This new book is the companion volume to Glenns 2006 United States Marine Corps Uniforms, Insignia, and Personal Items of World War II (see page 57 of this catalog). With numerous rare and never before published war time photographs, 782 Gear is the most in-depth pictorial study of the many patterns, and variations of Marine Corps field gear known then as 782 Gear that U.S. Marines carried in the Pacific War. The author also visited the island battlefields hes written about and conducted field endurance tests with original Marine Corps gear to give the reader a more complete understanding of how each piece of equipment endured the rigors of combat. With this unprecedented level of research, 782 Gear is, along with its companion volume, the World War II Marine Corps collectors guide book and bible.

The United States Marine Corps was one of the phenomena of the Second World War. Greatly expanded from its prewar order of battle of scattered defense battalions, overseas garrisons and ship detachments, it became a multi-division force bearing the brunt of the hardest fighting across the whole vast expanse of the Pacific theater of operations. In August 1942 Marines were among the first to strike back at the Japanese in the jungles of Guadalcanal; Marine Raider battalions were formed to carry the fight to the enemy; and from the Central Solomon's landings of mid–1943 it was the Marines who spearheaded the 'island hopping' amphibious campaign which brought them to Okinawa, on Japan's doorstep, by VJ-Day. This epic story has been well documented in most respects except one: the uniforms, insignia and personal equipment of the Marines who fought their way across the Pacific. Authoritative, illustrated reference works of this important aspect of World War II's physical history have been notoriously lacking. In this book, longtime collector and researcher Jim Moran fills the gap, with a systematic, detailed guide illustrated with more than 300 photographs, including some 200 close-ups of surviving items in private collections on both sides of the Atlantic. The author covers service and field uniforms at the outbreak of war; the development of the Marine's dungaree's; the introduction and development of the camouflage uniforms which became the Marine's trademark in the popular imagination; the 782 gear webbing equipment; the various packs and other load-carrying items; the uniforms, insignia and equipment special to the elite Marine Raiders and Paramarines; the uniforms and accouterments of the US Marine Corps Women's Reserve; and a range of issue and personal small kit items which collectors may encounter. His research is supported by some 100 wartime photographs showing the identified item in use. Assisted and encouraged by the US Marine Corps Historical Center at Quantico, Virginia, Jim Moran has produced an essential reference for the collector, modeler, illustrator and uniform historian.

Drills, reamers, milling cutters, etc.

Colonel Jack Adams crashes an AV-8B, Harrier in the middle of a North Carolina bean field. The task of sorting out the cause of his friend's accident falls to Colonel Dan Breakheart, the Second Marine Air Wing's Safety Officer. Within days of the start of his investigation, Breakheart realizes that not only sabotage was indeed a factor regarding his friends death, but that it may be murder as well. Using information Adams' wife provides, Breakheart begins delving into the last few days of his friend's life. With the help of a young and lovely NADEP engineer and his best buddy, Major "Snake" Burns, he must solve the mystery quickly, but puts himself in harms way to smoke the malefactor into a confession. PRAISE FOR DAVID C. CORBETT'S A GOOD MARINE'S MURDER "Great story-grabber right from the prologue. You don't need me to tell you that your descriptions of Marine Corps life and flying were right on the money! I felt like I was there the whole way." -Major General Richard A. Gustafson, USMC (Ret) " I read this book in two days 11 chapters the fist day and then finished it off early in the morning of the second day. I had a hard time putting it down, as I was so hooked into the story and my familiarity with everything in the book from Cherry Point, Harriers, fighter pilots, O'Club, Memorials for fellow pilots, Hancock Yacht Club and its regatta, the Wing HQ, the Commanding General and Assistant Wing Commander, Chief of Staff and G-3, NIS, NADEP, and Marine officer wives. I was held captive, but it was exactly what I like reading about and kept me wanting more." -Major General Michael Sullivan, USMC (Ret.)