V-42 stiletto V-42 stiletto The V-42 stiletto was a stiletto and fighting knife issued during World War II to the First Special Service Force (1st SSF, a.k.a. Devil's Brigade), a joint Canadian/American commando unit. Based on the Fairbairn–Sykes commando knife designed by William E. Fairbairn and Eric A. Sykes, the "Fighting Commando Knife, Type V-42" used a narrow-profile, double-edged stiletto blade made of high carbon steel. The V-42 was primarily designed by officers of the FSSF, including its commanding officer, Lt. Colonel Robert T. Frederick, who desired a close-quarters combat knife. The blade's design has been attributed to Col. Frederick, who had
Tar Heel and when General Lee said, "God bless the Tar-heel boys," they took the name. (p. 6) A letter found in 1991 (dating from 1864 in the North Carolina "Tar Heel Collection") by North Carolina State Archivist David Olson supports the theory that Lee might have stated something similar to this. A Colonel Joseph Engelhard, describing the Battle of Ream's Station in Virginia, wrote: "It was a 'Tar Heel' fight, and ... we got Gen'l Lee to thanking God, which you know means something brilliant." Tar Heel Tar Heel is a nickname applied to the U.S. state of North Carolina. It