http://www.objectionable.org/440thtcg/filthy13.jpg

As you can see in that pic, the soldier on the right has a pocket on his upper forearm, while the soldier on the left does not. I have seen other examples of these pockets, and you can even see them on a few people in BOB. I'm wondering how common it was and if it was a field modification or a special uniform that I haven't heard of.

it was up to the units quartermaster to outfit the troopers with whatever they wanted...the pockets were merely sewn on where they were needed. It gives us a little leeway to create custom models. Nice ref pic by the way.

Anderson

no, i think the arm pockets were on the reinforced airborn uniforms? maybe we could get Capt. Higgins to set us straight.

Ever think that the pocket could only be on the left sleeve of the uniform? hence the trooper with his left side facing the camera, shows the pocket and the trooper with his right facing the camera hides the pocket? :D

That looks like a "rigger" uniform, and not a standard issue uniform. The paratrooper probably got an extra pocket from the quartermaster and sewed it onto his sleeve. These sort of rigger jobs were common for paratroopers... Including sewing a carbine pouches onto the E-tool covers, and creating their own ammo pouches that slide onto their belts from scratch.

the quartermaster was a troops best friend as they could customize your uniform to your liking....an extra clip or two or three in a pocket they sew onto your uniform was always a welcome thing.

It's a field modification. The pockets were normally removed from trashed jump uniforms and for the most part sewn on by the troopers themselves (although I'm sure a rigger could be bribed with a couple packs of smokes to do it for you.)

Like most modifications there was no real rule, basically it was whatever the trooper felt he wanted and not all chose to add extra pockets to their uniforms. Spare breast pockets which were the smaller of the two types on the M42 were normally sewn on the sleeve, and it does seem many were sewn mainly on the left sleeve. If you look closely at a jump jacket you'll also notice there is a left and right breast pocket, you see a mix of both types sewn on. I also know of at least one case where a paratrooper had a pocket sewn onto his left arm, then took two pockets of a cloth 6 pocket ammo bandoleer and had them sewn to his right sleeve to hold his cigarettes.

The larger lower pockets were also used, but were sewn on to the tail at the rear of the jump jacket. There were also all sorts of rigger modified field gear. One example which I've copied myself for reenacting is a spare ammo pouch sewn onto my shovel cover. It allows me to cary an extra 5 enbloc clips for my M1 in a place that's out of the way.