Original Item: Only One Available. This is a genuine U.S. WWII M1942 paratrooper jump jacket in Olive Drab Shade No. 3, presented with a pair of postwar French-manufactured jump trousers and an U.S. WWII Airborne garrison cap. The jacket is an early unreinforced configuration and retains its original waist belt, four expandable cargo pockets, dual-zippered knife pocket, shoulder insignia, and a U.S. flag patch on the right sleeve. The main front zipper is a later YKK replacement.

The M1942 jump uniform was developed specifically for U.S. Army airborne troops and became one of the most recognizable American uniforms of WWII. The jacket was cut loosely to allow freedom of movement and was fitted with four large front cargo pockets. The two upper pockets were angled inward so their contents could be reached more easily with the opposite hand while the wearer was burdened with parachute equipment.

Each pocket has a flap secured by two snaps, with two rows of corresponding fasteners on the pocket body. This arrangement allowed the pockets to be closed in different positions depending on the amount of equipment being carried.

The upper lapel retains the distinctive dual-zippered knife pocket. This narrow pocket was intended to carry a paratrooper’s knife, which could be used to cut suspension lines or harness material during an emergency. The pocket and its zippers remain present.

The left shoulder bears the parachute-and-glider insignia associated with the U.S. Army Airborne Command, together with its AIRBORNE rocker. The Airborne Command shoulder insignia was approved in March 1943 and later continued in use by the Airborne Center.

A U.S. flag patch is stitched to the right sleeve. Small American flag insignia were worn by some airborne troops during combat operations to assist with identification, most famously during the Normandy invasion. The precise date and circumstances under which this example was applied are unknown.

Attached to the left shoulder strap is an unusual metal identification tag stamped:

25829
230
RALPH WACHS

A later paper label describes it as a rare “Paratrooper Dog Tag.” We have not located evidence that this shape and numbering format represent a standard U.S. Army identification tag issued specifically to paratroopers. It may be a privately made, postwar, organizational, or reproduction piece and appears to have been added to the jacket later.

The jacket is marked:

SIZE 34

Beneath the collar, alongside a very faded additional stamped number.

Condition is good and genuinely service worn. The cotton fabric shows fading, staining, scattered pulls, small tears, and several period or later repairs. Additional repairs are visible inside the jacket. The jacket does not appear excessively worn, but it has clearly seen substantial handling and use.

The original waist belt remains present but is currently tied around the rear of the jacket. The main front zipper is marked YKK and is a later replacement rather than the original wartime zipper. The replacement is fully disclosed and should be visible in the accompanying photographs.

The jacket has not been fitted with the canvas reinforcement panels commonly encountered on M1942 uniforms associated with the Normandy invasion. These reinforcements were added to many jackets and trousers at unit or depot level to strengthen vulnerable areas such as the elbows, knees, and trouser seat. The lack of reinforcement does not by itself prove particularly early issue, as unreinforced M1942 uniforms continued to be worn throughout the jacket’s service life.

The M1942 uniform was gradually replaced by the more durable M1943 field uniform. Nevertheless, some airborne veterans continued wearing their M1942 jackets after newer clothing became available because the earlier uniform had become closely associated with their airborne service.

The accompanying trousers are postwar French-manufactured examples made in the general style of the U.S. M1942 jump trousers. They retain an original cutter or manufacturing tag identifying French production, along with size markings inside. They are not represented as original U.S. WWII trousers but provide an appropriate visual match for display with the jacket.

Also included is a U.S. garrison cap with blue Infantry branch piping and a parachute-and-glider airborne patch on the left side. The interior label is heavily washed out and no longer readable. The cap shows age, wear, and areas of rust staining.

A newspaper clipping concerning a paratrooper exhibit was found inside one of the jacket pockets, together with a detached button. These items are included as found but do not establish the jacket’s wartime history or original ownership.

This is an appealing display grouping centered around a genuine and difficult-to-find unreinforced M1942 jump jacket. The service wear, airborne insignia, U.S. flag patch, original belt, distinctive knife pocket, postwar French trousers, and garrison cap create a strong airborne presentation, while the replaced zipper and later or unconfirmed additions are fully disclosed.

Approximate Measurements:
Collar to Shoulder: 10"
Shoulder to Sleeve: 22"
Shoulder to Shoulder: 15"
Chest Width: 18 1/2"
Waist: 15"
Hip: 21"
Front Length: 30"