The bulletproof camouflage pattern.

[kammo-man]

I am going through my various notes and boxes digging out long forgotten pictures and paperwork putting together a complete story arc for “The Vietnam camouflage story’

A study in the various patterns used from both the Indo China war and what became to be known as the American war to the Vietnamese themselves and simply The Vietnam War to all who fought in it and or who were affected by it.

Uniforms worn by the men and women who fought have decades later taken over a life of their own as collectors insert names for camouflage not even used during wartime.

 

The French in the Indo China period were supplied by the Allied surplus supplies to include camouflage uniforms.

The US having the m42 that was dot shapes became known by the US marines wartime name as Frogskin in a herringbone cloth.

As the American war began it was copied and re printed and cut into a new combat suit.

It became known as the Leopard pattern.

Of course a cousin of the most famous Tiger stripes.

 

The British supplied Airborne Camouflage Denison smocks and a 2 piece winter camouflage suit known as the Windproof camouflage suit.

The Denison printed on heavyweight Breathable denim and the Windproof on a very high quality poplin that was waterproof when new.

The Windproof camouflage suit was designed to be worn only in winter only issued in October and withdrawn by April.

It was an over suit to be worn over combat wool uniform so it was generously cut.

 

French Airborne enjoyed wearing the Windproof sets and because they were almost non breathable called them sausage skins !

Funny name but it’s similar to being issued a Gore Tex suit to wear in the jungle in summer in modern terms.

As the next war began the Vietnamese Airborne units were issued a re stripe of the pattern artistically based on a section of the original print.

They matched it loosely on the original British cloth and colors in 1963.

This was a very high quality uniform and print.

Maybe too expensive because by 1964 the print and cloth went through a few changes.

The actual print became duller and the cloth cheaper.

This became known as the Airborne pattern.

As US advisors began to be issued it by Vietnamese Airborne units the Vietnamese nickname becomes documented in writing.

Vietnamese Bullet proofs.

When wearing the suit the wearer was granted magical powers by the superstitious Vietnamese and became Bulletproof.

Several sub names also pop up such as

Pinks, Purplesand the Vietnamese Huet.

 

Actual photo credits and wartime writings is what historical records require to set something in stone and I have just that that I will show to back up my findings.

 

 

The original British label on the suit naming the pattern.

This was part of a 3 suit system.

1 Europe camouflage.

1 Snow camouflage.

1 Desert tan.

All in the same cut but with slightly different cloth weights.

 

Owen

 

 

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[kammo-man]

British Second Army pushing into Germany wearing the Windproof suit in 1945.


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Indo China.
The Windproof suit was split u and frequently worn as trousers only with as here a very faded USMC frog skin shirt.


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As I mentioned the Windproof suit was hot.
It was a welcome relief to slip out of the sausage skins wherever possible.
The French being stylish paced a full zip in the jacket and added practical chest pockets copied from the 51 Lizard camouflage pattern jacket.
Here’s a jacket with the hood removed and zipper added.


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[kammo-man]

2 officers in typical combat uniforms of the period.
1 wearing the camouflage set of mis matched
USMC M44 top paired up with Windproof trousers.

[kammo-man]

For you the war is over.
Bigard at the fall of DBP.
He’s wearing the modified Windproof suit.
The General wore several different versions of this suit into his later years even when retired.
France still has stocks of the uniform but never reprinted it.
That part of the story falls in the Vietnamese themselves remembering that veterans of the first war were Airborne veterans.
They formed the backbone of the then modern Airborne forces being created and given a new camouflage pattern with its roots firmly in the past.


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Post war with the famous sausage skins


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The colors are rich and bold.
The pocket zip clearly visible.


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The complex pattern


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And the British Denison smock print.


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[kammo-man]

Now here is the 1963 Vietnamese Windproof copy print.
See how close they are to each other.
It’s a classic case of same but slightly different.
This is the back panel of a flight suit that a CIA member had made custom for himself probably for Air America flights in country.


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[kammo-man]

US officers attached to Vietnamese Airborne units wore the host units uniforms.
Both wear the 63 pattern obvious by the sheen of the cloth.
The 64 print was remarkably duller in comparison.
Lt Col Lombardi and Col Stanley checking out some fire mission grid references.


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Another 63 pattern full back.
The pattern is again complex with fine details.
This is on an Advisors uniform.


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It was common to see a mix of US production insignia and Vietnamese direct embroidery on both early and late uniforms.


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Airborne SsI cleverly turned into a pen holder by original owner.


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Airborne wings and rank complete the uniform.
Chest pockets have been modified marking them slightly smaller as this was the fashion.


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Pants have rear padding.
Covered back pockets and is actually missing a pocket bag due to damage.
Interesting some advisors chose to tuck their shirts I. And some did not but I have not found a particular order stating either.
Anyone know ?


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[kammo-man]

When a man who served in Vietnam wearing camouflage and has the actual thought to name it on the back of an original photo it’s best to have the respect to listen to his words.
He’s come before anyone cared about collecting and archiving this stuff making order out of a very large story.

Davidson receiving a promotion in the field.
He is wearing camouflage but look what he called it on the back of the original photo.

Note zipped modified shirt and trousers.
His teammate is wearing the Invisible erdl Leaf pattern.

Overall a very interesting photo.


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[kammo-man]

Notice I am wearing

ABN. Bullet Proofs.

Concrete evidence of wartime naming of the Windproof pattern Bulletproofs.

December 1966

Ah I was only 3 months old !!!
Enjoy

Owen


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[kammo-man]

Captain Martin Bullet proof camouflage suit
In a letter I have from him he calls it Bullet proofs and mentioned his set was 3rd hand parsed down from the departing advisor to the inbound.
He says the Vietnamese respected the uniform as the mark of an old salt.
You can clearly see other name strips removed.
Be brought his across the street to the tailor shop and had it direct embroidered a. He was returning State side with it.


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Capt Marin wearing the above uniform.


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This is the 64 print
See it’s heavily worn but is stunning in every way.
The leg zippers plainly obvious.


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Martin again
This may be another jacket.


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Another stunning Bulletproof set is that that once belonged to Capt Toftoy.
It’s a mismatched set from 2 different cuts as was typical.
Again Us and Vietnamese patches and embroidery are visible.


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[kammo-man]

Here’s the officer.


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