Guys and Girls here's another question that tends to cause outrage amongst the collective.

The use of the M44/45 pack during WW2.

Attached is the only known photo I have in my collection of the M44 being used by a 2nd Infantry Div GI in Domazlizce in Czechoslovakia in late April 1945

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Any further proof that these indeed did get issued prior to April 1945 ?

Crossing of the Rhine with DUKW in March 1945....



M44 Pack lower left with several M43 'Jungle'Packs visible too...

I have never seen M45 packs in the ETO during WW2, and I have never even bothered to get one....

Johan

Another picture taken in March 1945 showing an M-44 pack.

BFryar44

Not a great picture but it has all 3 types of packs, M28, M43, and M44.

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The 44 pack is a nice item to have, that is if you can find them. One thing should be noted when dealing with military collectibles. Very often the guys in the field did not get the updated clothing and equiptment at all . Many were still outfitted with the issued WW1 style packs, belts, pouchs and more. It may explain why there are so few pictures of the guys with updated stuff. One vet once told me that we got what ever we could get our hands on! During the transition period 1943 when all the new stuff came out, a hell of alot of the guys never got it at all.

True not all had the new generation kit but when Antwerp was opened up so were the gates [if you know what i mean].

I've a transitional M44 pack system all three parts dated 44 and I've a Boyt 45 combat pack and cargo pack just need the suspenders to finish.

Dave, where is that picture taken?

BFryar thats a good clear concise picture see even at this late date he has what appears to be an uncovered M1910 T handle shovel under the pack flap.

Johan I have looked at that picture a million times and all I ever saw was Jungle Packs and Musettes.

There's no date to the picture, but its in a book on the Remagan Bridge!

What we need is a pic of a high numbered division, or any replacements, just before shipping out of the US for the ETO in late 44.

I had these done so I'm adding them to the mix. One is a duplicate of a pic shown above but it has some added info.

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http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...gopid=3373&

Look here for the FM21-15 Manual data concerning the M44 and M45 packs.

Here's my example. Not in the best condition but you can read it !
It's indeed a great help when you're dressing your mannequins !

The 1945 edition has been reprinted so it should be fairly easy to find a copy.

The name changed between the 1940 and the 1945 editions. The 1940 is great to have but it is very difficult to find. As far as I know it has not been reprinted.

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My M44 pack system.

Combat Pack, HINSON 1944
Cargo Pack, BRESLEE 1944
Suspenders, G&B 1944

As you see from the combat pack, they were still using up old stocks in 44 making this TRANSITIONAL.

I also have BOYT 45 combat and cargo packs but need to find a set of BOYT45 suspenders.

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Now to find a picture of the M-1945 in use during WW2.

Can anyone who's got em, please show us your 44 and 45 pattern gear, especially if you can do side by sides, to show the differance.

I'll start off with M1945 Cargo (dated 51), especially looking to see 44 cargo and 45 straps.

If a forum member wishes to include detailed colour pictures of any M44 or M45 field packs please do so to aid with different colour variations and reference.

It seems to me that 45 and 44 suspenders are exactly the same, which means there is no such thing as 45 suspenders, just 44 suspnders dated later than 44?

Is this correct or can somebody show me some differance?

This is caught on ebay. An M1944 cargo pack converted to M1945. It was an usual operation? Could this item be collectable?

Every thing is collectable artu, apart form me as I stop at 1945.

Didn't the M45 have larger pack attachment O ring and a D ring?

Here are my mint M44 pattern packs, obtained directly from a supply sargeant who "liberated" them during WWII. Along with all of the other mint, unissued stuff in the last attached picture. In one local, buy, I had a complete, mint M44 and M45 pack system to supplement my pack collection.

The complete contents of the box that is pictured, I bought for $200 from a guy who answered a newspaper ad I used to run in our community newspaper. The double buckle boots and roughout shoes still had a can of boot dubbing in each pair, they were that unissued. It is the best overall find I have ever had coming out of the woodwork.

The M44 pack is marked INDIANAPOLIS TENT & AWNING CO. 1945. The cargo pack marking ran a little together but looks something like DREWEE MFG. CO. 1945. BTW. I do have a mint pair of the correct suspenders for this pack, in my collection, but I haven't photographed them yet. The belt is a Model 1917 Dismounted Cartridge Belt according to Dorsey. Inside the second pocket of the left side is ink stamped 1468 and P.B. & CO. and the same pocket on the right side is marked 1441 P.B. & CO. BTW. The marking was for Plant Brothers, Boston, Mass. again according to Dorsey.

Change DREWEE MFG. CO. 1945 to BRESLEE MFG.CO.1945. That would be correct.

So these Suspenders, differant? Just seems, over here in the UK at least, like there's loads of 44 patt suspenders around, which were surely only produced for a year or so, yet there seems to be no sigh of 45 suspenders which were surely standard for 10 years? And in the Manual they look like 44s on the 45 kit?

FYI. Went though my packs again and found my M1944 pattern pack that had been modified to the M1945 model. The markings on this pack are ink stamps of LAIRD SCHOBER 1944. The M44 quick connect rings have been crudely cut off and the M45 style buckles added using some extra web strap.

Do you have a source for the reprinted copies? Thanks

Here's another one showing the 44 pack in use in the ETO in Germany 1945. Also note the M1943 pack on the extreme left...

What units would have been issused the m-44 pack? Did all replacements get these?

Although not visible in the picture, the caption on this picture said they were 1ID troops after crossing the Ruhr River in Germany late February 1945

What makes'm so difficult to find? I bought a complete mint unissued set back in 1992 in preparation for a "97ID in Germany, spring of 1945" display we did at the French Militaria Festival at Mourmelon.

Nobody was really interested in these and I remember getting the suspenders, pack and cargo bottom for about 50USd.
Even at the show, some people thought we were doing a Korean War impression, because we were all dressed in late war garb... (M43, Double Buckles, OD7 gear etc....)
Here are some shots from that show, the Russian Ally just happened to pass by...


Even with that German streetsign we made, some of the French still thought we did a Korean War thing...
I'm lower left...

We made it on German National Television with this....


And here's an image of another 97ID display during the same year...


No, it's not only a liner on his head on the left... He's missing the chin straps and has a large head... Sorry, Guy!
That's me taking aim with a Carbine behind the tree on the right...

I do not have the impression that collectors in Europe are really interested in these....

I have an M-1944 combat pack and the M1945 cargo pack... doesnt it figure? Getting the remaining parts for either has been an exercise in futility...

My M1944