bobgee Posted October 31, 2012 Share #1 Posted October 31, 2012 Found this WWII brown & green USMC-Type poncho at a gunshow this past weekend. It had an attractive price so I bought it. Typical stiff condition and in reasonably good shape. I started looking for a manufacture date and was quite surprised to find what I did. A U.S. Navy contract in Nov 1943! I assume it could only have been for the SeaBees. Am I wrong? Any & all info appreciatrd! Semper Fi - Bobgee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted October 31, 2012 Share #2 Posted October 31, 2012 The onlly difference between the Navy and Marine versions in the label. Here's one of these being put to use to provide camouflage for a Navy amphibious forces communicator operating on the beach during training. This photo is from a 1945 Pacific Fleet amphibious forces training school yearbook Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uplandmod Posted October 31, 2012 Share #3 Posted October 31, 2012 Yes I have a Navy marked one for many years, I believe 1944, I've always assumed it was amphibious or CB's as well. Interesting enough I still need to pick up a USMC marked one! Great find! LF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsystem4 Posted October 31, 2012 Share #4 Posted October 31, 2012 Thats a great looking poncho. I have a pair of them. Both dated 44 I think. Beach Battalion personnel, shore parties, hospital corpsmen, CBs, combat photographers/cameramen, and other sailors assigned to marine units, even ground crews and other personnel at air fields on pacific islands would have had these. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RustyCanteen Posted October 31, 2012 Share #5 Posted October 31, 2012 Beach Battalion personnel, shore parties, hospital corpsmen, CBs, combat photographers/cameramen, and other sailors assigned to marine units, even ground crews and other personnel at air fields on pacific islands would have had these. Exactly, issue wasn't just limited to CB's, but could have included any shore based naval personnel. Very nice find, you don't find them too often. RC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgawne Posted November 1, 2012 Share #6 Posted November 1, 2012 No, Beach Battalions would probably NOT have them as they were limited to the ETO, and for the most part supplied through Army stocks. The BB's were speciafic units, and not to be confused with a generic shore party or landing party or whatever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsystem4 Posted November 1, 2012 Share #7 Posted November 1, 2012 No, Beach Battalions would probably NOT have them as they were limited to the ETO, and for the most part supplied through Army stocks. The BB's were speciafic units, and not to be confused with a generic shore party or landing party or whatever. Yes sorry I meant to say Beach Parties, the smaller PTO version of the BBs in the ETO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max0073 Posted November 1, 2012 Share #8 Posted November 1, 2012 Hi, similar ponchos have been found near Utah beach. Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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