M1942 Herringbone Twill Fatigues

The M42 herringbone twill (HBT) fatigues were the most widely used summer and jungle combat uniform worn by US Army troops from the islands of the Pacific to the hedgerows of Normandy. They even saw action in the Battle of the Bulge, used by those troops who were unfortunate enough to have not yet received winter wool uniforms.

The pattern was simplified from the M41 fatigue style by replacing the pleated patch pockets of the M41 with large box pockets. The trouser pockets got the same treatment, replaced by two large box pockets on each leg. The jacket waistband was eliminated and, in recognition of the combat role that fatigues had begun to play, an anti-gas flap was added behind the shirt opening.

The M42 fatigues were made in the same color as the earlier style, a light shade of OD (actually a type of sage or light pea green depending on color variations in dye lots). This lighter shade was joined in mid-1944 by uniforms made in Olive Drab Shade #7 (the very dark green color shown at right), due to a color change ordered in December 1943. However, uniforms of both colors continued to be manufactured through the end of the war, with the lighter "sage" shade OD seeming to remain predominate, probably due to the huge stocks of the earlier fabric already manufactured. The fabric weight for both shades was 8.5 ounces per square yard. The guy at right is wearing Lost Battalions version of the darker OD#7 version.

Lost Battalions Reproduction
Our reproduction is as faithful as we can possibly make them. Like the genuine article, this reproduction is a very roomy uniform. When properly fit, this is a baggy uniform. Our herringbone cotton fabric is 8 oz per square yard, a bit lighter and cooler than the original dense 8.5 oz wartime weave. No corners are cut in the construction. Herringbone cotton is used for all pockets and waistbands as per original. We even use reproduction 13-star metal buttons that are exact copies of those used by the US Army in World War Two. Your choice of sage green or Olive Drab shade #7 (late war).

IN STOCK NOW with orders delivered in about 3 days if paid with money order, Mastercard, or Visa. Price: $150 per set (including fatigue cap and Airborne Express delivery inside the United States.)

Jackets
Purchased separately: $80 Medium (38/40), Large (42/44), XLarge (46/48), XXLarge (50/52).

Trousers
Purchased separately: $80 Medium (34), Large (38), XL (42), XXL (46) All inseams are 33" with an additional 1.7 inches in the cuff if you need to add length.

Fatigue "Mechanic's" Caps
Purchased separately: $20 Sizing: 7, 7-1/8, 7-1/4 SOLD OUT, 7-3/8 SOLD OUT, 7-1/2 SOLD OUT, 7-5/8, 7-3/4.

Buttons
Replace those missing buttons on your original uniforms with these outstanding reproductions. Sold in packages of 20, with rivets : $10 per package.

Important
Some uniforms will exhibit color shifts between the cover, blouse, or trousers due to different dye lots. We will match your set as closely as possible, but we cannot guarantee that all your uniform items were cut from the same roll of fabric.

We don't make the following uniforms at this time. We do have vague plans to do so in the future, however. When they are available, pricing and size information will be posted in this space.

U.S. Army M42 Paratrooper Jump Uniform

The Army specified olive drab shade #2 for its paratroop jump uniforms. If you want to know what that is, look at the photo of the guy on the left. His suit is pretty close to OD#2 (at least on my monitor). You'll notice it is definitely NOT KHAKI!!!

Now let's talk about fabric. The one's the Army ordered up were specifically poplin, a smooth cotton that has a sheen when new (see the slight sheen on the guy's trousers). So why does everyone make them out of cotton twill? Twill is the stuff that has diagonal ridges like your Dockers. Well, because the army also started making them out of very heavy twill. However, this is nothing like the flimsy pajama weight twill jackets sold by those Hollywood wardrobe guys.

As you may have guessed, ours will be OD#2, not khaki, and they'll be made out of poplin and the right heavy twill. And we can even make you up a Model 1941 jacket, if that's a hole in your collection, but apparently none were ever used in combat.

While you're scoping out that guy's uniform and equipment, take a look at his boots. They're "Army Russet" and don't look much like the modern brown color used on the recent reproductions. We're really going to make these, but we're so backlogged, we don't know when. Stand by for a while longer.
Availability of Jump Jacket/Trousers: Mid-1999?. Estimated Price: $200

M1941 Herringbone Twill Fatigues

This started out as a work (fatigue) uniform, but quickly displaced the khaki cotton "chinos" as the new summer combat uniform. This uniform has a very roomy cut so the soldier has full range of movement. It is made of the light olive (sage/pea) Herringbone Twill (HBT) cotton, a very hard wearing fabric. Buttons are blackened metal with a 13-star pattern. The jacket, sometimes called a "battle jacket", has a cloth waistband which has sizing tabs on each side. It also has two pleated patch pockets on the chest. The trousers are loose fitting and have two slash pockets, a watch pocket, and two back pockets. This uniform was used as a jungle uniform in the Pacific and as the summer combat uniform.
Availability: Mid-1999?. Estimated Price: $150

"Daisy Mae" Fatigue Hat

This is the original "boonie hat" for US armed forces. It was part of the M41 Army fatigue uniform and is a crushable hat made of HBT material. It got its name from it likeness to the hats worn by the Daisy Mae character in "Lil Abner", a comic strip which was very popular in WW2.
Availability: Late 1998. Estimated Price: $15