How to Create a D Day Reenactment Paratrooper Uniform
Look at websites and history books detailing the invasion., Make a list of the gear a paratrooper would normally have had when he jumped out of the C-47 aircraft into the French battlefields., Search army surplus stores for items similar to the...
Step-by-Step Guide
-
Step 1: Look at websites and history books detailing the invasion.
Many photographs can be found at Google Images, and realistic gear and clothing were worn in film recreations after the war. , Here are some examples of standard gear these warriors carried.
Wooden replica Thompson Rifle, either a Thompson 45 cal fully automatic rifle or an M-1 Garand rifle.
Carved wooden Colt Sidearm, a 45 cal.
Colt Model 1911 semiautomatic pistol musette bag with rope Mussette bag, containing survival gear, rations, ammo, rope, and other items the soldier chose.
Map bag, containing maps, compass, light, and spare ammo.
Knife, often a Ka-Bar army issue battle knife.
Canteen hanging from pistol belt Canteen, holding one quart of drinking water.
Ammo belt Inert Pineapple grenade Grenades Parachute pack, with one main chute, and one emergency chute.
M-1C steel pot helmet with chinstrap, netting and first aid kit.
Helmet, usually covered with cotton webbing and often with torn burlap to help camouflage it.
First aid kit, attached to the webbing on the soldier's helmet.
Trousers with web gear belt.
Jacket Camo face paint Folding entrenching tool for digging fox holes Folding entrenching tool (shovel) , Original gear is difficult to find, since over 50 years have passed since the invasion., Use exact searching words to find an item, or at least narrow your choices down., Ask the vendors there if they have resources to provide either vintage or reproduction gear and clothing.
Many flea market vendors do not display all the items they may have in inventory due to the space limitations in this setting, and some create specialized contact lists to find items a buyer may be looking for., Use exact keywords here, as well, to narrow your search.
An example would be to search World War 2 U.S.
Army Paratrooper Uniforms rather than just Uniforms, Military Uniforms, or Paratroopers Uniforms. , Possibly the best for this content would be the National D-Day Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana, where mannequins are dressed in original gear from World War
2.
They also sell helmets, helmet covers, mussette bags, clickers (Cricket sounders), and other items in their gift shop, as well as many illustrated books and videos of the invasion., You may also add a burlap helmet scrim to the net., Your map pouch would contain maps and a compass, and other items.
The M38 field/musette bag will contain personal items like clean underwear, and rations, extra ammo and grenades, flashlight, rain poncho, other items., From this, you will hang your entrenching tool, pistol holster, fighting knife or M3 trench knife (which may also be holstered on your leg or boot), and canteen.
You may include M43 combat suspenders to help support the load.
You may also want to wear an M-1 ammunition belt., You can buy a reproduction M-1 Garrand or Thompson submachine gun and 1911 Colt pistol, along with grenades.
If you are handy with tools, you may create your own reproduction guns. -
Step 2: Make a list of the gear a paratrooper would normally have had when he jumped out of the C-47 aircraft into the French battlefields.
-
Step 3: Search army surplus stores for items similar to the original issue.
-
Step 4: Look at auction sites like EBay for deals on real and reproduction gear and clothing that may suit your needs.
-
Step 5: Search flea markets that have army surplus vendors.
-
Step 6: Search online for websites that specialize in reenactment paraphernalia.
-
Step 7: Visit museums that specialize in preserving the history of military operations.
-
Step 8: Assemble your uniform
-
Step 9: including parachute rigger modified 1943 field trousers
-
Step 10: or M43 rigger modified field pants
-
Step 11: and an M1942 jump jacket with web belt
-
Step 12: Corcoran brown leather jump boots
-
Step 13: and a M1C42 steel pot helmet with liner and helmet net.
-
Step 14: Assemble your packs.
-
Step 15: Put on the uniform and boots
-
Step 16: then put on your web pistol belt.
-
Step 17: Assemble your weapons.
Detailed Guide
Many photographs can be found at Google Images, and realistic gear and clothing were worn in film recreations after the war. , Here are some examples of standard gear these warriors carried.
Wooden replica Thompson Rifle, either a Thompson 45 cal fully automatic rifle or an M-1 Garand rifle.
Carved wooden Colt Sidearm, a 45 cal.
Colt Model 1911 semiautomatic pistol musette bag with rope Mussette bag, containing survival gear, rations, ammo, rope, and other items the soldier chose.
Map bag, containing maps, compass, light, and spare ammo.
Knife, often a Ka-Bar army issue battle knife.
Canteen hanging from pistol belt Canteen, holding one quart of drinking water.
Ammo belt Inert Pineapple grenade Grenades Parachute pack, with one main chute, and one emergency chute.
M-1C steel pot helmet with chinstrap, netting and first aid kit.
Helmet, usually covered with cotton webbing and often with torn burlap to help camouflage it.
First aid kit, attached to the webbing on the soldier's helmet.
Trousers with web gear belt.
Jacket Camo face paint Folding entrenching tool for digging fox holes Folding entrenching tool (shovel) , Original gear is difficult to find, since over 50 years have passed since the invasion., Use exact searching words to find an item, or at least narrow your choices down., Ask the vendors there if they have resources to provide either vintage or reproduction gear and clothing.
Many flea market vendors do not display all the items they may have in inventory due to the space limitations in this setting, and some create specialized contact lists to find items a buyer may be looking for., Use exact keywords here, as well, to narrow your search.
An example would be to search World War 2 U.S.
Army Paratrooper Uniforms rather than just Uniforms, Military Uniforms, or Paratroopers Uniforms. , Possibly the best for this content would be the National D-Day Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana, where mannequins are dressed in original gear from World War
2.
They also sell helmets, helmet covers, mussette bags, clickers (Cricket sounders), and other items in their gift shop, as well as many illustrated books and videos of the invasion., You may also add a burlap helmet scrim to the net., Your map pouch would contain maps and a compass, and other items.
The M38 field/musette bag will contain personal items like clean underwear, and rations, extra ammo and grenades, flashlight, rain poncho, other items., From this, you will hang your entrenching tool, pistol holster, fighting knife or M3 trench knife (which may also be holstered on your leg or boot), and canteen.
You may include M43 combat suspenders to help support the load.
You may also want to wear an M-1 ammunition belt., You can buy a reproduction M-1 Garrand or Thompson submachine gun and 1911 Colt pistol, along with grenades.
If you are handy with tools, you may create your own reproduction guns.
About the Author
Angela James
Committed to making lifestyle accessible and understandable for everyone.
Rate This Guide
How helpful was this guide? Click to rate: