Did airborne troops use the springfield sniper rifle during D-Day?

I have a few days off work next week so I'm trying to work on a few of the smaller dio ideas I have had for a while, and want to know if I can use the Airborne troops I have or if I will need to modify the Omaha Beach troops I have to get rid of their life belts.

I think you'd be pretty safe using the Springfield for an airborne sniper as it was the standard snipers rifle for US forces

Here's a link you may find useful http://www.101airborneww2.com/index.html

Cool link, should come in handy.
Unfortunately it doesn't seem to go into much detail regarding their weapons.

The author of that site is Mark Bando, he has more knowledge of the 101st Airborne during WWII then any one. If you post a question on his forum, if he can't answer it, there are a slew of other individuals who will be able to.

The Spingfiled Sniper rifle was used by all branches as the primary sniper rile, even into the Korean conflict, when it was replaced by the M-1D.

I think I will do that.
A better question would prabbaly have been "Did airborne troops have dedicated snipers?"

I'll ask over there and see what they can tell me.

The dio I am trying to make will most likely involve 3-4 figs (including sniper) movng through a treeline with the sniper watching either as counter-sniper, with a man down, or just keeping an eye out while the others move into position.

Yep - they had them! But where can you get a springfield in 1:35 - they seem to be quite rare!

You said it! Springfield's are quite rare in 1/35. Off the top of my head I think tamiya made one in a U.S. Weapons set which I believe is still being produced (saw it a few weeks ago at the LHS), Dragon had one in their weapon set as well which if I remember correctly was better quality. Other than that I believe Warrior's has one but it is attached to their sniper set. Hope this helps.

I have the tamiya one I think. Just need to find it amongst all my stuff.

The only problem I found with it is that there is a too large air gap under the scope, that makes it look like the bolt has been removed.

If you go to the forums of the site that Karl posted a link to, someone posed this question and a veteran of WWII by the name of Donald R. Burgett - who also authored four outstanding memoirs of his time serving in A Co., 506 PIR, 101 Airborne - answered the question saying yes, and went into detail about one or two snipers that he knew during D-Day.
I would provide you with a direct link, but the site appears to be down for maintenance (I hope!)

That was me asked the question over there.

Meant to mention it in my last post but was in a bit of a hurry to get to work.

There were also mentions in that thread about 'self-appointed' snipers, most working just from iron sights, in other units than airborne, like artillery, as well as a bit of info about a James Magellas who apparently carried an 03 in addition to a thompson SMG.

So lots of info for potential dios or vignettes.

There is a warriors figure with the 03 sniper rifle. It is molded twith the hands, but it can easily be adapted to a different body of an airborne soldier. I have done that for my Carentan project. It is the best representation of the 03 sniper rife. You could always "fix" the tamiya one too...

Does the Warriors figure have a name?

Heres the Tamiya '03 scope/bolt problem.

Well, if you can get hold of a Springfield, it shouldn't be too hard to scratch the scope.

Also found a us sniper by Custom Dioramics that I can obtain 'locally'. Can't tell if he's actually carrying a springfield, but I would assume so.