Maybe this has been noted here before, but I did not catch it. While recently visiting Ft Stewart, home of the 3rd ID, I was told about a documentary made by the Discovery Channel after the fall of Baghdad. It is called "The Fight for Baghdad." In my opinion, this is a GREAT documentary. They also have one on the capture of Saddam Hussein.

The DVD covers both the Marines and Army from the crossing of the border til the fall of Baghdad. There is a mixture of video (stuff that I have never seen before - and I have seen a lot), computer graphics based on interviews and private footage shot by marines and soldiers, and interviews of high ranking and low ranking men.

I can not recommend this DVD enough. I bought it via Dscovery's web site. It think it was about $27 including shipping. Good footage that can be paused to help the modeler decipher some vehicle markings. It is a little over 1 1/2 hrs long (I suppose it was a 2hr showing on TV w/ commercials)

One biased item I must point out: my friend and inspiration for modeling the M1A1 OIF Abrams I did over this past year is one of the interviewees on the DVD (SFC Olson).

On another note, while visiting the 3rd ID museum I was able to study some reference material from the initial invasion. An interesting detail involving the scouts was that they used 100 mile an hour tape on the back of their helmets to secure reflective material (like that used on many officers and NCO helmet straps). It was a large square of tape w/ the reflective material in the middle of the square, all on the left rear of the helmet. The scouts used this "system" since they were to be out front so much, they felt it would reduce the friendly fire situations.

Bob

Very interesting Bob. I have seen that documentary multiple times and it never gets old (its on the Military Channel a lot). I have wanted to do a dio of the one engagement where 101st soldiers rode on the back of M1A1s. Maybe that'll be my motivation to buy the new Dragon M1 coming out. Also, great to know about the 3ID scouts. Thanks for that.
Kyle

Havent seen that one, but the USMC had a HDTV camera crew with RCT-7 (1st Tanks and 3/4 Marines), wide screen, no commercials, no political commentary, covered the crossings of the last bridges into Baghdad.

It was not made by Discovery HD, but by the USMC itself.

Haven't caught that one yet, will have to look for it. My wife usually hogs the TV at night watching those stinking 'reality' shows while I'm either building or playing on the computer or doing something else. I need to watch more TV. lol

The only Marine one I caught was Delta Tanks on the military channel, I HAD to watch that one and see how my old company did over in OIF.

The stuff you are refering to on their helmets is callede glint tape. It is a product that is visible with IR (infrared) light. We, 82d Airborne soldiers, use it to identify soldiers to avoid friendly fire casualties from support aircraft. I have spoken to Airmen aboard AC-130 gunships and they say we stick out like sore thumbs because of it. It is a true life saver and combat multiplier. it is usualy a 1 or 2 inch square. Anything bigger can actually reflect too much. As far as the 100MPH tape, That works for everything!!!

Sounds like an awesome doco. I may be asking the obvious here but in the doco, are there alot of references for the entire military arsenal or do they focus on specific divisions?

Im in desperate need for some good references from Operation Iraqi Freedom and this sounds just what i need.

Try this:

http://www.militaryphotos.net/

Lots of great photos there.

Concord has some books under ther Special Ops series as well. At this point two years into OIF you have to be careful of the date and unit you are depicting. Lots of rotations of units in that time.

Crap i ran into the DVD rental store hoping to check this DVD out but they dont have it.

$27 US dollars works out to be about $40 NZ dollars and thats not counting shipping so purchasing it online is not really an option. To top it off, they dont ship to New Zealand!

The Shootout show about the approach to Baghdad was on History Channel last night again too. It was pretty good. Personally wish it had focused more on 3ID, as opposed to USMC, but that is because I was in 3ID. They only did 15 min on SFC Smith from 3ID, who was postuemusly awarded the Medal Of Honor for his actions, and 45 minutes on USMC. Was still a good show, a few inaccuracies in reenactments though. They used a British FV 432 APC to represent an M113A3, US Marines were playing 3ID soldiers in the SFC Smith piece (wore USMC unifors), and they continually misidentified RPK MGs for AK-47s, showed M1A1's with hull mounted APUs and Army smoke launchers (looked like ODS footage) for USMC tanks in OIF. Average viewer would not have noticed these inaccuracies though. Overall a good show and pretty accurate. Highly recommened.

Gino, I wear ear muffs and and squint and everthing seems more accurate. I feel the 45 to 15 ratio is about right too. Out here.

Mike,
I knew as I was typing the time ratio bit that I would hear from you. Semper Fi, Bro.