MajorBonacelli Posted July 3, 2019 Share #1 Posted July 3, 2019 Hello guys! Been awhile since I posted last but thought I come back to the forum and share one of my favorite pieces in my collection. Dated 1966, this ERDL shirt was one of 300 made that year for testing with reconnaissance units of the 101st and 173rd Airborne. Reports indeed indicated a need for such a camoflouge and they were put into mass production for use in Vietnam. It is further named to a Thomas Pitt, who was with the 82nd Airborne during World War II from Sicily to Germany. A detailed interview exists from him on his experience during Operation Market Garden. He then was transferred to the 101st and saw action in Vietnam, where he received this shirt. Hope you like! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No Quarter Posted July 3, 2019 Share #2 Posted July 3, 2019 Wow, can't get much better than that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap Camouflage Pattern I Posted July 3, 2019 Share #3 Posted July 3, 2019 I like it very much! Thanks for sharing, I had no idea that US troops were issued ERDL in 1966 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfcmac Posted July 4, 2019 Share #4 Posted July 4, 2019 Does that CIB have three stars? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atb Posted July 4, 2019 Share #5 Posted July 4, 2019 Something is not quite right to me. Weren't gold CIBs designed to be used to show more than three awards? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MajorBonacelli Posted July 4, 2019 Author Share #6 Posted July 4, 2019 Something is not quite right to me. Weren't gold CIBs designed to be used to show more than three awards? You are correct. This is an 8th Award CIB on the Jacket. Only explanation I have for it being on the jacket is that this was his going-out wear when on leave while in Vietnam. Im guessing he put it on for effect even though he didnt earn it. An oddity Ive questioned as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted July 4, 2019 Share #7 Posted July 4, 2019 Something is not quite right to me. Weren't gold CIBs designed to be used to show more than three awards? You got that right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted July 4, 2019 Share #8 Posted July 4, 2019 Any more info on PITT, was he in the Korean War? He does not show on the official Ft Benning list of 3rd Award CIBs, not that that means anything as I foind lots not on the the list. An ongoing OPEN topic. http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/268875-the-wwii-korea-vietnam-3rd-award-combat-infantryman-badge-holders-photos-and-biographies/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MajorBonacelli Posted July 4, 2019 Author Share #9 Posted July 4, 2019 Any more info on PITT, was he in the Korean War? He does not show on the official Ft Benning list of 3rd Award CIBs, not that that means anything as I foind lots not on the the list. An ongoing OPEN topic. http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/268875-the-wwii-korea-vietnam-3rd-award-combat-infantryman-badge-holders-photos-and-biographies/ I do not unfortunately. Other than some information on his World War II service and an interview covering the famous Waal River crossing during Operation Market Garden, I dont know anything about his later service. Been meaning to get a FOIA record request going for him, but have been procrastinating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MajorBonacelli Posted July 4, 2019 Author Share #10 Posted July 4, 2019 Better photo of the CIB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted July 4, 2019 Share #11 Posted July 4, 2019 The badge on the uniform was never awarded....also the way this gold badge is would be for a 8th award. Some history http://36thair3ad.homestead.com/CIB.html The CIB 3rd award would have two stars...as the badge counts for the first award.The addition stars are for the 2nd and 3rd...so only two stars on the issue badges and they were not gold.Both metal and cloth were as a regulation CIB.(not gold) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kammo-man Posted July 4, 2019 Share #12 Posted July 4, 2019 Back track this piece rather than presenting it What’s the background on it Where did it come from How did you acquire it ? Test clothing Has test labels that are odd A piece like this needs to be seriously picked apart Here we go Owen Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MajorBonacelli Posted July 4, 2019 Author Share #13 Posted July 4, 2019 Back track this piece rather than presenting it Whats the background on it Where did it come from How did you acquire it ? Test clothing Has test labels that are odd A piece like this needs to be seriously picked apart Here we go Owen Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Well, I bought it from military museum owner who I am good friends with in Savannah, Georgia, who got it years prior from the vet directly if I remember correctly. I did ask him about the insignia and he said the jacket was most likely a going-out jacket for Pitt, and he probably added the 8th award CIB for effect. I need a FOIA record to determine more about Pitts postwar service to match to the uniform, however. His WWII service is well documented online. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
