38 pattern coveralls

[cco23i]

Hey all,
I found a vendor on ebay who sells the 38 pattern HBT coveralls, Mackinaws, A-3 cap and some other U.S items. They are Spearhead militaria on ebay, a friend bought German stuff through them and was quit happy. I will be getting a set of coveralls, A-3 cap in a couple weeks so I will fill you all in.

Scott

[VeeVee]

Cool! I think I've bought something from them years ago... I can't remember what.

Do you have a picture of the coveralls?

[oklahoma]

hey guys...are we talking the type coveralls issued by the USAAF during world war II? if so, these are the type i was issued in 1951. we received two sets. oh, how i hated those things. a guy had to drop 'em to sit on the commode in the latrine and, invariably a sleeve would dip in the adjacent commode or drag the floor by the stools. you can imagine what that involves. when i shipped to korea in 1952, the very first thing i did was acquire three sets of two piece army fatigues from some guys in the anti aircraft unit stationed on our fighter strip. when i returned to the states a year later, almost all the USAF guys were wearing army two piece fatigues with no beef coming from the higher ups. maybe by 1953 all those horrible one piece coveralls had been expended. good riddance, i say. postscript...i did yard work in those one piece jobs for twenty years after discharge in 1955. i will say that the things were durable.

[VeeVee]

And Scott is paying for a set ;D

Great story and insight on that piece of issue uniform Okla. Thanks.

[cco23i]

Oklahoma,
The ones you were issued were probably the 43 patter, they had a single breast pocket on the left side. Yup, believe it or not I'm PAYING for them now! I got the A-3 cap in and am VERY happy with it so as soon as I get the money I'll get the coveralls.

Scott

[oklahoma]

hey cco23i....Only today did I see your reply about the "cursed" coveralls. That breast pocket of which you speak, to me, was the only commendable item about those garments. The pocket was just right for holding a guy's wallet. Other than that one feature, i hated those coveralls with a passion. In fact, i dont remember one GI that i was ever stationed or served with who didn't hate them. I dont recall when they quit issuing the things, but I do know that whenever it was possible that the people i served with acquired two piece army fatigues in some way or another. I still have one set, somewhere around my place, in the attic, garage,etc, rather worn by now, that i bought from an army anti aircraft gunner at Suwon Air Base in Korea way back in 1952. I originally, at that time, had three pair, two with pockets on the rear, and one pair with no rear pockets, but with one on each side of the leg, thigh high. I wasnt too crazy about the latter style. Seems as though I had to almost bend over sideways to reach down to dig my wallet or cigarette lighter out. Now those with the two pockets in the front and two, with the button down flap in the rear were the best of the best. I would think that those type with the large, baggy pockets on the side were combat infantry style from WW 2. Of course, when i went into the USAF in 1951 much of our gear was left over stuff from that conflict.