Overalls, Tank Crews, 1942

Ron,

thank you for the reply and for putting me right, I should of course have said the winter of 44/45.

I note Dick Taylor used your photo in his book Ron, would you have any objection to my making use of it when I write up my research? Properly accredited of-course,

Pete

 

Sorry VP, missed this question earlier. Suffice to say I have in my possession a Regimental Journal from 1945 which clearly references the term Pixie suit. I also have a War Diary from October 1944 which inlcudes a drawing of a chap in a Pixie suit and underneath the term 'Zoot Suit' is clearly written. As our cousins across the pond would say, it's a slam dunk buddy! When I write-up my research all will become clear and these, and many other myths, will be clearly debunked, with varifiable references!

Just the little tidbit of the Denim Tank Suit and the Pixie suit being used in conjunction with one another was a revelation. When I read that in the Nat Arch's a huge light bulb went on right above my head and it was all I could do to stop myself from slapping my forehead and yelling out loudly, "Of Course they were!". If you know both suits you understand why it makes so much sense! You also understand why they modded the design for the Jungle Tank suit to include a back door device for ablutions. Getting out of one of these suits to take care of business is bad enough but getting out of two is worse, which is what one trooper found in a Normandy Orchard one evening, when he inadvertently filled the hood of his pixie suit with that which he wished to be parted from. When a German Panzerfaust team tried to stalk his tank in the evening gloom he was forced to pull the suit up quickly and the 'inevitable' went all over his head and down his back!

 

Pete
With regard to your using any postings that I have made on this forum, no problem whatsoever, and you are very welcome
Ron

 

They didn't call it 'Arromanche' during the war, actually. They called it 'Arromanches' , just as they did before, and afterwards

What is this life if, full of care, we have no time to sit and nit-pick ?

 

Hi,
No ventilation at all at the armpits - if you need any pictures of this or any other features just ask.

Cheers

Alistair

 

Ron, thank you very much, it is much appreciated!

SSSSS!!

Alastair, that's very interesting mate. I can see from the files that they had completely forgotten to put these airholes in the suit and they were trying to get the shipment to the Middle-East halted so they could add them. There was one of these suits for sale at WD Militaria a couple years back and his did have airholes under the arms. At this stage it's difficult to say if they managed to retrieve the entire production run to add airholes or if they only managed to add airholes to a few sample suits. I'm sure the info is in one of the files I haven't yet finished working through and if/when I find it I'll be sure to feedback to you and let you know how rare it is to have airholes..., or not!

Pete

 

So what type is the chap on the right wearing?

2/Lt Harry Dews, 3rd Battalion Royal Tank Regiment, friend and Harry's Comet tank on the North German Plain 1945.

 

He's wearing a Oversuit, Tank, 1943. Known in some units as a Pixie Suit and in other units as a Zoot Suit or Zuit Suit, most seem to have simply called it a Winter Tanksuit, which distinguihed it from the summer Tanksuit which was made of a light-weigh green denim. The winter suit was made of an"L.30 Tank Overall, Cotton Oxford Cloth, Angola lined" with another layer inbetween. It was designed as a replacement for the greatcoat for AFV crews and was, initially, designed to go over the summer denim tanksuit. In reality the winter of 44/45 was one of the coldest on record in NW Europe and folks often wore it with every other layer they could find, including PJ's, sweater, Battledress and then the oversuit. Everyone who had one absolutley loved it and it remained in use right up to the early 70's, and in some case later. They had trails in the 1952/3s comparing the Pixie suit with possible replacements. The favoured suit was based on something called Fiberthin and when compared to the Pixie suit for soaking tests (hosed down the poor sod wearing it) it was entirely soaked through in something like 3 minutes 12 seconds whilst the good old Pixie suit resisted total soaking for 7 minutes and 26 secs. Outside of this there was nothing of major difference between the two trial suits and the Pixie suit with the exception that the Fiberthin suit was about 2 llbs lighter than the Pixie suit. Obviously there was a heck of a lot more to the tests than just this but that's as much as I picked up as I sped through it seeking references to the design committee for the older suits. Still the fact that the Pixie suit continued in use as long as it did is indicative of just how good it was!

 

Looks like a S&W or Colt in his holster.

 

Some Pakistan made repro winter Crewsuits , "Pixie Suit" are available for US$280.

 

Canuck, the fellows in the upper left are Canadian, aren't they? I know I've seen the picture before. Nice plaid on the fellow on the left (edit: 1st Hussars, Jan 45, PA-140901)

P.S. is that technically a Mackinaw jacket or not?

 

All Canadian except for the colour shot.
1st Hussars
South Alberta - Cpl. Blackie Levers with the Schmeisser
Governor General's Foot Guards, and here too:



Yes, it is a Mackinaw. Usually it was red plaid for hunting but I doubt someone in a war zone would wear that bright a colour so it could be green.

The one shown below is also classed as a mackinaw. Cdn army issue ww2. The US and French armies had their own versions as well and I've seen them called a Barnstormers coat too.

 

My personal favourite.
A Canadian with coveralls, rubber boots and a thousand yard stare:

 

Looks like a Buffalo to me.

 

Canuck

Water Buffaloes ?

We used them in the closing stages of the war in Italy, as my diary reminds me..........

Go have a look at my posting No.3 in this thread:
"Fantails" used in Operation "Goldflake" - 1945

Ron

 

3RTR near Dinant, Ardennes. Christmas Day 1944.
Dad is back row, second from right.

At least they look quite warm.

 

SDP
What a super pic !
Guard it with your life and see that all your family have a copy.......
Ron

 

World War 2 British Tank Crewman paintings by Graham Turner

...has some details.

And...



Royal Tank Regiment crewman, 1940 Ref: BTC-1

Royal Tank Regiment crewman as he would have appeared early in the war, wearing battledress and with a small box respirator in the alert position on his chest. Around him are uniform and equipment details, including a selection of helmets, weapons and Royal Tank Regiment and Royal Armoured Corps beret badges.

Gouache painting by Graham Turner - image size 13"x 17" (33 x 43cm)


Tank Crewman in North-West Europe, winter 1944/45 Ref: BTC7

British tank crews continued to wear battledress until the end of the war, but by the winter of 1944, most had been issued with the "pixie suit" coverall, which could be worn instead of battledress, or over it.Around the main figure are details of weapons, radio set, rations and other items of equipment.Gouache painting by Graham Turner - image size 13"x 17" (33 x 43cm)