19 Dec 2024 Garand Picture of the Day

[Mark in Rochester]

[Bill Hollinger]

Camouflage second guy on the left.

[CINDERS]

I think BAR said it was only trialed for a short while as some blue on blue engagements happened with one group of GI's at a distance mistaking it for the German Flecktarn pattern opening up on them.

[browningautorifle]

it was only trialed for a short while as some blue on blue engagements happened

Well noted in history, I think it was more like 30 days and all of it disappeared from friendlies. Those uniforms are worth probably the most of any, comparative rarity. These notations seem to edit the facts well...

"Just prior to the Normandy invasion there was a limited experimental issue of HBT camouflage uniforms to elements of the 2nd and 30th Infantry Divisions, the 17th Engineer Battalion and the 41st Armored Infantry regiment, of the US 2nd Armored Division.

Although the uniform seems to have provided good camouflage for the troops wearing it, the unfamiliar uniforms were often mistaken for the camouflage smocks worn by the German Waffen SS. This resulted in a number of ‘friendly fire’ incidents.

The uniforms were withdrawn from the ETO, although troops were often still issued with the camouflage uniform as their original ones wore out, and period photos show the type in use until well into August 1944; not always with matching sets, as jackets can sometimes be seen mixed with M1937 wool trousers."