What winter jacket did General Patton wear?

[Naphtali]

I wasn't clear whether to put my query here or in the OUTERWEAR forum.

I have seen photographs of George Patton where he wears an "Ike" jacket. But in winter he wore what appears to be some sort of sheepskin jacket. As far as I know, excluding the Army Air Corps, the US Army issued no sheepskin jackets. Being a general officer, though, Patton could have probably worn a lamp shade without anyone making a fuss.

What was the winter jacket Patton wore?

 

[MrBern]

Let the identificationating begin!

Credit: U.S. Army Signal Corps. "George Patton as Lt. General." March 30, 1943. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress.

 

[Hawk_Eye]

Having not seen the picture(s) your talking about, I cant say for sure, but I wouldnt be surprised if he wore a B-3. Being one of the top US Generals it wouldnt have been hard for him to procure one. Montgomery wore a sheepskin himself, an Irvin he got somewhere along the line from the RAF.

EDIT: lol, Mr. Bern, you posted that as I was writing this, looks like I was correct.

 

[Guttersnipe]

HA HA HA!

....Patton could have probably worn a lamp shade without anyone making a fuss.....

Good one! Patton was quite the snappy dresser. I'm pretty sure ivory handled six shooters weren't standard issue either - 3 star general or not.

It seems to me I've seen pictures other American Tankers wearing similar sheepskin lined jackets to that one in the picture. The USAAF issued a sheepskin other then the B-3 at some point during WWII if I'm not mistaken. Maybe it's that one?

 

[Naphtali]

I cannot see the ends of Patton's cuffs. Could he be wearing a B-4 or B-6? It appears, perhaps, too bulky for a B-4. But the B-4 doesn't have exposed wool at the bottom either? So I guess it is a B-3?

 

[Daniel Hunter]

I found a better picture and I believe it's a B-3.

 

[H.Johnson]

Yes, a modified B-3 (eppaulettes etc). And look what the guy on the right is wearing!

 

[MrBern]

Yes, a modified B-3 (eppaulettes etc). And look what the guy on the right is wearing!

Even Patton's tanker coveralls were modified w/ epaulettes!

In the Movie, George C Scott has a scene where he mused over a uniform he once designed. Green leather & gold buttons & Gold football helmet. Patton loved his flash.

 

[Spitfire]

lol lol lol
This guy looks like something from Flash Gordon!!!
Hillarious.

 

[BellyTank]

Many (non-USAAF)US Generals and senior officers wore flight jackets.
Perk of the perch.

I've seen Patton wearing a Tanker jacket with eppaulets.


B
T

 

[Smithy]

lol lol lol
This guy looks like something from Flash Gordon!!!
Hillarious.

With all due respect to Patton, that is exactly what I thought lol

I think the B-3 and regulation helmet was a better way to go.

 

[Daniel Hunter]

You've gotta love his choice in sidearms.....

Nickel plated Colt SAA with ivory grips.

 

[MrBern]

well, he certainly was a character. And that does look like a uniform out of an old Flash Gordon movie.
But keep in mind his generation & the older aesthetic looks out of place to our eye.

his 1910 wedding photo

 

[Teekay44]

His troops called him the "GREEN HORNET" for the comic book/radio character when he wore that outfit.

 

[PADDY]

B-3

B-3 flight jacket. Quite the satorial character - he'd fit in well on TFL.

 

[H.Johnson]

Let the identificationating begin!

Credit: U.S. Army Signal Corps. "George Patton as Lt. General." March 30, 1943. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress.

OK - this is a photo of Lt. General George S. Patton, Jr., Commander, II Corps, viewing troops south of El Guettar, Tunisia, 30 March 1943. Following Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa in November 1942, Patton had just been made Lieutenant General and placed in command of II Corps in Tunisia on 6 March 1943 following the American 'disaster' at the Kasserine Pass.

If Gen. Patton were to be a member of the FL, there are a few questions I would like to ask him...

 

[Edward]

Do we have any close-ups? I'm not sure whether I'm seeing epaulettes on that B3, or simply the rank insignia attached to the shoulder of the jacket (painted on, maybe?). What I dont't see are the sticky-up, short flaps that the later B3s had to attach insignia to. If memory serves, some of the very earliest B3s had a full epaulette(?), so perhaps it is one of those. And, of course, as a general he could presumably afford to have one modified, as suggested.

 

[H.Johnson]

Edward,

The modification is that the epaulettes (the 'sticky-up, short flaps') are removed from Gen. Patton's jacket, nothing added. Officers normally wore their 'pips' (or whatever they call them in the US) on the 'flaps. Perhaps the Lt. General is showing that one can't fit three stars on a small square flap... If you look carefully I think you will see that the stars are painted on.

There is a famous painting ('Bastogne') of him in the same jacket that is possibly taken from this painting.

Do we have any close-ups? I'm not sure whether I'm seeing epaulettes on that B3, or simply the rank insignia attached to the shoulder of the jacket (painted on, maybe?). What I dont't see are the sticky-up, short flaps that the later B3s had to attach insignia to. If memory serves, some of the very earliest B3s had a full epaulette(?), so perhaps it is one of those. And, of course, as a general he could presumably afford to have one modified, as suggested.

 

[Lone_Ranger]

Even Patton's tanker coveralls were modified w/ epaulettes!

In the Movie, George C Scott has a scene where he mused over a uniform he once designed. Green leather & gold buttons & Gold football helmet. Patton loved his flash.

Look at Patton's background. Back in his day, the French were looked at as cavalry experts. A lot of the US cavalry officers had attended the French cavalry school at Samur. If you're designing your uniform with that tradition in mind, the French cavalry uniforms of the 19th century were known for being flashy.

Cavalry uniforms of the 19th century from all European countries were flashy, with a capital F. They were the fighter pilots of the day. Especially light cavalry, Hussars, or Uhlans. Dolman jacket with elaborate braid, and a pelisse slung over the sword arm.

http://militaryhorse.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7552&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=20

German Life Hussars (Pre-WWI) Nice hats


http://www.3rdcuirassiers.org/outfitting/outfitting.htm

French Cuirassier (Napoleonic)

 

[Lone_Ranger]

Even Patton's tanker coveralls were modified w/ epaulettes!

In the Movie, George C Scott has a scene where he mused over a uniform he once designed. Green leather & gold buttons & Gold football helmet. Patton loved his flash.

Look at Patton's background. Back in his day, the French were looked at as cavalry experts. A lot of the US cavalry officers had attended the French cavalry school at Samur. If you're designing your uniform with that tradition in mind, the French cavalry uniforms of the 19th century were known for being flashy.

Cavalry uniforms of the 19th century from all European countries were flashy, with a capital F. They were the fighter pilots of the day. Especially light cavalry, Hussars, or Uhlans. Dolman jacket with elaborate braid, and a pelisse slung over the sword arm.

http://militaryhorse.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7552&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=20

German Life Hussars (Pre-WWI)


http://www.3rdcuirassiers.org/outfitting/outfitting.htm

French Cuirassier (Napoleonic)