Immediately after the Normandy invasion, the US army started to outfit divisions with the recently developed M1943 uniform. The 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions were two of the first units to be issued with these new items en masse. There was however a small flaw. The M42 uniform it replaced had large cargo leg pockets designed to hold all the extra items of equipment the paratroopers needed for fighting behind enemy lines. The newly adopted M1943 trousers did not.
In order to rectify this, the Parachute Maintenance Sections of both the 101st and 82nd Airborne divisions set about making pockets for the trousers for the upcoming Operation Market Garden. The material they used was the same treated canvas which had been used to modify the M1942 uniforms for Normandy and they copied the M42 pocket design, albeit it with a few modifications. There do exist some small variations between the two divisions, but by and large the design was the same.
Ours are made using a strong waxed canvas and sewn with heavy duty thread. High quality metal snaps complete the finished product and these should give you years of faithful use. We can supply these either with or without the folded canvas leg ties used by both units, so simply choose from the drop down menu.
We are also able to sew these on should you require this. Please contact us to find out more.
