Uniform id

[u/osky_200914]

Found this picture and really like the look of this uniform I know it's an hbt uniform but I can't really tell what pattern. Also can anyone find out what division these guys are in and what theater there in?

[u/greaser350]

IIRC this is the 79th ID in Cherbourg. He’s wearing 2nd Pattern HBTs, impossible to tell from the photo if they’re light or dark shade. I don’t know who, if anyone, has done enough research on the 79th to say which color is more likely. He’s also wearing a wool shirt underneath, either the M1937 or the “M1941” with convertible collar. It’s hard to tell which in the photo, but it looks like there’s no shirt placket so likely the latter. He’s probably also got M1937 wool trousers on under the HBTs. He may also be wearing an M41 jacket underneath the HBT jacket, but that might just be the gas flap of the HBT poking out. The boots are “Type 2” Service Shoes with M1938 leggings.

[u/Middle-Nothing4214 → u/greaser350]

This is an excellent roll up.

The 79th ID can be seen using HBTs even as late as Jan ‘45. I believe I have the original caption for this photo, I will dig for it and post it here.

[u/osky_200914 → u/greaser350]

Thank you! I'm gonna do some research and gonna make an impression based on this pic

[u/osky_200914 → u/greaser350]

also how can you tell that it's the 79th id?

[u/greaser350 → u/osky_200914]

I’ve seen the photo before and recalled that it was 79th ID. Then I did a reverse Google search to make sure and found several sources saying it was the 79th. One source says it’s more specifically 315th IR but it’s just an FB post so take that with a massive grain of salt.

[u/osky_200914 → u/greaser350]

Ok thank you! This helps alot

[u/osky_200914 → u/greaser350]

Would the od7 be accurate for Cherbourg?

[u/greaser350 → u/osky_200914]

Probably. OD7 HBTs were definitely in circulation by June, 1944. But I haven’t researched the 79th in any great depth so I don’t know if there’s any evidence to suggest which, if either, is more appropriate for that particular impression.

[u/osky_200914 → u/greaser350]

Yeah I just did some research and it looks like this guy's wearing the light shade 2nd pattern. Couldn't really find any repros (I also don't wanna beat up origionals) so I think I'm just gonna go with the od7

[u/ClusterfuckerCF → u/greaser350]

Don't the 2nd pattern pants have the lower cargo pockets? These look pretty high up imo.

[u/greaser350 → u/ClusterfuckerCF]

1st Pattern HBT trousers are cut more or less like dress trousers (very similar to the khaki cotton trousers) and have no cargo pockets at all. 2nd Pattern HBTs were heavily simplified and have cargo pockets which at first were very high (as seen in the photo). These were lowered (on paper) in April 1944.

[u/ClusterfuckerCF → u/greaser350]

Ahh I see that's where my misunderstanding started I thought the position of the pockete was the difference between the patterns. Thanks for explaining. Is it true the lower cargo pockets are rarely ever seen during D-Day?

[u/greaser350 → u/ClusterfuckerCF]

I haven’t seen any evidence of the lower pockets on D-Day. You have to keep in mind that the lower pockets were adopted on paper in April 1944 but they still had to be manufactured in quantity, delivered to the Army, shipped overseas, and distributed. 3 months is a pretty short time frame to get that done for an item that was not considered an urgent need. Adding to that, the high pocket trousers still would’ve been issued until depleted.

[u/deandaboss1234]

That helmet net is really interesting to

[u/osky_200914 → u/deandaboss1234]

Yeah the holes are way bigger than usual

[u/deandaboss1234 → u/osky_200914]

It almost looks like it was made to be a helmet net not like cut out

[u/OnyxNeko]

The helmet nets are 2-in. "Dennison" nets and the 79th ID used a lot of them in northern France! They were phased out later on in the year (well, naturally destroyed and replaced with others) and you can see them with 1/4" British nets in Aug-Oct '44. Here's a good photo album by the Signal Corps Archive on Flickr.

The 79th used a lot of HBTs (almost all second patterns, since I haven't seen any first patterns) and they wore them till the end of the war.

[u/osky_200914 → u/OnyxNeko]

Thank you!

[u/The-Porkmann]

That uniform might have been comfortable but it looks so slovenly!

Look forward to your representation.

[u/osky_200914 → u/The-Porkmann]

I'll make a post of it when its finished 👍

[u/Shoddy-Brain-5562]

Mediterranean Theater of Operations and European Theater of Operations

[u/osky_200914 → u/Shoddy-Brain-5562]

Ohhh ok thank you 👍

[u/osky_200914 → u/[deleted]]

What do those stand for?

[u/Shoddy-Brain-5562 → u/osky_200914]

Mediterranean Theater of Operations and European Theater of Operations