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Jacket, Field, Wool, OD


Skyligter
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Here is a front pic.

 

paty022.jpg

 

It has a pinback D.I. with hallmark of two crossed rifles?? Looks like an X on the edge. Another thrift store pick up from years back. 17th A/B is machine sewn, and all other are hand sewn. No name or even laundry number on this one.

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I picked up this one a couple of years ago at the GLMC show at Toledo, from a West Va. dealer. It looks like the typical Ike jacket, but it is not. It is an Aistralian-made battle jacket worn by an 11th Abn Div vet.

The jacket is unlined wool -- many Marines wore them too. This is the direct ancestor of the "Vandegrift" jacket.

Thanks to Craig and Dallas, we were able to ID the wing background and to thus figure out more about the wearer. The oval is attributed to the 188th Glider Infantry which saw action in the Philippines. In August, '45, the 188th was transferred to Australia for parachute training in preparation for the invasion oif Japan.

Look carefuly at the wings -- they are not sterling and they have a very long pin -- features of Aussie made wings. Note also that these fellows went to Australia in August -- winter down under. No wonder they were issues woolen clothing, apparently from local stores.

The ribbons are reversed on the bottom row -- in fact, the PI ribbon should have been last. SInce he has a CIB, he rated a Bronze Star -- it is plasticised, so it may be later issue.

133_3324__2_.JPG

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Note the cuff adjustment straps and wrist closure, quite different from a regulation GI jacket.

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Finally, a close up of the ribbons, oval, wings, etc. Note the color of the wing metal, and the long pin too.

 

133_3325__2_.JPG

11_Abn_Aussie_Ike_4.jpg

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What is interesting is that these jackets seem to have been worn by GI's in BOTH theaters of war! An AAMUC member did quite a study of the Aussie Ikes that our members had for FOOTLOCKER a ferw years back.

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