Post by 2nd Bat on May 28, 2018 14:31:28 GMT -5
In the inter war years the U.S. Army adopted a very comfortable light field jacket based on Sportsmens outdoor clothing which consisted of a Khaki cotton weave shell and a thin wool liner. It had no epaulets and buttoned flaps over its two slashed pockets. It is often referred to as a "Parsons Jacket". Due to the small size of the U.S. Army prior to Pearl Harbor the Parsons Jacket is today quite rare. It was replaced by a similar looking, light Khaki jacket often called an M41 due to its design year. It too had a thin wool liner through the torso over a cotton canvas outer shell. Unlike the Parsons Jacket it had two simple slash pockets with no flaps and epaulettes above the shoulders giving it a more traditionally military appearance. The Navy issued a light jacket which came in a slightly darker shade, had no epaulettes and a US N stamped on the left chest above the lower slash pocket.
The M41 inspite of its thin wool liner was not robust enough for colder weather and the light Khaki color did not provide good camouflage in Western Europe especially at night. Infantryman used burned cork to darken them or wore them inside out as the U.S. Wool liner was more appropriate in the European hedgerows or forests. The M41 was replaced by the M43 Field jacket which as the name suggests was designed in 1943. It looks very similar to contemporary U.S. army field jackets issued through the 1980s with its dark Olive Drab cotton canvas shell and four,large flapped cargo pockets up front. What stands out vs later post war versions is the lack of a zipper. Vietnam Era field jackets have zippers and snaps while later issued field jackets have velcro. WW2 M43s have traditional collars without built in hoods. The sizing on M43s is remarkable in that they can very very large for their assigned size. A size 34 would be more like a 38 and a 38 more like a 42. This was intentional to allow a loose comfortable fit and to accommodate layers during winter wear. Thick wool sweater and pile winter liner.
Early (first year) M43s had khaki inner linings where later issue were all OD. Typically however if you look inside the button flaps these are khaki colored. There was a time when finding a nice M43 or even an M41 at a flea market or used clothing store was not unusual but those days are few and far between
I have been fortunate enough to rescue dozens of these jackets. Typically the will have frayed cuffs and at the dollar area behind the next. Often these areas will show period repairs.
Unlike dress uniform jackets that were often put away and cared for field jackets today are rare finds and quite valuable and represent a good investment as they continue to go up in value.
The M41 inspite of its thin wool liner was not robust enough for colder weather and the light Khaki color did not provide good camouflage in Western Europe especially at night. Infantryman used burned cork to darken them or wore them inside out as the U.S. Wool liner was more appropriate in the European hedgerows or forests. The M41 was replaced by the M43 Field jacket which as the name suggests was designed in 1943. It looks very similar to contemporary U.S. army field jackets issued through the 1980s with its dark Olive Drab cotton canvas shell and four,large flapped cargo pockets up front. What stands out vs later post war versions is the lack of a zipper. Vietnam Era field jackets have zippers and snaps while later issued field jackets have velcro. WW2 M43s have traditional collars without built in hoods. The sizing on M43s is remarkable in that they can very very large for their assigned size. A size 34 would be more like a 38 and a 38 more like a 42. This was intentional to allow a loose comfortable fit and to accommodate layers during winter wear. Thick wool sweater and pile winter liner.
Early (first year) M43s had khaki inner linings where later issue were all OD. Typically however if you look inside the button flaps these are khaki colored. There was a time when finding a nice M43 or even an M41 at a flea market or used clothing store was not unusual but those days are few and far between
I have been fortunate enough to rescue dozens of these jackets. Typically the will have frayed cuffs and at the dollar area behind the next. Often these areas will show period repairs.
Unlike dress uniform jackets that were often put away and cared for field jackets today are rare finds and quite valuable and represent a good investment as they continue to go up in value.