Code: J28287
US 'Jacket, Herring Bone Twill, Camouflage' (HBT) jacket. Size 42R. Single breasted and manufactured in cotton drill with a double sided 'frogskin' camouflage, printed in a green/summer colour on one side and brown/autumnal colour on the other. Fitted with large chest pockets secured with buttoned flaps (straight) and with button adjustable cuffs. This is not fully reversible though, with pockets and buttons on one side only. Although designed for jungle use in the Pacific these saw limited use during the Normandy campaign, notably with the 2nd Armoured Division, including the 41st Armoured Infantry Regiment and 17th Armoured Engineer Battalion. They appear in photos between June to September 1944 but proved unpopular due to incidents of 'friendly' fire due to mistaken identity for Waffen SS camouflaged troops.
The cotton twill is generally sound and reasonably strong but somewhat faded and has some repairs, small holes and fraying, notably at the cuff ends and hem as shown. Some buttons are original, some are period replacements and the two at the back of the collar are missing. There is a size label but no other labels or markings. Now much copied this is an incredibly rare original jacket in reasonable overall condition. Stock code J28287.
Approximate measurements when buttoned and laid flat:
Pit to pit: 25"
Pit to cuff: 22"
Shoulder to cuff: 23.5"
Pit to waist: 13"
Collar seam to waist: 27"
