![]() ![]() The USMC standard or “wine leaf” pattern (sometimes called "vine leaf" or even "maple leaf" despite the shapes bearing little resemblance to actual maple leaves), consists of large overlapping dark green, lime green & ochre leaf shapes with brown twigs on a pale green background. Both patterns saw widespread distribution only as a reversible shelter half (1953) and reversible helmet cover (1959), with one pattern printed on each side. US Army trials of 1953 produced two additional camouflage patterns that were adopted for limited use by military personnel.Presumably the pattern fell into disuse, but it is uncertain precisely when this happened. This mottled design has been documented on US Navy Mk 17 parachutes, which were used with certain types of ordnance during the 1950s and 1960s. Another interesting pattern printed on parachutes is seen here.Although production of camo parachutes discontinued prior to the Vietnam War, when the waterproofed poncho was introduced the first style poncho liner (design to act both as insulator for the poncho or as a makeshift blanket) was made from the same type of fabric and printed in the same pattern. These camouflaged parachute shrouds were popular with troops during the war, often being cut into personal neck scarves or field expedient helmet covers by ground troops. Some WW2 era parachutes were printed with a three color green spot pattern, a pattern which continued to be used well into the 1950s.As with the jungle pattern clothing, the poncho is reversible from a green dominant to a brown dominant scheme. A variant of the standard M1942 reversible spot pattern camouflage was also printed on water-repellent fabric and constructed as a poncho/shelter half.There are some mild color variations within both the green and the tan dominant versions, the differences owing to slightly different dye lots used by the various factories contracting with the US government during wartime. Produced in a variety of uniform styles as well as some articles of field equipment, the pattern was most widely utilized by the USMC in the Pacific Theater (although it did see very limited usage by the US Army operating in the ETO). Nicknamed “frogskin” by many GIs, the pattern consists of a five color, green dominant “jungle” camouflage pattern printed on one side, with a three color, brown dominant “beach” pattern printed on the opposite side. The green dapple or spot design, reversing to a tan/brown variation, began distribution to US military forces beginning in August of that year. The pattern chosen was actually designed by civilian Norvell Gillespie (horticulturist and garden editor of Sunset, Better House and Gardens, and the San Francisco Chronicle). MacArthur in July of 1942 for production of 150,000 jungle camouflage uniforms for use in the Pacific Theater. ![]() Nevertheless, the process of its introduction into the US supply system was rushed, brought about by an urgent request General D. ![]() Prior to this point, the US Army Corps of Engineers had been applying themselves to developing camouflage for military applications as early as 1940.
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