M-1941 Field Jacket
Encyclopedia
Olive Drab Cotton Field Jacket (also known as OD Cotton Field Jacket, Parson's Jacket, M-1941 or M-1938) is a field jacket used by US Army soldiers, most famously during the beginning of World War II
. In the late 1930s it started to be phased in as a replacement for the wool four pocket service coat, but around 1943 it was replaced in turn by an improved M-1943 model. Due to wide adoption, M-1941 is usually recognized as a symbol of the World War II
American G.I..
up until 1940 soldiers in the United States Army
wore a wool four pocket service coat as the outer garment of their uniforms, both in garrison and in the field. This followed the general pattern adopted by most major armies of the world, but proved to be rather impractical. At the end of the 1930's the Army moved to adopt a new outer garment that was intended to be more utilitarian and provide better protection in combat. The Army's first unsuccessful attempts included adding a pleated "bi-swing" back to the service coat, a change adopted with the M-1939 Service Coat. This first field jacket was based on a civilian jacket suggested by Major General James K. Parsons, for whom it was unofficially named. The Olive Drab Cotton Field Jacket was standardized and adopted in June 1940 for use by all members of the US Army for wear with both the winter and summer service uniforms. Jackets of similar design were later also adopted by the Navy
and Marine Corps
.
Note that many individuals have referred to the OD cotton field jacket incorrectly as either the "M-1941" or "M-1938" (hence the title of this article). This designation is, however, false. The Army Quartermaster Corps, who developed clothing, used model numbers sparingly and only used them to differentiate two or more similar types of garments from one another. In 1940 there was only one field jacket, so there was no need to give it a model number.
, and was constructed of an olive drab shade 3 cotton
poplin
outer shell with an olive drab wool flannel
lining. The jacket had a front zipper front closure with a buttoned flap. The jacket also had buttons at the collar for attaching a hood as well as buttoned adjusting tabs on each side of the waist and at the cuffs, and buttoned shoulder loops. There were two front slash pockets and a notched lapel collar. Earlier models of the jacket do not have the shoulder loops or buttoned tabs, but the two front slash pockets have buttoned flaps.
American G.I..
Throughout the course of the war, the OD cotton field jacket proved to be an inadequate outer garment. The jacket's thin lining provided poor insulation during cold weather and the light cotton shell provided little protection from wet weather. In addition, the light OD shade 3 shell, chosen to be worn with both the khaki summer or dark OD winter uniforms, stood out making soldiers more visible targets.
The OD cotton field jacket was officially replaced as standard with the adoption of the M-1943 uniform ensemble
, which included the much improved M-1943 field jacket. The OD cotton field jacket was redesignated limited standard and was to be issued until supplies were exhausted when the M-1943 jacket was unavailable. Photographic evidence shows that soldiers continued to wear the older jacket all the way through the end of the war. The jackets even show up in limited use during the Korean War
.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In the late 1930s it started to be phased in as a replacement for the wool four pocket service coat, but around 1943 it was replaced in turn by an improved M-1943 model. Due to wide adoption, M-1941 is usually recognized as a symbol of the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
American G.I..
The First Field Jacket
From World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
up until 1940 soldiers in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
wore a wool four pocket service coat as the outer garment of their uniforms, both in garrison and in the field. This followed the general pattern adopted by most major armies of the world, but proved to be rather impractical. At the end of the 1930's the Army moved to adopt a new outer garment that was intended to be more utilitarian and provide better protection in combat. The Army's first unsuccessful attempts included adding a pleated "bi-swing" back to the service coat, a change adopted with the M-1939 Service Coat. This first field jacket was based on a civilian jacket suggested by Major General James K. Parsons, for whom it was unofficially named. The Olive Drab Cotton Field Jacket was standardized and adopted in June 1940 for use by all members of the US Army for wear with both the winter and summer service uniforms. Jackets of similar design were later also adopted by the Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
.
Note that many individuals have referred to the OD cotton field jacket incorrectly as either the "M-1941" or "M-1938" (hence the title of this article). This designation is, however, false. The Army Quartermaster Corps, who developed clothing, used model numbers sparingly and only used them to differentiate two or more similar types of garments from one another. In 1940 there was only one field jacket, so there was no need to give it a model number.
Jacket Design
The jacket was modeled after a civilian windbreakerWindbreaker
A windbreaker is a thin outer coat designed to resist wind chill and light rain . It is usually of light construction, characteristically made of some type of synthetic material and often incorporating an elastic waistband and zipper...
, and was constructed of an olive drab shade 3 cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
poplin
Poplin
Poplin, also called tabinet , is a strong fabric in a plain weave of any fiber or blend, with crosswise ribs that typically gives a corded surface.Poplin traditionally consisted of a silk warp with a weft of worsted yarn...
outer shell with an olive drab wool flannel
Flannel
Flannel is a soft woven fabric, of various fineness. Flannel was originally made from carded wool or worsted yarn, but is now often made from either wool, cotton, or synthetic fibre. Flannel may be brushed to create extra softness or remain unbrushed. The brushing process is a mechanical process...
lining. The jacket had a front zipper front closure with a buttoned flap. The jacket also had buttons at the collar for attaching a hood as well as buttoned adjusting tabs on each side of the waist and at the cuffs, and buttoned shoulder loops. There were two front slash pockets and a notched lapel collar. Earlier models of the jacket do not have the shoulder loops or buttoned tabs, but the two front slash pockets have buttoned flaps.
The Field Jacket In World War II
When the US entered the war in 1941, the OD cotton field jacket was the standard outer garment for all Army personnel, except those that had other specialist clothing (such as paratroopers, who wore the parachutist's coat and trousers) or in extreme climatic conditions (parkas in cold weather, etc.). As a result the field jacket could be seen worn in every theater of war and by nearly every type of soldier, making a rather ubiquitous symbol of the World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
American G.I..
Throughout the course of the war, the OD cotton field jacket proved to be an inadequate outer garment. The jacket's thin lining provided poor insulation during cold weather and the light cotton shell provided little protection from wet weather. In addition, the light OD shade 3 shell, chosen to be worn with both the khaki summer or dark OD winter uniforms, stood out making soldiers more visible targets.
The OD cotton field jacket was officially replaced as standard with the adoption of the M-1943 uniform ensemble
U.S. Army M-1943 Uniform
The U.S. Army developed the M-1943 Uniform Ensemble beginning in 1942 to replace a variety of other specialist uniforms and some inadequate garments, like the OD Cotton Field Jacket...
, which included the much improved M-1943 field jacket. The OD cotton field jacket was redesignated limited standard and was to be issued until supplies were exhausted when the M-1943 jacket was unavailable. Photographic evidence shows that soldiers continued to wear the older jacket all the way through the end of the war. The jackets even show up in limited use during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
.