Krausewes Military Museum

10/14/2026

IN honor of the US Navy's 251st nniversary I will post this.
Desco B-Lung, MM-94
First, it has to stated, I do not collect US Navy material...however.
What we have here is a Desco B-Lung, also known as the Buccaneer Lung or Browne lung as marked. This is what is commonly referred to as a re-breather. The re-breather allowed divers to submerge without leaving a trail of exhaled bubbles. The example featured here is U.S Navy marked and was produced in World War Two for the Office of Strategic Services (O.S.S.). The B-lung was used by the for Underwater Demolition by specially trained divers in the U.D.T. (Underwater Demolition Teams). The early U.D.T. would have used this to place mines in strategic locations to destroy enemy installations and hazards plus the re-breather was employed in covert operations. It has been suggested that the U.D.T. also cleared path undersea to the beaches of Normandy. Also of note is that the early U.D.T. were the genesis of the current Navy Seals. This artifact is the early wartime produced variation of the B-lung. Very few of these survived and are only seen in Naval Museums and private collections. This the only Navy related piece in my collection and apparently one of three known in Canada.

07/17/2026

It has been an incredibly busy time for the Ghost Squadron Military Museum (original name before Krauswes for facebook). Here are some pictures of two displays for the 100th Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Legion combined with a Celtic festival this weekend. Our local legion Branch No. 17 Robertson Memorial will be turning 100 years old in January this coming year.
The Berlin Occupation display is part of my collection, the flag is 8"X4". While the Peacekeepers display drew artifacts from the South Alberta Light Horse Regimental Museum I curate.

06/26/2026

Got to see this movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

06/26/2026

FEATURED ARTIFACT of the WEEK
Model 1874 Dyer Cartridge Pouch
The Model 1874 Dyer Pouch (officially the Dyer Carbine Cartridge Box) was a distinctive, crescent-shaped leather am******on carrier created by the U.S. Army Ordnance Department during the early Indian Wars era. It was primarily designed to hold metallic cartridges for .45-70 "Trapdoor" carbines.
The Pouch was named after Captain Alexander B. Dyer of the Ordnance Department and were typically manufactured at the Benicia Arsenal and the Rock Island Arsenal. They were made of heavy black bridle leather featuring an embossed "US" on the front outer flap and a separate small implement pouch underneath. The crescent curve was designed to fit comfortably against a cavalry trooper's hip. The pouch interior was lined with red shearling (lambs wool) to keep the rimmed .45-70 cartridges from rattling around and to prevent damage to the metallic casings. The pouch was meant to complement the standard 1874 equipment set. However, in the field, soldiers and cavalrymen found these standard cartridge boxes cumbersome. Troopers frequently opted for improvised leather or canvas cartridge belts instead, and original surviving specimens are exceptionally rare.
The pouch featured her was made by Rock Island Arsenal.

06/26/2026

06/26/2026

FEATURED ARTIFACT/VIDEO of the WEEK
DeHavilland Mosquito Video
The past week I was attending the Annual National Conference for the Canadian Aviation Historical Society held in Kelowna British Columbia at the KF center of Excellence. In their collection they had a fully restored DeHavilland Mosquito. The video shared here is of both engines, Roll Royce Merlins, being run. It was amazingly quiet as I have heard the Merlins on a Lancaster being run and they were much louder.

06/12/2026

FEATURED ARTIFACT of the WEEK.
China Burma India Pillowcase, MTR-77
This stunning locally sourced China, Burma, India Sweetheart’s pillowcase is an amazing piece of artwork. It features a rendition of the Taj Mahal India, in medium relief. The China, Burma India Shoulder sleeve Insignia most likely indicates it was made a serviceman who would have sent it home to his wife or sweetheart.

06/05/2026

FEATURED ARTIFACT of the WEEK
WW2 jacket, CBI Theater, UJ-403
Found in the collection database with no attributed name. This is a very nice four pocket enlisted mans, tunic. It is fitted with teh US and Quartermaster Corps collar insignia as well as Technical Sergeant Second Grade Chevrons. The China Burma India shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI) is quite stunning in bullion, Silk and dark blue felt. The Ledo Road SSI is an amazing work of art in silver bullion with woven cord embroidery and silk field. The coat is made by Stadler Clothing Co., Inc. The company was based in Saint Paul Minnesota and produced wool field jackets, service coats, primarily for enlisted men. This coat was produced under contract No. W669-qm-29857 dated June 3, 1943, to Q.M.C. tentative specification No. 197 dated 7/10/42.

05/29/2026

WW2, Officer's Field Overcoat
Officer’s Field Overcoat, UJ-194
The WW2 US Officer's Field Overcoat (Specification 314) and its updated Olive Drab 7 variant (Specification 314A) were specialized, heavy-duty winter coats. Designed to withstand harsh European and Pacific theaters, they featured heavy wool/cotton construction and distinct design characteristics that set them apart from standard enlisted coats. Key features of Specification 314/314A listed here. Material & Color: Constructed from heavy-duty olive drab wool (or poplin shells depending on the exact M-1943/M-1951 iteration), prioritizing high warmth-to-weight ratios for officers on field duty. Design Elements: They typically incorporated double-breasted buttoning, a belted waist, and deep slash pockets for accessibility when worn over standard garrison or service uniforms. Lining Versatility: Designed to accommodate detachable winter liners, allowing officers to adapt to varying temperatures and the US Army’s iconic layering system. The coat feature here is made under a contract dated Aug 14, 1944, according to tentative specification Philadelphia Quartermaster depot No. 314A

05/22/2026

FEATURED ARTIFACT of the WEEK
Overcoat, Short Officers, UJ-140
Following along the design on Specification 76B, this variation incorporated some features that saved on material and sped up production. It was made of premium heavy 26-ounce O.D. (Olive Drab) doeskin wool, a tight, wind-resistant weave with a smooth nap. It also typically featured a full satin or rayon lining for smooth layering over service jackets. Once again, it followed the double-breasted button configuration using smooth Lucite or Bakelite buttons. This pattern did away with the wide doeskin belt yet was configured with two exterior hip flap pockets and an interior breast slash pocket.
The coat featured here was made under specification P.Q.D. No. 76C, dated Nov. 4, 1942. The manufacturer was identified by code No 98120. WWII U.S. Army contract W669-QMp23906 was issued to the Finesilver Manufacturing Company of San Antonio, Texas.