Virtual Museum Firearms

Colt M-1911, “Beach Jumper”

PC26-2359 (Not for Sale)

The Colt pistol is a rare variation as it is marked “Model of 1911 U.S. Army” on the right side of the slide. The frame has the features of the newer M1911-A1. The pistol is a transition model where the new style frame entered production, but Colt continued to use the older slides until inventory was depleted. A rare and interesting variation to Colt collectors.
This Colt pistol was owned and used by Lowell Alfred Watts, 3807715 an officer in the U.S. Navy and a member of Beach Jumper Unit #3. He participated in Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France. Specific details of his involvement are yet to be researched
The famous actor Douglas Fairbanks was also a naval officer in WW2. He was assigned as a United Stated liaison officer to British Admiral Lord Lous Mountbatten who oversaw British Commando operations. Fairbanks observed the training and operations of these Commando units.
Upon return to the U.S., he proposed similar units be formed. In March 1943 the Vice Chief of Naval Operations was charged with recruiting 180 Officers and 300 enlisted men for the Beach Jumper program. The volunteers had to meet four requirements: no seasickness, experience with small boats, enough electrical knowledge to fix a home radio, and basic knowledge of celestial navigation. The Navy requested volunteers for prolonged, hazardous, distant duty for a secret project.
Their identities and activities were classified. Their basic mission was “To assist and support the operating forces in the conduct of tactical cover and deception in Naval warfare”. They learned to simulate large amphibious landings with very limited forces. Using specialized deception equipment, a few dozen Beach Jumpers could make the enemy believe they were a 70,000-man amphibious landing force, when the real force would be elsewhere.
The Beach Jumpers got their name because of their ability to quickly hit the beach and confuse the enemy with harassment and deception operations. During a high-level conference, someone stated that the purpose of the Beach Jumpers was “to scare the be-jesus out of the enemy”. The term “BJ Factor was used thereafter in their planning and is said to have inspired the cover name Beach Jumpers.