US Army Paratroopers in Operation Overlord, that is members of the 82nd or 101st Airborne Divisions, would have been equipped with combinations and variations of the standard clothing, equipment and weapons listed below.

Due to the large amount of equipment that they carried, many paratroopers had to be assisted in boarding their transport planes prior to a jump.

The CC-2 anti-gas paste used to treat the soldier's uniforms resulted in greasy and foul smelling clothing that many of the men were forced to wear for many weeks after the invasion.

The pictures below show examples of the kit carried.

Click on an image to enlarge.
Pictures by kind permission.

 

The US Paratrooper would wear and carry a combination of the following clothing and equipment. The list does not take into account items carried by Pathfinders, Engineers, Medics and Signal Troopers.

 

Clothing:

• M1C helmet and liner (optional netting)
• M1941 watchcap (knit wool)
• M1942 jump jacket
• Shirt (wool or herring bone twill)
• Undershirt (crew neck t-shirt or tank top)
• M1942 jump trousers with cargo pockets (wool, herring bone twill or cotton)
• Belt
• Gloves (horsehide)
• Socks and long underwear (wool)
• Corcoran or Goodrich jump boots, or M1943 buckle boots
• American flag armband (82nd only)
• M1940 identification tags

 

Equipment:

• Parachutes:
  • 1 T5 main parachute
  • 1 reserve parachute
• Anti-gas supplies including 2 gas detection brassards (one worn, one stored in M7 bag)
• M7 rubberized gas mask bag
• M5-11-7 assault gas mask
• Extra gas detection brassard
• M1928 haversack (Gliderborne only, equipment carried elsewhere for regular paratroopers)
• Rations: 3 "K" rations, 3 "D" rations, 4 ration heating units and water purification tablets
• Raincoat
• Blanket
• Shelter half
• Shaving kit
• Personal effects
• M1926 mess kit (meat can) with pouch
• M1910 entrenching tool or M1943 folding entrenching tool
• M1936 musette bag (replaces M1928 haversack)
• M1936 or M1916 pistol/revolver belt (officers)
• M1936 suspenders
• M1923 .30 cal 10-pocket cartridge belt (supported by M1936 suspenders)
• M1910 canteen and cup (with M1910/M1942 cover)
• 1-3 M1942 first aid pouches
• M1938 map case (Officers)
• Bandoleers (2)
• Ammunition (for appropriate weapon)
• 1-4 blocks of TNT (quarter or half pound)
• Compass (Officers)
• Binoculars (Officers)
• Cricket (101st Airborne)
• USAAF B-4 "Mae West" life vest
• Escape and evasion kit (Officers)
• Parachute First-Aid packet

 

Weapons:

• M1 Garand .30 calibre rifle
• M1A1 or M2 .30 calibre carbine
• M1903A4 sniper rifle
• M1A1 .45 calibre Thompson submachine gun
• M1A1 or M9A1 bazooka
• M2 parachutist "switchblade" knife
• M1918 knuckle knife
• M3 trench knife (M6 or M8 scabbard)
• M1 bayonet
• M1911A1 .45 caliber pistol (Officers)
• M1918A2 .30 caliber Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR)
• HMk-II Hawkins No. 75 mine

 

Grenades:

• 3-6 Mk-II A1 fragmentation grenades
• 1 M15 white phosphorous grenade
• 1 M18 coloured smoke grenade
• 1 red smoke grenade
• 1 gammon grenade
• M19 60mm mortar
• M2 60mm mortar

 

Total Weight often = 100 lbs