US M1942 PARATROOPER PANTS ORIGINAL WW2

This is an amazing, hard to find, American WW2 Original M1942 Paratrooper jump pants.  We brought this back with us from Normandy, France this summer.
 
The M42 was mostly worn by Paratroopers assigned to Airborne units. It would have been worn by either the 82nd Division, the 101st Division or the OSS (Logistics Support to Special Operations in Europe or in this case the French Resistance).  We are leaning to it being a jacket worn by the OSS as there was no insignia on the jacket, which the OSS were know to not normally wear insignia .

The M42 color is Olive Drab #3.  These trousers have four internal pockets and two large patch pockets located one on each thigh. The thigh pockets are also closed by two button snaps each.

Pants have a size 30" waist.  Note: There are 2 missing buttons on the waist band of these pants.  Pants are of the earlier style.  There are a few small marks on it but overall great shape, we believe it has been worn.  Note also that the bottom of the pants have a piece of additional material sewn in after issue, so possibly a field repair.

Inside of the waist band is the marking D9856.  Also the pants are marked P787 on the inside band.  Also marked on the inside of the pants is a hand written name:  Oforani - possibly the owners name.

Due to the somewhat fragile nature of the uniform, the M42 was often reinforced with thicker, tougher canvas on the elbows, crotch and knees. However, this example was never reinforced. The M42 was mostly worn by Paratroops assigned to Airborne units. The M42 was eventually phased out in favor of the M1943 uniform, which was a darker green, OD #7. Despite this, various individuals chose to keep their M42s also.  

See the original M1942 Paratrooper jump jacket that we bought with this pants as a set:  JACKET