User:Njones10/sandbox

History
General George Patton designed a prototype uniform for American tankers in 1940 while stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia as commander of the Second Armored Division in December 1940. Intended to both bring esprit de corps and be a practical uniform for Soldiers who had to get in and out of tanks quickly, the uniform became affectionately known as the "Green Hornet," the main character of a radio show from the 1930s.

Patton's Green Hornet prototype uniform is now located at the General George Patton Museum of Leadership at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Description
Patton's Green Hornet uniform consists of a single-breasted, mid-waist length jacket made of heavy cotton with a standing collar and 12 button front closure. The jacket buttons go up at an angle on the wearer's right side with regulation small eagle buttons and has button-down epaulettes on shoulders. The standing collar is 5.8cm tall with front opening, collar, and epaulettes edged with 1/8" medium to light green cord. The coat stylecuffs have the same cording around them, pointed at outside and with two decorative eagle buttons. An edged slit in lower left side of jacket is for a saber strap. The epaulettes have two white, 5-pointed stars embroidered. "U.S." embroidered in dark yellow are on both collars. A Second Armored Division patch is sewn on the left breast. The interior is lined with tan cotton.

The uniform also has a pair of full length trousers constructed of heavy, dark green cotton with button fly. The waist is extremely tall with no belt loops. Six button hidden fly with two buttons at waistband (one hidden)hold the trousers closed. A long strap & buckle at the back of the waist allows for adjustment. There are patch pockets on front of each leg at the thigh with smaller patch pocket at outside of leg, just above the knees. Each has a pointed pocket flap closed with single button. A 19cm long slit on outside of each leg with zipper closure allows for easy dressing. A 1/8" wide medium to light green bead down outside of each leg, going under the pockets. Additionaly, there are six suspender buttons on inside the of waist and single buttons on outside of left leg, 6" from top.

Significance
Throughout his career, Patton used his intellectual agility and innovation to give himself and his troops an edge in battle. Although this uniform was never adopted by the US Army, it is an example of his willingness to try something new.