WWII GI sleeping bags

[Adler69]

I tought i'll post my GI sleeping bags



Standard WWII summer wool bag


1937 down sleeping bag


Winter down sleeping bag


Arctic down sleeping bag

[2nd Bat]

The most common actual sleeping bag used by GIs in the field was a shelter half or poncho wrapped around one or two wool army blankets. Few soldiers on the front line were fortunate enough to have an actual sleeping bag. In the Ardennes the summer wool one was somewhat available but often had holes cut in them and worn as supplemental clothing.

The wool sleeping bags are still available from various sources and are still quite affordable and frankly very practical for reenacting events. I have five or six that always seem to get loaned out at local events to appreciative "GI's" who seem to come to the events ill prepared.

[YankeeDiv26]

Tons of winter wear was improvised during the winter of 44-45, cut-up blankets being one of the field creations. I know from a vet that he somehow had a sleeping bag when he went into the Bulge, but after not being able to get out quickly when a german approached him he decided to cut his and would fold it over himself, also managed to snag a wool blanket or two. Even with all that over a field jacket, wool shirt, undershirt, and sweater he would literally wake up frozen (eyelashes, hair, and even cheeks sometimes frosted solid).

[CharleyNovember]

Can I get some better pics of the winter down sleeping bag? I have one that might be a winter sleeping bag of course it may have been Nam issue aswell. It has a zipper. It looks like that winter sleeping bag though.

[YankeeDiv26]

It may be an m1949 sleeping bag, very similar to its WWII counterpart. I'm no sleeping bag stitch-knot-see but thats my guess.

[KRaddatz]

i have the summer one but am hoping to find a cheap winter one too, it'll be better than just a wool blanket like my last event.

[troyluginbill]

Now the big question is what did they use in the PTO?

[CharleyNovember]

The skin of the enemy of course Troy...and they shat in thier skull in the morning.

[2nd Bat]

I suspect in the Pacific the ever present bed roll of one wool blanket wrapped in a poncho or shelter half. (If a soldier or Marine was lucky he might have an air mattress.) A mosquito bar to cover it would finish the look and if one was really lucky the mosquito hammock would have been especially nice.

Warmth in the Pacific was generally not the issue that staying dry was.

[troyluginbill]

For most of the pacific but then you get to Iwo Jima where it was pretty cold at night. I know the USMC was issued summer field equipment for pretty much the entire war down there but what about the army units? Given the supply issues for the USMC I would imagine they didn't get many if any sleeping bags. But again what about the army units? They didn't have the same supply issues the usmc did.

[Tough Ombre]

Hmm... You pose a great question there Troy. I have really no clue as to what they would use. I would love to see the answer too. I did just pick up a summer sleeping bag with cover. Both are dated 4/23/1944, both are in really nice condition too.
-Cary