American Camouflage Uniforms at Normandy

God knows what happened to the picture in post 54

 

Drew had previously posted details regarding this photo on the motorcycle thread:

At Pacy-Sur-Eure, France, American and British troops meet on August 27th, 1944. US Army Officers discuss the situation on the pavement while Cpl Gordon C Powell of the 82nd Armored Reconnaissance Battalion poses next to British XXX Corps Dispatch Rider Baltins Dogoughs. Dogoughs rides a Norton 16H with missing front fender and has picked up a German MP40 Submachinegun along the way. He wears standard infantry trousers, shoes and helmet instead of the special motorcyclist's gear.
Powell's riding a Type IV or early Type V 42WLA, evidenced by the low Ammo Box and first pattern front fender. A M1903 Springfield rifle is carried in a leather scabbard on the front forks. Ammo for this rifle is held in a M1923 Cartridge Belt. A standard M1 helmet is slung over the headlight. Other equipment, possibly a M-238 Flag Set, is carried on the rifle scabbard. Powell's uniform consists of the 2-piece camouflaged HBT suit worn for a short period in France by units of the 2nd Armored Division and unidentified headgear and goggles.
Markings on the front fender are 2/\-82R HQ83, which would indicate 83rd vehicle of HQ Company, 82nd Reconnaissance Bn of the 2nd Armored Division. A star is painted to the front of the gas tank.

 

Andy,

Is that an AK47?

Regards
Tom

 

Indeed it is Tom and not a picture I posted

 

It makes an unusual appearance over here as well ... :P

http://westernfront.ru/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t222-100.html

 

perhaps some slightly less "boring postcard" then and now cammo uniform images from Normandy

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The same spot with the son of the same farmer


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Pont Brocard


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A French girl by the War monument in St Denis Le Gast

 

[sharedmedia=gallery:images:24991] Another Capa picture match in 2006
[sharedmedia=gallery:images:24990] 2nd Armored in Cammo HBT versus Renault Clio 2006
[sharedmedia=gallery:images:24989] Stuarts and half tracks recreating a boring postcard then and now by the war memorial in St Denis Le Gast where the little girl was treated by the medics, she still lives in the village
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I can do you less boring HBT cammo photo comparisons if you can match these to the originals ?

And

And

And

And .

And , want any more are are you bored yet ?

 

I haven't read the full thread so apologies if I'm repeating what others may have said. The Camo used by 41st AD in NWE Was slightly different to that used by USMC, it was also one-side unlike the USMC which could be worn inside out.

The idea that the Camo was withdrawn due to friendly fire incidents is just an urban myth, there may have been one or two such incidents but not nearly enough to cause concern. The fact that these uniforms still appear in the photo-record right up into September suggests that there was no such issue. Bear in mind that when the British went into the Burmese Jungle in KD they soon realised its short-comings in terms of camouflage and began an immediate program of Vat-dyeing the KD. I would assume that if the Yanks had a similar problem in Normandy they would have made a greater effort to resolve it in a much shorter time frame... they did not! The real reason the Camo uniform's were withdrawn was the usual ones of wear and tear and the fact that the HBT weave was essentially a summer uniform. With Autumn coming on and the breakout achieved all US forces were being upgraded to M43 Uniform. Even items like the Parson Jacket, much in use during Normandy and famously seem in SPR, begin to disappear in this time frame.