Hi All & Don, Don, you recall a while back I told you about an account I read in Jerry Lee Richlak's book 'Glide to Glory' regarding the 'alteration' of the standard M1 Carbine to fire in full auto? Well the large volume book is a fantastic read, packed full of personal glidermens' stories from the ETO; but therein lies the problem. Try as I might, I could not find the reference a second time - the book's only weakness (IMHO) is the lack of a good index In any event, I had kind of parked the search for the reference, knowing I would stumble upon it again. However, today while in Dublin, I picked up a second hand copy of 'June 6, 1944 - The Voices of D-Day' by Gerald Astor (First Edition 1994). Guess what I found on page 143: Hope this helps your research Don. Regards, Pat
Thanks, Pat, it really does. There are numerous personal accounts of individuals modifying carbines in the ETO after D-Day, but this is the earliest I have seen. If you like I'll hunt up a diagram of the later official M2 mod - but, in brief, it also used a pivoting rod actuated by the slide's movement to the rear to trip the sear. (Normally the sear catches the hammer and prevents it from falling after the latter is recocked by the semi-auto action). The official mod had a switch that allowed select fire. Sounds like this one you found was full auto all the time. The 30-rd. magazine was adopted too late to see WWII action, but there are accounts of GIs welding two 15s together. I am sending you an email right now to test for glitches - don't think I have a 'Southern accents only' filter turned on. I last emailed you on October 31 - did you get it? Thanks again.
Hi Don, Glad to help; I'll keep trying for the other reference in Jerry Lee Richlak's book 'Glide to Glory' as I assume the account there is not the same one. If anyone has the book, please post here if you find the reference therein. Will check email tonight Don. Regards, Pat