WWII US Army M1943 Field Jacket -
During the early days of the war many of the uniforms across the US armed forces were
not truly standardized. In addition, the current field jacket was not providing the type
of protection desired by the soliders. In May 1943 the Army's Quartermasters issued the
M1943 jacket (also known as the M43). This jacket provided several improvements from its
predecessor and helped consolidate the uniforms across the military branches.
Among the advantages found in the jacket are:
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1) Four pockets were provided. Two at the chest level and two towards the bottom of the jacket.
2) Pockets were reenforced to provide the ability to carry heavier items such as granades.
3) A removable hood was available.
4) A flap was placed under the left collar to allow a more complete closure to be achieved to
protect the neck area.
5) This jacket also helped initiate the concept of cloth layaring to offer better protection in
the colder climates.
The specification number given by the Quartermasters to this jacket was PQD 370. The construction of the
jacket consisted of a sateen
shell with cotton lining. The waist could be adjusted via an internal string.
The wrists had buttons
that would allow the user to close them.
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The front of the
jacket could be secured by using six hidden buttons. This would allow a cleaner surface and avoid any
dangling equipment to get accidentally snagged on the buttons.
The pockets of the jacket were also secured by hidden buttons.
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This page is a recognition and identification guide for WWII US military uniforms.
Multiple detailed photos of a specific sample are provided. Descriptions point out
clearly defined points that should be noted.
One of the most commonly asked questions is "How much is my WWII US uniform worth?".
A price guide is included here to address this question. The value of the uniforms is
reviewed over a period of several years. A trend can be observed. The present worth
of the American military uniforms in the collector's market is illustrated.
This service is provided free of charge to the visitor/enthusiast courtesy of
MilitaryItems.com,
a company dedicated to the preservation of military history and to providing quality
military antiques and collectibles to museums, institutions and the general public.
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The design of the M43 jacket was so successful that the US armed forces today wear field jackets
whose designed can be traced back to the M43. A white tag
with black letters was often found in the inside of one of the lower pockets. In later years
the location of the tag changed to the inside liner.
Later during the war some variations were introduced to the construction of the jacket. They included:
1) The relocation of the collar tab from the bottom to the top. Model PQD 370A.
2) A triangular tab built onto the top of the jacket replaced the old collar tab system.
Model PQD 370B.
3) A button was added to hold down the collar tab when it was not being used. PQD 370C.
This WWII US uniform may be currently
reproduced.
It is becoming more difficult to be able to tell the fake ones from the real ones because
the quality of the reproductions is improving. The collector must become familiarized with
the construction style and materials employed in the manufacturing of this item.
Attention to the details is critical in order to be able to determine the authenticity of
the collectible.
If you have an interest is seeing other WWII US uniforms, you can do so by going to our
American Military Uniforms Price Guide.
Where we cover Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and other organizations.
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