Soldier Story: WWII 101st Airborne Division, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment – Paratrooper Guy Whidden II, Officially Authorized 1/6 Scale Military Action Figure.
Guy Whidden was born on June 18, 1923 in Wyncote, Pennsylvania. Guy was a paratrooper in HQ Company, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division during World War 2. He was a machine gunner and jumped into Normandy in the early hours of June 6, 1944. Guy Whidden also jumped into Holland during operation Market Garden in September, 1944. He was severely wounded near Best during a mortar attack when three of his best friends were killed by the same mortar. Guy was still recovering in a hospital when the Battle of the Bulge happened. After his recovery, he was sent back to Fort Benning and became a jump school instructor.
Guy Whidden is awarded with the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantry badge, a Netherlands Orange Lanyard, and the Good Conduct Medal. Guy has written a book about his WWII experiences titled: Between the Lines and Beyond. This book recounts his time served in World War II through letters written home to his mother.
Soldier Story spares no details in developing this figure. On the uniform, Soldier Story is well known for producing clothing of good cut and proper thickness. Many similar 101st airborne figures used the standard M1942 paratrooper uniform. However, during the Normandy campaign, the reinforced M1942 paratrooper uniform had been widely adopted. The main difference is, the reinforced version used heavy olive drab canvas to strengthen the trousers and the pockets.
On the helmet, the paratroopers used the M1C helmet, compared with the standard MC helmet used by the US military during WWII. The main difference is on the leather chin cup. For the 1/6 counterparts, Soldier Story will use metal for the M1C helmet and genuine leather for the chin cup.
The parachute is the Type T5 parachute used by the US paratroopers in WWII. The details of the chest pack including harness are faithfully reproduced.
The paratroopers boots do not have the bulky appearance like other military boots. It has a good looking shape and uses laces.
On the weapon, this figure does not come with a M1 Garand commonly found with other WW2 US figures, but a M1A1 folding stock Carbine. Not long after the adoption of the U.S. Caliber .30 Carbine, Model M1, the need for a shorter version for use by paratroopers became evident. In 1942 a shorter version of M1 utilizing a folding or collapsible stock was developed. Using metal and wood material, Soldier Story faithfully reproduces this carbine in 1/6 with details such as bayonet lug and bolt catch. Sidearm will be the standard M1911 pistol. Also included in the accessories, are signature gears such as the paratrooper M2 folding knife, the M1918 trench knife, etc.
It is the first time for Soldier Story to produce the paratrooper leg bag, details of which such as handle and straps are accurately reproduced in 1/6. This bag was issued as standard equipment for paratroopers during Normandy campaign. It was first used by the British airborne and later adopted by the US military. Unfortunately, it was one of several “great” ideas that failed miserably under the conditions of combat. During the invasion, many paratroopers’ leg bags were ripped off in the high winds when they jumped from their airplanes. The situation was depicted in “Band of Brothers”.
This figure is equipped with most of the gears commonly used by paratroopers during D-Day that it can almost be called “full gear”. Again, Soldier Story works very hard on the details and attempts to reproduce them as accurate as possible – M5 gas mask with detachable filter, M36 X strap with paratrooper felt pads, M1910 shovel and canteen made of metal, M1944 goggles with clear and smoke lenses, M1938 para gloves, paratrooper side cap, altimeter, watch, whistle, flashlight, grenades, explosives… The list goes on. To add to the memorial value, Soldier Story will also provide a specially designed round figure base with metal nameplate. This is a figure that any military model collector will be proud to add to his/her collection.
