Plunket's 101st Airborne, mostly OIF, collection photos

Hi guys I'm finally home on R&R and can post some photos of my collection. Most of these items were purchased at or around Fort Campbell, KY home of the 101st Airborne (Air Assault). I was stationed there for 6 1/2 years so I was able to get a lot of good items, as I lived through the change in uniforms and gear.

First is a Captain in OIF 1, 2003


Second a Staff Sergeant, 327th INF, in 2005 just after the Division went back to Iraq. As the ACUs were just being issued ACU rank and names tapes were not really available yet. So the green rank and name tapes can be seen early in the deployment.


Here is a E-5 from the 3rd BDE, RAKKASANs


A wider angle of some more of the display...


Hope you enjoy the photos...

First you're deployed, surrounded by uniforms, then you get home, and you're still surrounded by uniforms.
You absolutely sure you're home now mate, not actually in Afghanistan?

Yep back home for a couple weeks of leave, then I have to go back to Afghanistan. Its good to be back though, fresh air and no threat of a rocket attack!

Just one word....WOW ! Realy beautiful displays !!!!

Plunket,

Hats off to your service. Many in our country thank you!

Cheers,
MyZone

Awesome collection indeed!

I echo MyZone's sentiments, thanks for all you do!

Hi I mainly focus on 101st, from all time periods...
here is a shot of the "timeline" WW2 till present


but I also collect some special forces gear and uniforms...I'll post some photos later
Also thanks for all the compliments, I'm glad you guys like my small collection.

Hi your collection is incredible, you have a lot great items, I have seen a nice DCU boonie hat with captain rank and scorpion embroidered!!!!

Your collection is AMAZING!!!!!

Hi, your collection is really great. You have a lot of cool stuff in it

I love the time line, it shows well the evolution of the US Army.

Not bad Plunket, I would say thats a "ok" collection, maybe some day you'll have one as good as mine.. Lol.. Baker502

Well Baker502, thanks for the compliment on my "ok" collection. Since I've seen your collection, I'd say its "pretty good" too. Ha Ha

Here is another shot of some of my other stuff...

US Army Ranger, Somalia 1993. The DCUs are the very early, non-ripstop large collar type.

Hi your display is really, I m not sure that the soldier in the back has served in the desert during the same era

If your collection is small, then what's mine? Atomic? Awesome timeline, easily superior to what can be seen at most museums!

This is a nice display as well as a museum dedicated to the 101st AB .... and the 82nd AB (Lt. Kelso Horne portrait on Life Magazine).

that's a realy nice collection. Are the weapons and the PVS-7 (binocular NVG) original or reproduction for airsoft ?

Great collection!

Is that ww2 airborne uniform original?


I have to say, damn great collection!

The PVS-7s are only airsoft. Much cheaper when I don't need night vision capability in my basement. As for the WW2 Jump uniform, I do have originals but this is a Saving Private Ryan screen worn uniform. It was aged and looks damn good.

Thanks for the compliments guys. I've been collecting militaria since 1993, a lot of time and money has gone into building up the collection. Half the fun is the hunt, as I'm sure most of you know.

Nice collection, the ranger in Somalia is my favourite. What is the type of belt that he is wearing?

The belt is a pistol belt extender. They wear made to extend the pistol belt on the LBE, like this one to fit around the protective vest. I don't think anyone uses them anymore as nobody uses LBEs.

Here is a closer shot of the random OIF stuff...

Nice display. really cool, I like the box with arabic written

Really great display! Love to see current 101st material.

The US Ranger in Somalia is also one of my faves. One of my co-workers at the museum was a Ranger on that mission and had a character play him in the movie.

Here is another old photo from the collection...

3rd Battalion, 327th BCT around fall of 2005. This is around 2005 after the Brigade got back from OIF1 and before the Brigades were issued the new ACU for the next Iraq deployment. They were issued the ACH by then, that's why the unit is still wearing BDUs but has some new equipment.

And one more...

2 tops from the same man, picked up at one of the local surplus shops around FT Campbell. A DCU when he was a SFC and later a BDU when he was a 1SG.

Sorry about the Og-107 in the photo...

Man, you've a outsdanding collection and very well displayed. I realy love that !

I never get tired of your collection. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for the compliments guys. I should have all the collection out of storage this summer when I get back from this current deployment; a different deployment and a different AO than when I first posted some photos. I’ll add some more then.