Need help with recovered P-38 relics

[PhilG]

In July of 2010 we recovered two .50 cal cases from a P-38 that was shot down near Mortree, France in 1944.
The marking on the bottom of the cases are K S 42 on one and R A 42 on the other.
Can anyone identify what these markings indicate?
(we have also several other small parts recovered from this crash site. The plane is from the 428th FS. The pilot was the father of a family member)

Phil
Huntington Beach, Ca.

[Steve T]

Hi and welcome to the forum !!

Certainly we can identify the markings.

RA = Remington Arms Co, Bridgeport, USA
KS = Allegany Ordnance Plant (Operated by Kelly-Springfield Tire Co), Cumberland, USA.

The '42' both denote year of manufacture. In this case, 1942.

Post pics of the other finds and hopefully we can ID those for you as well

Steve T

PS Go have a look at the following thread. It's one I posted showing what the headstamps mean on small arms cartridges.

https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/ordin...adstamps-5718/

[PhilG]

Steve,
That is awesome. Such a quick responce. I only found your web site by chance yesterday. We have recently found my brother-in-laws fathers crashsite and further excavation is scheduled in the near future. Larger parts are indicated requiring excavation. One part we can I.D. is a 9 inch piece of a the camshaft. (broken and bent in a large degree)
Thanks for your help.

[PhilG]

Steve,
That is awesome. Such a quick responce. I only found your web site by chance yesterday. We have recently found my brother-in-laws fathers crashsite and further excavation is scheduled in the near future. Larger parts are indicated requiring excavation. One part we can I.D. is a 9 inch piece of the camshaft. (broken and bent in a large degree)
Thanks for your help.