The M1941 field jacket is the olive-drab, waist-length jacket the US Army issued for field and combat use early in WWII. It has a cotton shell and a wool-flannel lining. It was made to three specifications, known as PQD 20, 20A and 20B, and the differences between them are the most useful clue for dating an original.
Quick checklist
- An olive-drab cotton shell, or a khaki twill substitute on some 20B jackets.
- A flannel lining; check its color and nap.
- A front zipper. Steel-alloy zippers are magnetic.
- Olive-drab 24-ligne buttons, in the right count for the version.
- Shoulder loops, which appear on 20A and 20B jackets only.
- Pocket flaps, which appear on the early PQD 20 jacket only.
- A size label and a contractor label inside the jacket.
The three versions: PQD 20, 20A and 20B
The Army tested the jacket in late 1940. The first mass-produced version was made to specification PQD 20 in early 1941. Major changes in May 1941 produced PQD 20A, and PQD 20B followed in March 1942 with substitute materials. Production orders ended in July 1943, the jacket was declared a limited standard in September 1943, and the M-1943 field jacket replaced it.
| Feature | PQD 20 | PQD 20A | PQD 20B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shoulder loops | No | Yes | Yes |
| Pocket flaps | Yes | No, slash pockets | No, slash pockets |
| Hip adjustment tabs | Two buttons | Three buttons | Three buttons |
| Underarm gussets | No | Yes | Yes |
| Back panel | V-shaped | V or H-shaped | H-shaped |
| Total buttons | 18 | 20 | 20 |
Shell and lining
The early jackets used 5-ounce cotton poplin in olive drab. Later jackets used a khaki cotton twill substitute, procured in April 1942 under PQD 20B. The lining was flannel. Early linings were dark brown, and later ones were green or olive drab with a short nap.
Zippers
The front fastener was a slide fastener made from nickel, brass or steel alloy. Makers named in the specifications include Conmar, Crown, Kwik, Prentice and Talon. Steel-alloy zippers are magnetic, so a magnet is a quick test. Keep steel zippers clean and dry, since they corrode and can jam or break.
Buttons and tabs
The buttons are 24-ligne. Early jackets had 18 buttons, including one on each pocket flap. Later versions had 20, because the shoulder loops added one button each. Hip tabs had two buttons on the early version and three on the later ones.
Labels and markings
- Size. Early jackets had the chest size ink-stamped inside the lining below the collar. Later jackets had a size label sewn in the same place, with the chest size and length printed in ink.
- Contractor label. A label sewn inside the right pocket gives the contractor’s name, the contract date and number, the specification number and the stock number.
- Philadelphia labels. Jackets made at the Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot had a similar label that named the depot and carried an inspector’s initials.
- Marine markings. Some jackets issued to the Marine Corps carry a “USMC” ink stamp inside the front facing.
Look-alikes
- Arctic field jacket (PQD 97): longer, with a cut that is fuller through the body, a cotton twill shell and a heavier kersey wool lining. Its hip and wrist tabs use sliding buckles, not buttons.
- M-1943 field jacket: the successor, made from a heavier shell of about 9 ounces, nearly twice the weight of the M1941 shell.
- Navy N-4 jacket: a simplified version without shoulder loops or the wrist and hip tabs.
- Retail jackets: jackets sold to officers in shops varied widely in quality and features, and they were not always government issue.
Wear, repairs and reproductions
Field jackets were heavily worn, and many show cuff and collar wear. Common repairs include taken-up cuffs, strapping on cuffs or pocket openings, darning, collar patches and replaced collars. Reproductions are common and are getting more accurate. Check the buttons, labels, zipper and fabric weight rather than the overall look.
Care
Dry clean rather than wash. Washing shrinks the wool lining and can ruin labels. Keep the lining protected from moths, and keep steel zippers clean and dry.