Description
Physical description
Trousers
Trousers made of lightweight cotton and printed in six colour desert colours of sand shades; dark brown and light brown; and white shadowed in black speckles.
Label
Adopted in the early 1980s, This type of camouflage pattern was first worn in action by US Forces in the 1991 Gulf War and commonly known as the 'Chocolate Chip' uniform, comprising; jacket, trousers, bush hat and helmet cover (officially it was termed Desert Battle Dress Uniform - DBDU)
This pattern of camouflage was not entirely successful with the troops that wore it, the design being too 'busy' and not as practical in the desert as at first anticipated. The DBDU was soon replaced by the 'Three Colour DBDU (see UNI 12608), from 1992.
This item was passed to the Museum when objects were being sort for the American Air Museum in Britain project at IWM Duxford from 1993. Master Sergeants McElligott & Christovale, both resident staff of the USAF NCO Academy at RAF Upwood, passed this and many other USAF items to the Museum shortly before the base was closed and the unit dispersed.
History note
Adopted in the early 1980s, This type of camouflage pattern was first worn in action by US Forces in the 1991 Gulf War and commonly known as the 'Chocolate Chip' uniform, comprising; jacket, trousers, bush hat and helmet cover (officially it was termed Desert Battle Dress Uniform - DBDU)
This pattern of camouflage was not entirely successful with the troops that wore it, the design being too 'busy' and not as practical in the desert as at first anticipated. The DBDU was soon replaced by the 'Three Colour DBDU (see UNI 12608), from 1992.
This item was passed to the Museum when objects were being sort for the American Air Museum in Britain project at IWM Duxford from 1993. Master Sergeants McElligott & Christovale, both resident staff of the USAF NCO Academy at RAF Upwood, passed this and many other USAF items to the Museum shortly before the base was closed and the unit dispersed.