U.S. Military Gloves & Mittens

Soldier of Battery C, 557th A.A.A. AW Battalion wearing gloves in winter weather, Europe, 1944-1945. Soldier is use the EE-8 Field Phone handset connected to the case on the truck
Soldier of Battery C, 557th A.A.A. AW Battalion wearing gloves in winter weather, Europe, 1944-1945. Soldier is use the EE-8 Field Phone handset connected to the case on the truck.

Today in WW II: 16 Aug 1944 Canadian troops secure Falaise, still 15 miles north of US XV Corps, a gap that permitted large numbers of German troops to escape to the east from the Battle of the Falaise Pocket.   

U.S. Military Gloves & Mittens

Gloves, Wool, OD, Leather Palm on soldier waiting to ship out at the Hampton Roads Port of Embarcation, World War II
"Gloves, Wool, OD, Leather Palm" on soldier waiting to ship out at the Hampton Roads Port of Embarcation, World War II.

Wool gloves on Pvt. Michael Swinkin of Company B, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, U.S. First Army. Photo taken near the Roer River, Kreuzau, Germany, 25 February 1945
Wool gloves on Pvt. Michael Swinkin of Company B, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, U.S. First Army. Photo taken near the Roer River, Kreuzau, Germany, 25 February 1945.

This section of Olive-Drab presents some of the gloves and mittens issued to U.S. forces since World War II.

Lying in the snow, Cpl. James Patts from Cincinnati, OH, a soldier of Fox Company, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, grips his M-1919A6 .30 cal. machine gun with gloved hands, Korea western front, 16 January 1951
Lying in the snow, Cpl. James Patts from Cincinnati, OH, a soldier of Fox Company, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, grips his M-1919A6 .30 cal. machine gun with gloved hands, Korea western front, 16 January 1951.

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Development of Gloves and Mittens in WW II

As with most other types of U.S. military clothing and equipment, there were rapid changes during World War II. Early in the war, the standard leather gloves for laborers were durable but gave little warmth. A wool mitten or poplin shell was warm but quickly wore out and was useless if wet. From this, the idea of a two layer glove or mitten was developed. The outside was adapted to the work or conditions (leather, poplin, or waterproof material) and the inner lining was wool. These patterns went through several revisions during the 1940s and are still the predominant ones used today.

Find More Information on the Internet

There are many fine websites that have additional information on this topic, too many to list here and too many to keep up with as they come and go. Use this Google web search form to get an up to date report of what's out there.

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