each of us carried a 45 strapped to our waist. A carbine also went along with each of us, 40 in number.]

[Jim K.]

The "Liberator" pistol was never intended for use by the Allied armed forces, even clandestine groups. The theory was that it would be dropped in occupied areas where it could be picked up and used against the occupying forces by civilians.

The whole idea was cloud cuckooland, of course, and there is no record of any of the pistols ever being used that way, though a few were used after the war by police in China and the Philippines pending receipt of better weapons. The vast majority were destoyed, which is why they are rarities today.

Jim

Jim

[jgaynor]

The Liberator was not made of aluminum but good old solid steel.

The idea was revived during Vietnam with a 9mm version. It had a die cast pistol grip (possibly aluminum or som sort of potmetal and a screw in steel barrel. the operating instructions were in the form of a wordless comic strip showing how to load and fire it. The last panel had a distinctly asian looking soldier (NVA, chicom??) getting plugged

Regards,

Jim

[Pete]

Click on the link to view a photo of Lt. Jack Singlaub when he was in the OSS. He served on a Jedburgh team in France in 1944. In 1977 he was relieved as chief of staff of U.S. forces in Korea when he criticized President Carter's proposal to withdraw American forces from that country.

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/5125/medfile4522.jpg

[Garandy]

I asked this former agent about the folding stock. He was issued the straight stock, as his unit made no jumps.
I hope my mid 1943 M1A1 was used in combat,...Im sure it was, it just looks it.
Andy

[Pete]

... researching my OSS Colt M1903.

Could you tell us a bit more about your M1903 made by Colt?

[JimF4m1s]

Here is a photo of my Liberator. Also shows the picture instructions. No letters on it to make an ID. Bought the book a few years back. 8 1/2" X 5 1/2" for $50, very informative. I shot one many years back with a friend.

JimF

[Garandy]

Colt Model 1903 Hammerless Pocket Automatic Pistol
Serial Number 565833
Caliber: .32/c
Barrel Length: 3 1/4"
Finish Blue [actually phosphate]my note
Type of stocks: Not Listed
Sold to: United States Government
Shipped to: Transportation Officer
New York Port of Embarkation
Brooklyn, New York
Att: Port Strategic Services Officer
Date of Shipment: December 15, 1944
Colt Factory Order: #4711
Number of same type
guns in shipment: 100
[Its in Pate, and Brunner]