Fall 2026 Militaria and Aviation Auction
Lot 307:
Description
Unissued WWII US Army M-1942 Paratrooper Jump Uniform – Jacket Size 40L (Lot 6039) and Trousers Size 34×34, MacLaren Sportswear Co., Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot Contract P.O. No. 960, Dated August 9, 1943 Offered is a remarkably well-preserved two-piece M-1942 jump uniform, comprising a jacket in size 40L and matching trousers in size 34×34. The jacket retains an extensive array of its original stapled factory paper inspection/cutter tags, each stamped with lot number "6039" and size "40L, " while the trousers carry a crisp, legible contractor label reading "Trousers, Parachute Jumpers, MacLaren Sportswear Co., " citing Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot contract P.O. No. 960 dated August 9, 1943, Q.M.C. Tent. Spec. P.Q.D. No. 113A dated February 24, 1942, and Stock No. 55-T-40527. No individual paratrooper or unit identification accompanies the set; the story here rests entirely in the garments’ construction, labeling, and remarkable state of preservation rather than in a documented personal history. The M-1942 jump suit was developed specifically for the US Army’s newly formed airborne divisions, whose parachute infantry required greater load-bearing capacity than standard field uniforms could provide. Its distinctive slanted, expanding bellows pockets – secured with dual-snap flaps on both chest and thigh – allowed a jumper to carry ammunition, rations, and equipment close to the body during descent and readily accessible upon landing, while an integrated waist belt cinched the jacket for a close, snag-resistant silhouette. Uniforms of this pattern equipped American paratroopers, including elements of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, through the North African, Sicilian, and Italian campaigns and on into Normandy, where surviving examples were frequently field-modified with sewn-on elbow and knee reinforcement patches to withstand the punishment of hedgerow fighting. The set offered here shows no such alterations, consistent with a garment that never left Quartermaster storage. The olive-drab cotton-twill jacket features four slanted bellows cargo pockets with dual-snap closures, a covered front zipper closure, shoulder tabs, and its original integral belt and buckle; numerous white paper factory tags remain stapled across the pocket panels and body, each bearing the repeated "6039" lot marking. The trousers exhibit large snap-flap thigh cargo pockets, blue ink "Waist 34 / Inseam 34" stencils on the waistband interior, and the aforementioned MacLaren Sportswear Co. label sewn into the pocket lining; suspender buttons are present and the fly closure and hardware appear complete, though maker markings on the zipper tape are not clearly established by the photographs. The lot comprises the jacket and trousers only. Condition is outstanding for the type: both garments appear genuinely unissued, with strong fabric integrity throughout, minor factory loose thread ends at seams, tiny pinpoint storage marks, and light white oxidation/verdigris patina on the snap hardware consistent with long-term storage rather than wear. No combat use, added reinforcement patches, fabric splits, or repairs are evident. A scarce, tag-retaining matched M-1942 jump uniform whose crisp labels and unworn construction place it among the most desirable factory-fresh survivors of WWII airborne Quartermaster production.
Share this lot:
