11th Airborne 187th PGI Jacket / Insignia Group

A group comprised of the Japanese-made jump jacket and related insignia of a member of the 187th para glider infantry of the 11th Airborne Division.

The jacket is an olive green cotton jacket based on the design of the M42 jump jacket, with two upper chest pockets and two lower pockets, all with flap covers with snap closures. The jacket is closed by a zipper that is, interestingly, reversed from the standard American configuration, so that the pull is on the wearer’s left side rather than the right. The jacket is belted and the belt has a large integral buckle in the design of the U.S. Army Paratrooper badge. On the left shoulder is the American made patch of the 11th Airborne Division, while on the right shoulder is the Japanese made patch of the 187th Para Glider Infantry Regiment, embroidered on wool. Both patches are nicely cross stitched to the jacket, as is the Japanese-made paratrooper wing oval on the left chest. The badge on the jacket is a pin back sterling glider infantry badge. The jacket is fully lined in white silk. There are a few spots on the jacket which are not at all really noticeable and the jacket itself looks immaculate.

The insignia that is part of the group consists of four pieces of Japanese-made insignia:

– A massive embroidered jacket patch for the Headquarters Company of the 2nd Battalion of the regiment, worked in silk and wool with bullion thread borders. The patch is approximately 11 inches long by 11 inches wide overall. There are losses to the number “8” and the letter “G”.

– An oversized shoulder patch for the regiment, Japanese made, in silk and wool. The patch is about 3 1/2 by 5 inches in size, executed in neon colors of pink and lime green.

– Glider Infantry badge, pin back, marked “Sendai Japan.”

– A heavy man’s bracelet, marked “Silver”, with insignia of the 11th Airborne Division and dated “1947”.