Description
This is an original U.S. Army wet-weather trousers (waterproof bib-front overalls), of the type worn during the D-Day invasion of Normandy (last photo shows this type of parka in use during the invasion, worn by a Naval Beach Battalion seaman at a Navy Communication Command Post, and by an unidentified Naval officer on Omaha Beach between June 7 and June 15, 1944 . *********** This parka has its original specification label, which indicates that it was made under a contract dated September 5, 1944. A specification label inside the bib reads: "Trousers, Wet Weather, SMALL, CONSTRUCTION B, Stock No. 72-T-8030, Pattern Date Sept. 12, 1944, CAMBRIDGE RUBBER CO., Dated Dec. 15, 1944, Cont. W-036-030-qm-11143, P.Q.D. No. 288B, Phila. Q.M. Depot, Inspector." Over the bottom of the tag is an inspectors stamp, "INSPECTED 747 P.Q.M.D." Inspectors stamps are fairly rare to find on specification labels, even though there is always an inspector's line, this was apparently the stamp of Inspector No. 747 at the Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot. There is also a small number 4 hand-written in the upper corner of the label. Stamped inside the upper part of the bib is "SMALL." ************ The pants are made of a light OD rubberized fabric. They have OD web straps for the shoulder that attach to starburst pattern blackened steel buttons at the top of the bib. There are adjusting tabs on each side of the bib opening, made of OD webbing with a black-painted steel buckle. There is an outside pocket with a flap on the upper right side of the pants, this closes with a starburst pattern U.S. Army button. Cuffs close with drawstrings tipped with plastic. ************** The pants are listed in the US Army Quartermaster Supply Catalog as the "TROUSERS, WET WEATHER, Stock No. 72-T-8010 - 8040, Trousers, wet weather, are made from two ply laminated material, combined with a synthetic resin. They have a bib front and large cargo pocket." ************ Please see my other auctions this week for a Parka, Wet Weather, that was the companion item in this clothing system. ************ The pants are in mint, unissued, unused condition. The specification tag is crisp. The pants are clean and have all straps, buttons, tabs, hooks, and drawstrings. All work properly and are in fine shape. There is a bit of fading in a few spots, and there is some oxidation of steel rivets that attach the straps, but this is a pair of unused, mint condition pants showing only some storage aging. A very fine example of a fairly scarce clothing item. ******* I can ship worldwide. Free shipping to a US address. Non-US buyers pay exact shipping costs only on a parcel measuring 4 by 10 by 14 inches and weighing 2 pounds, 9 ounces. I am always happy to combine multiple purchases into a single parcel to save on shipping costs. Bu
