Cold-Weather Clothing
.
Overcoats
.
.
| For protection against cold weather,
Army Nurses received different types of overcoats to wear with their service
uniforms.
A blue overcoat was issued in conjunction with
the blue service uniform. The overcoat was made of dark blue covert wool
and was equipped with a removable liner.
The full length, blue wool coat is double breasted
with a convertible roll collar and notched lapel. The back has one pleat
each side of the center seam. A separate belt is closing in front
with a buckle. Two inside hanging pockets finished with vertical welt openings
are placed below the belt. |
...... |
Overcoat, Wool, Covert, Blue,
Removable Lining, Nurse
.
.
|
.
Overcoat, Field, Women's, Officers'
.
| After the Army had introduced the olive drab
service uniforms for nurses, an olive drab field overcoat made of cotton
poplin was issued to be worn with these new service uniforms.
Right Picture:
A parka hood could be buttoned
on the collar. The ample hood space was provided in case the nurse needed
to wear a large helmet. |
v |
|
..
.
The coat was made of wind resistant,
water repellent, cotton poplin with a removable liner. It has a double-breasted
front with belt, convertible collar and slit pockets. |
....... |
.
The buttoned-in wool liner had
a rayon shoulder lining and binding around all edges. It was designed for
use also as a dressing gown. |
.
Overcoat, Wool, Women's, Officers'
.
| The heavy weight double breasted overcoat
introduced in late 1944 was cut exactly like the enlisted WAC women's,
but equipped with shoulder loops.
The inverted box-pleat in the middle of the
back was held by a half belt with two buttons. It had two slash pockets,
a convertible collar and storm tab.
Note the overcoats is equipped
with plain plastic buttons. |
...... |
 |
.
Raincoat, Parka-Type,Women's
.
|
|
.. |
For rainy weather, Army nurses received a
raincoat.
The parka-type raincoat was made
of coated fabric. It had a straight cut and 5 button front with inside
storm fly.
The material prevented air circulation.
Therefore, the coat was equipped with a couple of holes below the armpit
and ventilated on the outside with a shoulder yoke across the back. Nevertheless,
perspiration was collected inside when the coat was closed. |
.
Capes
.
For wear over their hospital uniforms, Army Nurses
were issued wool capes. At first, the wool capes were blue with maroon
colored piping. After the introduction of the olive-drab service uniform,
an olive-drab cape was provided.
.
Cape, Wool, Covert. Blue, Nurse's
.
The dark blue, wool covert cape
with maroon wool lining has a high neck collar with button closure
|
.. |
Cape, od, Nurse's
.
The olive-drab wool barathea cape
of double fabric should give warmth and drape. The collar was buttoned
with tab closure. |
..
Jackets
.
| Initially, there were no special field jackets
for women who had to wear men's clothes as substitute.
For example, wartime pictures show Army Nurses
wearing the men's winter combat jacket. This jacket was also called the
"tanker jacket" because it was originally issued to armored units. |
...... |
Two of the first Army Nurses
to land at Normandy wearing the men's winter combat jacket. |
.
Jacket,
Combat, Winter (Tanker Jacket)
worn with wool knit cap
|
|
Side View
|
.
|
... |
Jacket, Field, od
(M-1941)
Additionally, Army nurses were issued a short,
combat jacket of windproof, water repellent cotton poplin with flannel
lining and with button and zipper closure.
It was the same jacket issued to men as M-1941
Field Jacket.
(A slightly differing female
version of the M-41 field jacket was adopted by the Marine Corps Women's
Reserve.) |
..
| Since the M-1941 jacket had proved unsatisfactory
under field conditions, a new model of field jacket was designed. This
M-1943 jacket was procured in a female version that was similar in its
general features to the M-1943 jacket issued to men.
Jacket, Field, M-1943, Women
.
made of wind resistant, water
repellent cotton fabric. Unlike the men's M-1943 jacket, the breast pockets
and fly front was omitted while a button front was included. Additionally,
the female version had an inside pull string at waist height for adjustable
fitting. |
..... |
|
.
|
|
...... |
Hood, Jacket, Field, M-1943, Women's
.
made of same material as the
jacket. It was designed for wear over the head with or without the wool
knitted cap or the M-1 steel helmet.
The hood was small enough to
fit in the pocket of the jacket when it was not used. |
.
|
Liner, Jacket, Field, M-1943, Women
The jacket was worn as a liner
in conjunction with the M-1943 field jacket for extra warmth.
It was also suitable for wear
over the sweater and the wool waist. Equipped with knitted rib collar and
sleeve cuffs, button front closure and slit pockets.
The officer's version (like shown
on the photo) had shoulder loops. |
...... |
|
.
Field Trousers
.
|
|
..... |
Trousers, Women's, Outer Cover
made of wind resistant, water
repellent cotton fabric. They were worn over the wool liner for fieldwork
and outdoor wear in cold climates. The trousers had adjustable button closing
on back of waistband and on the left side. Tapered leg closure for close
fit under overshoes and leggings. The pattern was introduced in July 1943.
.
Details of the
Outer Cover Trousers
.
|
.
.
| Trousers, Wool, Liner, Women's
made of wool. It has knitted
rib cuffs at the ankle and a button closure on the right side.
Probably, the liners had the
closure on the opposite site than the outer cover trousers for better protection
against wind and cold. With the different closures, both hips were protected
by complete covering on each side. Additionally, the different closures
prevented bulkiness on one hip side caused by two button closures on the
same side.
The wool liner was worn under
the outer cover trousers for extra warmth. The liners were designed too
short for regular and long leg length. |
..... |
|
.
In the end of 1944, revised outer-cover trousers
and wool liners were introduced.
The ski trousers pattern was converted to
a slacks pattern. The authorization of the revised outer cover and liner
trousers came too late in the war to have any further effect for the female
Army personnel during the war.
.t
|
|
... |
Trousers, Women's, Outer Cover
(revised version)
.
Unlike the previous version,
the outer cover trouser had straight cut legs and rear buttons on waistband
for adjustable closure.
.
.
left side button closure
.
|
.
Trousers, Women's, Wool, Liner
(revised version)
.
The new pattern without knitted
rib cuffs and straight cut legs could be worn alone or under the outer
cover trousers for extra warmth. Like on the first version, the button
closure was on the right side. On the photo, the liner wool trousers are
worn with the olive drab wool shirtwaist and necktie
.
right side button closure
|
... |
|
.
Field Uniform
.
|
|
.. |
In WWII pictures, one can see Army Nurses
serving overseas wearing the following combination of cold-weather garments
and personnel equipment presented in the picture on the left side.
M-1 steel helmet, M-1943 field jacket, outer
cover trousers, leggings and WAC field shoes.
Additional personal equipment included a canvas
field bag held with M-1936 suspenders, M-1936 pistol belt, canteen, first
aid pouch and gas-mask carrier. |
|
