PanzerPaul Posted November 7, 2018 Share #1 Posted November 7, 2018 Hello, My first post. Hope it is in the right area. I thought some of the USMC camo collectors would find this picture interesting. I recently ran across this photo, which I had not seen before, of a P44 camo coat and pants being worn on Saipan. Have others seen this photo? I am aware of a couple of other from Saipan that show camo P-44s being worn. I have been fortunate to know two Marine Scout/Snipers over my collecting years. One, Lewis R., was with the 2nd Marine Division on Saipan/Tinian and was assigned to the 1st Marine Division on Okinawa (to clear outer island before the main landing). The other, Robert P., was with the 4th Marine Division and fought on Roi/Namur, Saipan/Tinian and Iwo Jima. Both were issued two pairs of P-44 tops and bottoms before Saipan. I was fortunate to be able to acquire camo sets from both of them. I have been told in the past, by other collectors, that camo P-44s were not worn until Iwo Jima, but I think there is enough photographic evidence to debunk that theory. Do other USMC collectors agree? Thanks, Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PanzerPaul Posted November 7, 2018 Author Share #2 Posted November 7, 2018 Here is the book the photo is from and the caption. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PanzerPaul Posted November 7, 2018 Author Share #3 Posted November 7, 2018 Close up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pararaftanr2 Posted November 7, 2018 Share #4 Posted November 7, 2018 Great photo, but the image has been reversed in publishing. It should look like this: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frogskin7 Posted November 7, 2018 Share #5 Posted November 7, 2018 My profile picture is of a Marine on Saipan with his P44 Camouflage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Siamundo Posted November 8, 2018 Share #6 Posted November 8, 2018 WW II Marine camo uniforms are not in my collecting area, so this might sound like a really silly or simple question. Was the model P44 the only camouflage uniform Marines wore during WW II, or were there other earlier camouflage patterns worn? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b_hinch Posted November 8, 2018 Share #7 Posted November 8, 2018 The P42 came first without the flap pockets and an EGA and USMC stencil on the breast pocket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Siamundo Posted November 8, 2018 Share #8 Posted November 8, 2018 Aha, thank you b_hinch, I appreciate the information. So the pattern is basically the same, just some minor changes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted November 8, 2018 Share #9 Posted November 8, 2018 Aha, thank you b_hinch, I appreciate the information. So the pattern is basically the same, just some minor changes? Same cloth and pattern. The Para Marines also had a specific set of camo uniforms that included a couple models of smocks and a a shirt and trouser worn under the smocks.All camo material.Some even contend the P44s were the next or last generatipn of the Para Marine uniform but not distributed widely due to the Para Marines disbandment.The P44 shirt has the same pocket arrangement as the 3rd pattern smock. The first pattern smock was Olive Drab Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Flage Guy Posted November 8, 2018 Share #10 Posted November 8, 2018 WW II Marine camo uniforms are not in my collecting area, so this might sound like a really silly or simple question. Was the model P44 the only camouflage uniform Marines wore during WW II, or were there other earlier camouflage patterns worn? Here are the Marine Camouflage Utility Coats used in the War- at left, the Paratrooper Coat; the '42 Coat in the center (this has a lower pocket at the right waist, not visible in the photo); and the 1st version of the 1944 Coat. The Para and '42 Suits made their combat debut in the Solomon Islands Campaigns in 1943, with the '44 showing up in the field around the middle of 1944. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PanzerPaul Posted November 8, 2018 Author Share #11 Posted November 8, 2018 Siamundo - There are also several versions of the camo pants that go with the jackets: para style, P42, and two versions of the P44 (different pocket closure configuration: 3 vs. 4 button and pant leg ties - with or without. See photos). There are also two different base colors for the camo cloth - one is more of a tan and the other is a lighter green. Flageguy - Very nice coat display. I have yet been able to acquire a para set. I had a chance once, but the guy was asking used car price for them. Your para coat looks very nice. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted November 8, 2018 Share #12 Posted November 8, 2018 The P44 pants also can have belt loops or slots depending on the variation as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PanzerPaul Posted November 8, 2018 Author Share #13 Posted November 8, 2018 Thank you Doyler. I forgot about the loop/slot difference. One of my P-44 pants has loops and the other slots. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bellumbill Posted November 8, 2018 Share #14 Posted November 8, 2018 Panzer Paul - I have a named camouflage grouping named to a Tarawa Silver Star winner - pants are P42 camouflage and the jacket is a P44. They both exhibit fading and wear. The marine was evacuated from Saipan due to wounds and also a very severe case of malaria from which he did not return to the Pacific. So, I have always felt fairly confident that these could well have been worn on Saipan. These photos seem to at least suggest they could well have been. Thanks for posting! Best, Bill K. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Flage Guy Posted November 9, 2018 Share #15 Posted November 9, 2018 Panzer- thanks for the additional data and kind comments. I would have posted a Pants pic as well, but discovered that I don't have any photos of '42 and '44 (both variants) Trousers together. Plus, I don't have the Paramarine Trousers for reasons you are no doubt familiar with...extremely hard to come by, especially that would match the Coat in size and condition! I can only imagine the price tag on that Para Suit you were talking about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Siamundo Posted November 9, 2018 Share #16 Posted November 9, 2018 Wow, thank you guys for the condensed lesson, and for the education on the different pant styles. I especially like your photo of the 3 jacketsside by side for comparison 'Flage Guy. Nicely presented for a novice like me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted November 9, 2018 Share #17 Posted November 9, 2018 Here are the Marine Camouflage Utility Coats used in the War- at left, the Paratrooper Coat; the '42 Coat in the center (this has a lower pocket at the right waist, not visible in the photo); and the 1st version of the 1944 Coat. The Para and '42 Suits made their combat debut in the Solomon Islands Campaigns in 1943, with the '44 showing up in the field around the middle of 1944. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PanzerPaul Posted November 10, 2018 Author Share #18 Posted November 10, 2018 Hi Bill K, Wow - Silver Star receipient on Tarawa - that is amazing! Do you have the text for the citation of the award? It would be interesting to hear what he did to earn the Silver Star. I imagine he wore out his P-42 jacket on Tarawa and was issued a P-44 for Saipan. Very interesting. Have you posted photos of them on the forum? Thanks, Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bellumbill Posted November 16, 2018 Share #19 Posted November 16, 2018 Sorry took so long to respond. Here is Glinkman's Silver Star citation from Tarawa. I will some pix this weekend of the set. Very best Bill K. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PanzerPaul Posted November 24, 2018 Author Share #20 Posted November 24, 2018 Hi Bill K, Thank you for posting the Silver Star citation for Marine Glinkman. Very interesting to read the details of this brave Marine risking his life to make sure the machine guns had ammo. I look forward to seeing his P42/P44 combo when you have a chance. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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