T&W Smock Introduction

[J Melvin]

Simple question: What is the earliest identifiable usage of the tan and water jumpsmock?

[John Hodgin]

Good question Jack,

As far as I know they were first made in 43, but I've never found photos of them in wear until late 44. In fact, period photos of tan/waters in wear are fairly scarce.

Best,
John

[Willi Z.]

I agree.........'43 dated is the earliest seen. '44 is the earliest I have seen worn in photos. Not a single FJ veteran I have ever spoken too had seen a water smock worn. Now granted, most the ones I know were captured by the late summer of '44, so it is possible they had not yet been introduced.

Willi

[fergmacleod]

The top picture on page 80 of "Fallschirmjager, les parachutists Allemands en France", by Alain Chazette, shows an officer wearing a TW smock in Normandy, so at least one of them made it there.
Another nice picture in the same book, on page 93, proves that at least one smock made it to Saint Malo, Brittany.



Fergus.

[J Melvin]

Thanks for the answers guys. Fergus, welcome aboard! Hope to see you at Spring Hill.

[mgschutze]

Hello,

Tan and Water smocks are definitly used in april 1945.
We received a jumpsmock in T&W camo today in our museum.
It was found in april 1945 in Eefde by Zutphen in Holland. The 6st FJ division was located there during the fights at the end of the war against the Canadian Liberators. The smock was picked up by a 17 (then) year old boy who kept it for more then 60 years, so he could donate it to us today.

I will post pic's in a new thread. You can see it there.

Greets
museum40-45.com

[H BABERT]

Hi,
here is a photo of E. P, 6/FJR2, north of Brest august 44 . He receive his new Tan Water jump smock in late may 44 back from Russia.
Herlé

[Marco]

Hi,
here is a photo of E. P, 6/FJR2, north of Brest august 44 . He receive his new Tan Water jump smock in late may 44 back from Russia.
Herlé

...and receive the M.A.B. (Moschetto Automatico Beretta) from Italy. Nice picture!

[Marco]

Hi,
here is a photo of E. P, 6/FJR2, north of Brest august 44 . He receive his new Tan Water jump smock in late may 44 back from Russia.
Herlé

...and receive the M.A.B. (Moschetto Automatico Beretta) from Italy. Nice picture!