1944 PHILA. Q.M. DEPOT SPEC. P.O.D. 317-A HORSEHIDE OVERCOAT

[mmitch]

I recently purchased (eBay) a 1944 PHILA. Q.M. DEPOT SPEC. P.O.D. 317-A HORSEHIDE OVERCOAT.
It was listed as: “US Army / USAAF officer’s full length double breasted trench-coat; it features an original belt and OD blanket liner. It was probably issued to high ranking officers due to the fact that this US Army trench-coat was quite expensive to make...”

Can anyone shed some light on the history of these coats? Who were the issued to and Why?

 

[PADDY]

Photos please.

They always help!! also it's great eye candy for any of us WWII jacket geeks Welcome Aboard!!

 

[Story]

Of related interest

http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20715FE3455157B93CBA81789D95F408485F9

OVER COATS START ARMY'S NEW NEEDS; 1,375,000 Sought for Delivery by April 30 Following Shop Freeze Order
E-MAIL Save
December 19, 1944, Tuesday

An invitation from the Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot for bids on 1,375,000 Army overcoats, received in the industry yesterday, is regarded by observers as indicative of several new procurements on uniform items, following the worsted freezing order as well as the freeze on civilian goods production in overcoat shops.

Imagine trying to supply that many horsehide overcoats, during a war (and after mechanization, most of the US Army's horses had been sold to the Turks)!

There's a French website that has some very good writeups of WWII US personal equipment and uniforms, but I can't remember the URL.

PS
Flip thru these books, next time you're in a good bookstore.
http://www.amazon.com/U-S-Army-Uniforms-Korean-War/dp/0811729524
http://www.amazon.com/U-S-Army-Uniforms-World-War/dp/0811725952