M42 Jumpsuit

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US Airborne M42 Jumpsuit

The classic American paratrooper uniform of WW2 was the M42 jumpsuit. Designed by LTC William P.Yarborough, they featured characteristic slanted belows pockets and flaps secured by two snaps on each flap, Wear began in 1942 and ended some time in 1944. The 101st M42 suits were turned-in after Normandy, to be replaced by green M43 combat suits for the duration of WW2. The First Airborne Task Force used them in Operation Dragoon in August, 1944, and the 504 PIR (82nd Airborne) jumped into Holland wearing them in September, 1944. That was probably the last organizational wear of M42's in combat in WW2. Some troopers hid a set in the bottom of their barracks bag when the recall was done. Such suits began to re appear on a spotty basis later in the war. In this 1944 photo, Fred Baynes of 2/501 poses in an M42 suit at Lady Craven's Estate at Hamstead Marshall, near Newbury, Berkshire, England. The M34 pyramidal tent and English bicycle were characteristic of the times. Vintage 44 Kodachrome color slide c/o F. Baynes.

Source: http://www.101airborneww2.com/…