trenchfoot Posted September 12, 2017 Share #1 Posted September 12, 2017 Saw this m43 jacket up for sale with an odd yellow circle painted on the pocket. Does anyone know what it means? I think it could be for a navy corpsman or shore party. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king802 Posted September 12, 2017 Share #2 Posted September 12, 2017 It's possible it is for a Corpsman. Here's a photo from my collection taken on Tinian - you can see a painted circle on his shirt. Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap Camouflage Pattern I Posted September 12, 2017 Share #3 Posted September 12, 2017 That'd be my guess too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwb123 Posted September 12, 2017 Share #4 Posted September 12, 2017 I wonder if they did away with the Red Cross to avoid attracting snipers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchfoot Posted September 12, 2017 Author Share #5 Posted September 12, 2017 Thanks everyone for the confirmation. To answer your question Gil, yes, in the pacific they didn't wear a Red Cross because the Japanese would purposely target anyone who wore one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted September 13, 2017 Share #6 Posted September 13, 2017 I don't recall seeing many M-43s attributed to the Pacific Theater, pretty neat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchfoot Posted September 13, 2017 Author Share #7 Posted September 13, 2017 I will post some close ups on the circle when it gets to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RustyCanteen Posted September 14, 2017 Share #8 Posted September 14, 2017 If the label is missing or worn off, the features of the coat can be used to date it. There was a big thread on the changes that were made, and I think one of the French magazines had a big article on it too. Things like the stitching and pocket flaps can be used to date it. I don't recall seeing many M-43s attributed to the Pacific Theater, pretty neat. Usually M43 jackets are seen during the Occupation of Japan. The Occupation forces wore them a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtdorango Posted September 14, 2017 Share #9 Posted September 14, 2017 I was thinking it might be an unfinished unit pocket patch/painting?....mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted September 14, 2017 Share #10 Posted September 14, 2017 Usually M43 jackets are seen during the Occupation of Japan. The Occupation forces wore them a lot. I agree, but there wasn't any reason to put a subdued (for lack of a better term) corpsman marking on a jacket during the occupation period. Was there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacksmith Posted September 14, 2017 Share #11 Posted September 14, 2017 I think it's wishful thinking that this is a Corpsman jacket. Evidence doesn't support it, based on timing of jacket model to campaign relevance. And, dates aside, what Pacific campaign would have required a heavy jacket as a top layer - in combat? As a previous poster mentioned, when have you seen an M-43 in a PTO photo? Lastly, odd placement for a visual ID that you are trying to communicate to those around you. That's why photos show them on helmets, sleeves, and backs of shirts. I'm with Mike, unfinished or faded unit / pocket patch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchfoot Posted September 15, 2017 Author Share #12 Posted September 15, 2017 I think it's wishful thinking that this is a Corpsman jacket. Evidence doesn't support it, based on timing of jacket model to campaign relevance. And, dates aside, what Pacific campaign would have required a heavy jacket as a top layer - in combat? As a previous poster mentioned, when have you seen an M-43 in a PTO photo? Lastly, odd placement for a visual ID that you are trying to communicate to those around you. That's why photos show them on helmets, sleeves, and backs of shirts. I'm with Mike, unfinished or faded unit / pocket patch. Thanks for the insight everyone. Your comments plus period photos make the corpsman assumption go off the table. I do however believe that it could be for a shore party member. The problem is, we will never know what it really stands for, and for me, it will look nice on the shore party display I'm making. Yes, I realize that the yellow ball seen on SP uniforms in the PTO were on the back, but its a good start and I can always replace it with a better example, if one ever comes around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchfoot Posted September 15, 2017 Author Share #13 Posted September 15, 2017 So the jacket arrived today. The circle appears to have 3 different paint layers in 3 colors. The first layer is black, the next is white or grey, and the last is yellow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Costa Posted September 15, 2017 Share #14 Posted September 15, 2017 corpsman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap Camouflage Pattern I Posted September 15, 2017 Share #15 Posted September 15, 2017 With the different colors it seems like some sort of tactical marking, not an unfinished logo. Reminds me of that one members beach battalion helmet that has many colored stripes painted over each other. What exactly it means may never be know. It doesn't have to be a pacific marking, although it is very close to the ones seen on corpsmen helmets and uniforms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted September 16, 2017 Share #16 Posted September 16, 2017 Does anyone happen to have a photo of a Navy corpsman wearing a M43 field jacket in combat in the Pacific theater? That sure would simplify things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stealthytyler Posted September 19, 2017 Share #17 Posted September 19, 2017 From everything that i have read and seen, I would not be confident to say that this is a PTO shore party marking. All the operation planning documents for the PTO I have read mention circles to be placed on helmets, shoulders and knees. I have never read about or seen them to be placed on breast pockets. BUT, anything is possible I suppose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsystem4 Posted September 20, 2017 Share #18 Posted September 20, 2017 I think its a shore party marking as well. M43s were worn on Okinawa. It could be from that period. The circles were painted on by most shore party members not just corpsman. You wont see corpsman in combat units with those circles. It could also be a post war tac marking. These jackets were used long after the war and there were plenty of large scale amphibious training ops post war. -J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchfoot Posted September 21, 2017 Author Share #19 Posted September 21, 2017 Thanks for the new information everyone. I agree with the above statement and I will continue to look for photographs documenting a marking in this specific area and will look into M43's being worn on Okinawa. I will share what I find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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