"506th" M42 Paratrooper Uniform Set.
In many period photos of the 506th taken during the fighting in Normandy, a notable percentage of their jumpsuits had been modified by the addition of extra pockets. We have modified some of our jackets in similar fashion by adding extra pockets to the sleeves and the skirt. We also make sure to add a 101st patch. These modifications are detailed on page 32 in the Michael De Trez book, "The Way We Were The Band of Brothers", featuring 506th E Company member Forrest Guth's original uniforms.
Pockets do NOT match! The spare pockets are made from different batches of material. It is the same 8 oz. cotton twill as the uniform, but the shade varies. This is historically accurate- in WWII, this was not done at the factory.The individual troopers cannibalized worn out jump jackets for pockets and then stitched them onto theirs. Often by hand. Not only were they likely a different shade, but the originals were heavily worn too. Talk about mis-match- how did they ever fight a war like that. Eeew!
If this shade difference offends your sense of fashion and is unacceptable to you, then do not order one. We do not have matching fabric so no matter how loud you scream, matching pockets won't happen.
The 506th was NOT the only unit to modify their jump jackets. Some troopers in all of the parachute regiments modified their jackets- in numerous ways. Not just like these. Calling them"506th jackets" is simply an easy way for us to identify these.
Shipping Delay: It will probably take 2-3 days extra for us to get these shipped. We modify these individually and the girls are only here 4 days per week.
Rank Chevron restrictions: Due to the placement of the pockets on the sleeves of 506th jackets, the rank must be sewn onto the pocket flaps. The highest rank possible to sew on these is Sergeant due to the size of the flaps. Staff, Tech, Master or First Sgt. chevrons will NOT fit on the pocket flaps. You'll either have to go without or promote yourself to officer rank.
ATF's new M1942 Uniforms:
We have discontinued production of US Made jump uniforms. The fabric available in the U.S. is now inferior to that used overseas and the remaining dyers and finishers have a habit of making mistakes and refusing to own up to them. So, instead of importing fabric from overseas to sew here, we simply let them assemble them there. We've worked closely with this company for 7 years and they now have "the hang of it". These new uniforms are equal to (or better than) our US made suits. They are superior in fit, pattern and quality to any other imported uniforms.
Pattern and details: These are absolutely, positively NOT the same chintzy M42's sold in SGN or anhy other vendor. These are contracted specifically for us, by us. Last Fall, I sent my unissued original 40R jacket and size 34 trousers to the manufacturer. They bagged the old pattern completely and started over. I also have mint condition 42R and 44R jackets here to compare the size grade. These now fit just like the real thing. Compared to our US Made uniforms, these have higher armpits, better fitting shoulders, more taper in the body and taller collars.
The trousers improvements are minor. The belt loops are more accurate, labels are improved, and we even had exact buttons reproduced. (Yes, I cut two off of my original pants to copy. Sniff*)
Hardware: Zippers are genuine Talon brand and the snaps are the same zinc plated, US Made Scovil brand parts we used on the uniforms we made here. Belt buckles are also US Made. Not those tin things on the other repros.
Fabric & Color: These are same slightly brownish shade of olive drab #3 used on our current Tanker jackets. If you think these are too green, you're color blind or retarded. Or both. The 8 oz. 100% cotton twill is the same weight as used on the real WWII uniforms. Yes, some reproductions are made from heavier material (approaching denim) - but we're going by the original, not a copy. The finishing is superior to the US fabric we had too. The shrinkage is less than half as much.
Reinforcing: Correctly done. The olive drab canvas has 3-4 slightly crooked, stitch rows and the elbow and knee patches are actually in the right locations. (Some repros place them on the upper arms and thighs for some mysterious reason.)
Reinforced Uniforms in WWII
During early airborne operations in North Africa and Italy, the M1942 uniform was found to be lacking in several areas, most notably durability. The fabric is relatively thin (originals were not made from denim as some characters assume) and several seams should have had extra material added. The knees and elbows wore out easily, the pockets sometimes blew out due to the opening shock of parachutes and the single stitch in the crotch seam led to an awful lot of "free balling".
Sometime prior to Overlord, 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.
Jackets: These are manufactured in sizes 36R, 40R, 44R, 48R and 52R. (That's equivalent to S,m M, L, XL and XXL in that order.) If your belly is bigger than your chest- order by your belly size. The two largest sizes have much less taper than the smaller ones.
Trousers: All are 34 inseam. Waist sizes are made in 28, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 and 44.
Contact us for more detailed sizing information.
$12.00 for UPS Ground service to the lower 48 US States.
Overnight and Second Day Air available at increased cost. Contact us for rates to Alaska, Hawaii, and foreign countries.
All items are shipped via UPS. No P.O. Boxes! Customer is responsible for any and all extra return or re-routing fees if they fail to provide a valid and correct address.
International customers: If you are not prepared to pay your country's customs duties, DO NOT BID. We will not undervalue or falsify shipping documents!
Contact us for EMS and UPS Worldwide Service rates.
We only ship with trackable services due to Paypal's demand for delivery confirmation. Requests for cheaper services will not be answered.
International shipping charges are not cheap. If you don't want to pay shipping, do not bid.
7 day return.
We accept Paypal, M.O., Certified Check, or Visa/MC and AMEX.
Mailing address: ATF, 430 Rose Lane, Columbia, KY 42728.
Tel: 270-384-1965
FAX: 270-384-1443
Spare Pockets will NOT be a perfect shade
match to the jacket.
Other sizes available
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