Jump to content

Mitchell pattern uniform


hawkdriver
 Share

Recommended Posts

This uniform belongs to a friend of mine that was a Navy guy that got stationed with a Marine unit in '63. He was given an issue of equipment to include this uniform set. He wore it once and it was so hot that he never wore it again. Later, a friend asked to borrow the uniform so that he could wear it to his Navy Reserve drills and did so for some time, stencilling his name on the back. When my friend recovered the uniform, it had been worn and faded. It has been in his closet since. I asked today if I could take pictures and he agreed, so here it is. I didn't find any tags. Sewing seemed professional, chain stitched seams.

 

2lbdcsx.jpg

 

2v91y6d.jpg

 

29gipo0.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

HD

Did your friend give you a time frame for his wearing of this set by chance ?

Sorry Your post answered my question .

I was looking at the set not your writing .

What I meant was ....

Was it ok to wear the set State side and during what years ?

owen

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Owen,

I don't think I have ever seen you that tongue tied. I am guessing as he didn't really tell me, but my guess is mid 70's based on the Navy unit he was talking about and what I know of his history.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice set.

 

Main reason these were hot to wear was they made them out of shelter half material.Not really an issue item but tailor made.

 

I have a shirt from around 1963-or 64 as the guy was an early Marine in Viet Nam in 66.He had been in okinawa also prior to Viet Nam.He didnt remember having the shirt made.It is more the WW2 frog skin pattern of the marines opposed to the Mitchell.I also have a set of Tigers from him and all his dress uniforms and some jungle fatiques too.

 

I do have a USMC cover that is done in Mitchell pattern shelter half material.

 

RON

Link to comment
Share on other sites

vintageproductions

The set shown is a typical Okinawa tailor shop made set. Maybe the unit had ordered sets for everyone, but they were not a official issue uniform.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I remeber a story of a Okinawan retailer who planned on making it big in the US hunting market and made these uniforms from old shelter halves. Unfortunatley they never sold, so he sold them on Oki to Marines and SF guys, which is where you see most of them other than early Nam advisors, mostley wearing the shirts with OD trousers, but they are really hot and dont breath!!!

thats just what I remember :)

There are some great pix of Sgt Duarte, a SF advisor to the ARVN rangers in 1962, wearing one of these jackets with a beret OD trousers and the post WWII brown and green jungle boots with the double buckels,

P

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here is an example cut as a 4-pocket jungle jacket, with epaulettes. Lined with OD parachute nylon. Perfect for a hot climate. Buttons are a mixture of VN cut-edge and US issue. Construction is fairly primitive.

post-4733-1234900117.jpg

post-4733-1234900135.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

i'v seen one of those mitchell uniforms in athens when i was a little kid around 1982 or 83 & reallly impressed me as i found a fantastic match to my mithell helmet cover...but for some reason...probably luck of money back then i did'nt get it... crying.gif i remember a tailors civilian style tag on the inside...apparently the material was heavy shelter half but the garment was not military...the shop was full of vietnam staff of any kind...*very common surplus staff back then from the american military bases in greece*...and many jones hats cammo & plain OD Aussie style with snap to rise up the sides up & the patch KORAT...WHAT WAS THAT "KORAT" THING? not KOREA...just KORAT

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This uniform was worn by an SF White Star/Hot Foot vet in the late 1950's early 1960's. He also had a black French made beret with American jump wings pinned to it. Seeing this thread has helped me with the Mitchell jacket but what are the pants?

post-405-1234904962.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

i'v seen one of those mitchell uniforms in athens when i was a little kid around 1982 or 83 & reallly impressed me as i found a fantastic match to my mithell helmet cover...but for some reason...probably luck of money back then i did'nt get it... crying.gif i remember a tailors civilian style tag on the inside...apparently the material was heavy shelter half but the garment was not military...the shop was full of vietnam staff of any kind...*very common surplus staff back then from the american military bases in greece*...and many jones hats cammo & plain OD Aussie style with snap to rise up the sides up & the patch KORAT...WHAT WAS THAT "KORAT" THING? not KOREA...just KORAT

 

 

Thailand

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pluto .

Your jacket is a one of a kind .

You ARE the lucky man .

Mike

Your trousers stump me .

It is the first time I have seen this print of this pattern .

The cut is of course US WW2 Herring bone camouflage trouser , I wonder if they are a Viet attempt at a copy ,late 50s ??

Are the buttons Viet type .?

Great colors on these bad boys .

They are rich .

Maybee Japanese as they dont look US manufactured .

These would benifit from a little inspection .

owen

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Qwen, I will take some close-up photos of the buttons. Anything elase while I am doing photography! The jacket buttons look like the 1st pattern jungle jacket buttons; shiny plastic.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

craig_pickrall

This is an earlier version of a tailor made camo uniform. It is made similar to the USMC P42 camo pattern and the material was a WW2 era USMC / USN camo poncho.

 

post-5-1234975162.jpg

post-5-1234975168.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

craig_pickrall
This uniform was worn by an SF White Star/Hot Foot vet in the late 1950's early 1960's. He also had a black French made beret with American jump wings pinned to it. Seeing this thread has helped me with the Mitchell jacket but what are the pants?

 

 

Mike, I have a pair of the trousers that matches your shirt but was never lucky enough to find the shirt.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

early marine recons in nam 1965-66 period used mitchel tailors made uniforms & mitchell helmet covers as an improvised beret like thing!!!

I beg to differ!! Ive seen the photos you speak of and thats all on Oki!!! Leroy Thopson, whos books those pix appear in is a complete fraud!! Ive talked with the Marine Historical groups and members of the Force Recon assn and they all say the same thing, never saw outside of Oki. When the Marines got to Nam they obtained Tigerstripe and the Leopard fatigues.

And ask any Marine, he'll tell you a beret is a sign of weakness LOL You'll see marines wearing the WWII style rain hats before you see em wearing a helmet cover as a beret in combat!!

P

post-2472-1234980525.jpg

post-2472-1234980534.jpg

post-2472-1234980561.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I beg to differ!! Ive seen the photos you speak of and thats all on Oki!!! Leroy Thopson, whos books those pix appear in is a complete fraud!! Ive talked with the Marine Historical groups and members of the Force Recon assn and they all say the same thing, never saw outside of Oki. When the Marines got to Nam they obtained Tigerstripe and the Leopard fatigues.

And ask any Marine, he'll tell you a beret is a sign of weakness LOL You'll see marines wearing the WWII style rain hats before you see em wearing a helmet cover as a beret in combat!!

P

oh ok...i did'nt know that

 

yes i'v seen the leroy thompsons colour plate but i'v seen also a picture with the same staff but i did'nt know that it was okinawa...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

oh ok...i did'nt know that

 

yes i'v seen the leroy thompsons colour plate but i'v seen also a picture with the same staff but i did'nt know that it was okinawa...

 

Hey No problem I was going go back and edit my post, I didnt want to come across as an jearkhead! , sorry if it sounded that way. :rolleyes:

 

Yea I really hate those books he did, puts out alot of bad information for sure!!! The only good part of it was the AFSP since he was one he at least got that part right :)

 

but I agreee the maple leaf/Mitchel pattern is a pretty cool and under rated camo pattern for sure!!!!

 

thanks, :)

 

paul

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...