WWII US AIRBORNE PARATROOPER M1942 M42 REINFORCED JUMP JACKET- SMALL

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WWII US AIRBORNE PARATROOPER M1942 M42 JUMP JACKET-

SMALL

(38R)

REINFORCED VERSION

During early airborne operations in North Africa and Italy, the M1942 uniform was found to be lacking in several areas, most notably strength. The fabric is relatively thin

The knees and elbows wore out easily, the pockets sometimes blew out due to the opening shock of parachutes.

Sometime prior to the invasion of France, divisional riggers were directed to fix these problems.

The riggers of the 82nd and 101st each came up with a similar though not quite identical fix.

Heavy olive drab canvas was used to make elbow and knee patches, and reinforce the edges of the cargo pockets.

Leg ties were added to the trousers to help compress the bulging hip pockets. Small variations exist in the way they are stitched between the 82nd and 101st, but they are essentially the same.

Each paratrooper was to turn in one of his two issue sets for reinforcing prior to the Overlord jumps.

Many paras did not receive them back in time for the jump, so some had them, others did not.

In other words, either style is correct for the period.

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