Item:
ONSV21HBC34

Original U.S. WWII USMC Raider Makin Atoll Raid Dyed Black Khaki Uniform - As Seen in Book

Item Description

Original Item: One-of-a-kind. This is an original USMC Raider Makin Atoll Raid Dyed Black Khaki Uniform featured on page 61 in the book Sailors in Forest Green; USN Personnel Attached to the USMC by Jeff Warner. In fact this uniform was purchased by IMA from the estate of Mr. Warner along with much of his personal collection

Ten days after the initial landings on Guadalcanal. Marine Raiders of the 2nd Battalion landed on Makin Atoll in a commando style raid. Deployed in rubber boats from the submarines USS Nautilus and USS Argonaut, Raiders successfully disrupted the Japanese garrison stationed there.

For many Raiders, the most difficult task of the mission was negotiating the ruff surf as they attempted to make their way back to the submarine rendezvous point. Many rubber boats Were capsized or swamped and a number of the boat's motors flooded. Through this ordeal, many men lost their uniforms, shoes and equipment. Some returned to the submarines stark naked. The sailors on board the subs gave what uniforms they could to the returning Raiders. Some of the Marines had packed black dyed khaki, when they embarked on the mission, and wore these for the trip back Hawaii.

There has been some speculation and mystery surrounding the black dyed khakis used on the Makin raid. During the initial planning and training stages of the operation, it was thought that black clothing might help conceal and camouflage the men at night. The Raiders were told to produce one shirt and one pair of pants each, which were to be dyed black. Once this was accomplished and the Raiders wore. them during training, it was observed that the dark uniforms stood out in stark contrast against the ofT-white beach sand. It Was decided the black khakis were a bad idea and were not to be worn on the mission. With this, the men had ruined a set or their khakis for nothing. Rather than throw them away, some men brought the black khakis along with them on the mission if only for a change of clothes. These uniforms were let on board the subs during the raid but for the men who returned with nothing, they came in handy to wear fro the trip back to Hawaii. (J. Warner)

Approximate Measurements:
Collar to Shoulder: 9"
Shoulder to Sleeve: 24"
Shoulder to Shoulder: 17"
Chest width: 18"
Waist width: 17"
Hip width: 18"
Front length: 32"
TROUSERS
Waist: 33"
Inseam: 28"
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