American Graffiti Posted July 4, 2019 Share #14 Posted July 4, 2019 Thats not experimental ERDL sadly AG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
63 RECON Posted July 4, 2019 Share #15 Posted July 4, 2019 A lot going on there, if its legit its cool. The jump wings on the pocket flap are a nice feature. Im confused about the label and the 4th pattern features on an apparently early erdl jungle jacket Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kammo-man Posted July 4, 2019 Share #16 Posted July 4, 2019 I want to believe so much Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captainofthe7th Posted July 4, 2019 Share #17 Posted July 4, 2019 Something else I haven't seen mentioned yet is the 101st Infantry Regiment collar insignia. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longbranch Posted July 5, 2019 Share #18 Posted July 5, 2019 Those jump wings are about as crazy as the CIB. Its a 1966 contract ripstop jacket... which is also interesting... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted July 5, 2019 Share #19 Posted July 5, 2019 Something else I haven't seen mentioned yet is the 101st Infantry Regiment collar insignia. Rob Yeah I noticed that too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longbranch Posted July 5, 2019 Share #20 Posted July 5, 2019 Those jump wings are about as crazy as the CIB. Its a 1966 contract ripstop jacket... which is also interesting... Just to correct my earlier observation, I came across this pic of a tag from another ERDL jungle jacket from this manufacturer. Looks like the 66 contract date is actually a hard-to-read 68. So as mentioned above by another forum member, not an experimental/trial piece at all... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKIPH Posted July 5, 2019 Share #21 Posted July 5, 2019 As mentioned earlier, Thomas Pitt's name is not listed on the US Army's list of 3 time CIB recipients. SKIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
American Graffiti Posted July 5, 2019 Share #22 Posted July 5, 2019 Longbranch has it correct, the label looks like 66 due to the white cotton strand obscuring the '8' but it is a 68 date This is either a post war parade jacket, mocked up 'badly' by the museum, or the whole thing's a crock AG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
63 RECON Posted July 6, 2019 Share #23 Posted July 6, 2019 Yep it should be a poplin shirt in 66. It also has fourth pattern features dating it to 68 ish. Most likely a post war reunion piece. Im keen to see the info in his military records if theyre available. There is mention of him in the Waal river crossing but then nothing for Vietnam as far as I can find. Youd think a ww2 and Korea veteran would be easier to find info on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted July 6, 2019 Share #24 Posted July 6, 2019 Yep it should be a poplin shirt in 66. It also has fourth pattern features dating it to 68 ish. Most likely a post war reunion piece. Im keen to see the info in his military records if theyre available. There is mention of him in the Waal river crossing but then nothing for Vietnam as far as I can find. Youd think a ww2 and Korea veteran would be easier to find info on. You'd think right, but in my research for the topic I started with the 3 time CIB holders, a lot of info is simply not available, no info at all, or incomplete, like finding Vietnam units and or awards but nothing on WWII or Korea, or a combination of, Korea info but no WWII or Vietnam info etc. Conversely, I found a whole lot of them that were awarded the CIB 3 times that weren't on the Benning list, sometimes with full info sometimes with gaps etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted July 6, 2019 Share #25 Posted July 6, 2019 Yep it should be a poplin shirt in 66. It also has fourth pattern features dating it to 68 ish. Most likely a post war reunion piece. Im keen to see the info in his military records if theyre available. There is mention of him in the Waal river crossing but then nothing for Vietnam as far as I can find. Youd think a ww2 and Korea veteran would be easier to find info on. +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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