Some of the US soldiers are mentioned to have worn for a moment a camo uniform, but as they were shot at ( thought to be Waffen-SS ) the camo uniform was left away soon in 1944. All I found on this subject was this: "The records indicate that only the 17th Engineers, and perhaps a few reconnaissance teams, were issued the abortive two-piece camouflage uniform during that time frame. The main problem with the uniform was not one of functionality, for it was better cut and designed for troops than many of the others, such as the herringbone twill one which was pretty much de facto lightweight standard. Nor was it availability, as it was offered to a number of units. The main problem was that the camo pattern chosen was too similar to Waffen SS patterns, which caused the troops to be identified as "enemy", especially if they used the matching camouflage helmet covers." http://www.missing-lynx.com/reviews/usa/dml6120.htm Anybody got more details on this?
Here's a book with pictures of the uniform http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0760306540/ref=lib_rd_ss_TBCV/102-8171716-9860940?v=glance&s=books&vi=reader&img=9#reader-link regards/ Daniel
Not many more details - I know that those engeneers in Normandy were supposedly the only US unit to get cammo in Europe, but beyond what you've already posted I know little. I have seen another photo of them in their cammo during Normandy in the back of a half track with a frenchman reaching up to give them a bottle of wine. It was in a book, however, so I can't post the shot here unless I find it on the web in the next few days. Quite a few US army units had cammo in the pacific - either the two piece or the once piece suit (often called a frog or frogskin suit). I have the one piece and the pants for the two piece. The pacific version is different in that it has plastic buttons instead of metal 13-star buttons of the "Engineer" suit. Also, I think all of the Pacific cammo was HBT, while the limited European stuff was cotton. Since the US stopped using cammo in Europe (and to a point in general unntil late Nam), I'm pretty sure that most of the extras were sold to other countries as surplus. I've seen those special "Engineer" cammos worn by the anti-Castro forces in pictures of the Bay of Pigs invasion, and I think I remember seeing a set worn by a French soldier in Indochina. I'll see what else I can scrounge up, although my research abilities are no match for those of Kai!!
On another note, I have a magazine with a picture of a GI with a CAMMO version of the M-42 Jump Suit of paratrooper fame!!!! I'd LOVE to see an original of that!!!!! I'm guessing it was a prototype, though. The only paratrooper cammo I know of being used in Europe was home made - paint on the jumpsuits!
