I was rewatching the "Victory at Sea" series several years ago, and a peculiar uniform addition caught my attention. In the episode about the return to the Philippines, there's footage of a 37mm gun crew firing on the Japanese in Manila. The backs of gun crew's jackets are divided, shoulder to belt, into two black and two white checks - very large and regular, and hard to mistake for something else.

At first I though it was some sort of training footage mixed in, but the same backgraound seemed to be the same area shown in the adjacent combat footage.

Last week I was rereading Morison's volume on the Gilberts and Marianas. Morison loved to add in details of uniforms and colors from time to time, and he mentioned the troops going ashore with black-and-white checkerboard identification markings on their jackets. (I promptly stuffed a bookmark into the page, but it has since fallen out!)

So - what have I been missing? I've seen only these two references to to jacket markings - were they often used? Are there photos in books that I just haven't seen yet? I assume that the checks were lightly sewed in place for quick removal - or were they integral to the jackets?

I'd love to know more, especially since I've never seen figures with these markings on the contest table and it might be fun to stir up some discussion...

Cheers,

Dana

These were black and white recognition vests worn by the 7th ID on Kwajalein during operation Flintlock in 1944. I don't think they were used anywhere else. There was a great article in Military Collector and Historian by Mark Hubbs (VOL XLVII, No. 3 Fall 1996) that gave a lot of good data on those recognition vests. The article has some great never-before-published photographs of the battle. Well worth getting. If there is any interest let me know and I will dig the article out.

Victory at Sea was a fantastic series (I've got it on DVD) but it was notorious for mixing and matching footage to fit whatever the narrator was saying. I dabbled a little in the film production business a few years back and you'd be amazed at how difficult it is to get just the right shot for your script. There is a big temptation among documentary film makers to play fast and loose with footage, even today. Take whatever you see with a grain of salt.

The vests do make for great diorama potential. Too bad I can't paint figures worth beans.

Cheers.

PB

Thanks, Patrick,

I know what you mean about using available footage (and stills, for that matter). It's usually futile to try to convince filmakers to get the appropriate images.

I double checked the Victory at Sea episode - there is a lot of footage of those vests - maybe all the Philippine film got lost? Anyhow, I'll look up the article and see what else I can find at Archives. Nice to know I only need to look into one operation!

Cheers,


Dana

It's only a few pages long and mostly images. Send me your email address and I'll scan it and send you a copy. You can reach me off-group at fortyrounds@juno.com

PB

could you send me a copy too, won't have my computer back util next week so no rush on mine. Using my daughters laptop at this time so no downloads allowed until I get my PC back. Thanks.
Karl.

http://www.nps.gov/archive/amme/wwii_museum/marshalls_and_truk/marshalls_and_truk.html

I wonder if Dragon monitors this board? (Wink, Wing, Nudge, Nudge, Know-wha-di-mean)

Cheers,

Dana

This is pure speculation bu the reason may be so the tank crews could ID the 37mm crews as US crews and not mistake them for Japanese. Through a periscope a c not fully camouflaged 37mm gun could be mistaken for a Japanese 47mm gun.

A cool aspect is that the 7th ID went into Kwaj with their helmets coated with a coral/concrete mixture and then painted them in two tone cammo...I've seen a couple in collections and long wanted one for my own collection.

I will try and post some pics...though you can see it somewhat in the two posted photos...

The 7th ID had a great record in the Pacific...one of the best Army Divisons of the war in my opinion...

S/F

Pat

I've been looking for more detail about the 7th Division uniforms for some time. The Osprey Campaign Series book on the Marshall Islands includes a color plate depicting these panels as red and white. I appreciate the info on the Journal article. I'm going to track it down.