aiming

Taking Aim at the Future

Looks like a double barreled 12 gauge shotgun....

C. W. Billings was a member of the American Olympic Trapshooting team. He competed in the Travers Island Trap competition in both 1911 and 1913.

I started an entry in Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._W._Billings

美麗的照片

That would appear to be a Vickers machine-gun (British) in the background, and the helmet looks Britsh too.

I believe that is a Browning Machine gun. The helmet is a British design (Brodie helmet) that was adopted by US forces in 1917 during World War One. The US designated it the M1917 helmet.

The good reliable M1 .30 cal. Garand rifle. It was the replacement for the bolt-action Springfield 1903 model. Both, sturdy rifles were good for close combat and fixed-bayonet fighting.

Yes, tomfs, on closer inspection it doesn't have the fluted barrel sleeve and that stubby muzzle-brake like the vickers. I didn't know about the M1917, so that is a new one. I think the British design was loosly based on a medieval foot soldier's helmet.

wonderful works

the used flashbulb in the frame - accidental, or wry commentary on the inauthenticity of govt funded wartime documentary work?

Accidental. There were many combat photographers during this time. People were smart enough to know what is staged and what is not most of the time. There is plenty of authentic government funded war time documentary work. More like photographer was not paying attention.

this is a great shot, but one thing that stics out to me is.. the helmet does not macth up with the M1 Garand. If he was holding a garand he would have a later style helmet, maybe its just cause im a world war 2 nerd haha

Great shot!.

pero ..¿qué podían hacer con ese casco que parece que se cae por todos los lados?