Post by cookie on Aug 13, 2009 10:22:54 GMT -5
United States
The following camouflage uniforms were bought by the French from the US government in the late 1940's. This was an expedient measure introduced by the French Government due to the devastation of the French economy by Nazi Germany during WWII. These garments were worn in large numbers by French and Vietnamese paratroop units from c.1949 to 1954.
A – USMC camouflage utility jacket , 1942, with asymmetric single chest and skirt pockets and an exposed snap-fastened fly front. This was introduced to Indochina c. 1950 and had become rare by 1954.
B – USMC so-called ‘Raider’ jacket, 1944, with two hidden chest pockets and an exposed button-closed fly front.
C & D - Front and back views of USMC so-called ‘Third pattern’ paratrooper’s smock.
E – The trousers of the US Army 1943 pattern two-piece camouflage uniform. The jacket (not pictured) featured a hidden button-closed fly front and two large rectangular flapped chest pockets.
Great Britain
These garments, bought from the British Army in 1950 were, again, an expedient measure until French manufacturers could begin producing their own uniforms. They were much prized by French forces in Indochina due to their light weight and breathability in the hot and humid weather.
A – The ‘smock, windproof’ init original form as issued. Typical theatre applied modifications were the fitting of full-length (B) or half-length (C) zips to the front; the cutting down of the hood into a shallow, rounded collar (C); or its replacement altogether with a shirt-type collar made from the hood (B).
D – The ‘trousers, windproof’ in original form. Typical modifications were the fitting of a fly and belt loops, and the movement of the left thigh pocket to the outside of the leg (E); a second pocket was sometimes added to the right leg, either to the front or the outside to match the left.
Many other garments were produced from cannibalising these items - bush hats and various types of 'baseball caps' being the most common.
The following camouflage uniforms were bought by the French from the US government in the late 1940's. This was an expedient measure introduced by the French Government due to the devastation of the French economy by Nazi Germany during WWII. These garments were worn in large numbers by French and Vietnamese paratroop units from c.1949 to 1954.
A – USMC camouflage utility jacket , 1942, with asymmetric single chest and skirt pockets and an exposed snap-fastened fly front. This was introduced to Indochina c. 1950 and had become rare by 1954.
B – USMC so-called ‘Raider’ jacket, 1944, with two hidden chest pockets and an exposed button-closed fly front.
C & D - Front and back views of USMC so-called ‘Third pattern’ paratrooper’s smock.
E – The trousers of the US Army 1943 pattern two-piece camouflage uniform. The jacket (not pictured) featured a hidden button-closed fly front and two large rectangular flapped chest pockets.
Great Britain
These garments, bought from the British Army in 1950 were, again, an expedient measure until French manufacturers could begin producing their own uniforms. They were much prized by French forces in Indochina due to their light weight and breathability in the hot and humid weather.
A – The ‘smock, windproof’ init original form as issued. Typical theatre applied modifications were the fitting of full-length (B) or half-length (C) zips to the front; the cutting down of the hood into a shallow, rounded collar (C); or its replacement altogether with a shirt-type collar made from the hood (B).
D – The ‘trousers, windproof’ in original form. Typical modifications were the fitting of a fly and belt loops, and the movement of the left thigh pocket to the outside of the leg (E); a second pocket was sometimes added to the right leg, either to the front or the outside to match the left.
Many other garments were produced from cannibalising these items - bush hats and various types of 'baseball caps' being the most common.
