A biographer gave such a description of handguns carried by members of Doolittles Raid in April 1942. I'm fairly certain he knew not what he spoke of.
Has anyone ever heard of a Browning semi auto handgun, 1930's, in ANY 44 caliber? The FN plant in Liege had been taken over by the Germans in 1940 and I know of no one in the US that made Browning pistols, even in the war.

No such thing as a Browning pistol in 44. The only semi-auto pistols in 44 caliber that I am aware of are the Desert Eagle in 44 Remington Magnum and the Wildey in 44 Auto Mag.

The Canadian Inglis Brownings weren't into production until 1944, two years too late for the Doolittle Raid, and they were 9mm. The Chinese Nationalists took a fair chunk of the production and it's possible that an American airman picked up one in China late in the war.

Bye
Jack

Thanks gents, I was fairly certain.
In the book it later became a Browning .45, which did not exist then either. I believe the author's researcher just didn't know or they didn't think it important enough. Perhaps since Browning invented it...?
Anyway, I was told by one of the surviving crewmen's son that they were all issued standard Colt .45ACP's from the Hornet's armory and that most didn't make it back. Shame, since the Hornet went down soon after that.

Thanks gents, I was fairly certain.
In the book it later became a Browning .45, which did not exist then either. I believe the author's researcher just didn't know or they didn't think it important enough. Perhaps since Browning invented it...?
Anyway, I was told by one of the surviving crewmen's son that they were all issued standard Colt .45ACP's from the Hornet's armory and that most didn't make it back. Shame, since the Hornet went down soon after that.



Um... I do believe a Colt 1911 IS a "Browning .45"...

Certainly in a sense pisgah, since he invented the thing but how many people call them Brownings? Certainly none in the Military, I would venture. A Colt, Government 45, 45 Auto and others but not a Browning.

Certainly in a sense pisgah, since he invented the thing but how many people call them Brownings? Certainly none in the Military, I would venture.

Unless they're English. I've heard numerous Brits refer to both 1911's and High Powers as "Brownings".

[QUOTE=O'Connersun]A biographer gave such a description of handguns carried by members of Doolittles Raid in April 1942. I'm fairly certain he knew not what he spoke of.QUOTE]


My Dad was one of the Doolittle Raiders. I've got his issued Colt. It's a 1911, made in 1914, not a 1911A1, that he carried through out his intire military career. Yes, it's 45 acp.
Jim