#pacific front

Tamiya 1/48 Mitsubishi A6M2 "Zero (Zeke)" Fighter (Warrant Officer Yoshiro Hashiguchi Markings - 3rd Air Group, Kendari Base, Celebes Island, March 1942)

The clothing is unique to the NZ 3rd Division and was issued to a wide number of soldiers in the forward areas for use as fighting Dress.

Up until mid 1943 most of the clothing used by NZ soldiers in the Pacific were American M1941 HBT. There were a number of incidents involving US versus NZ soldiers and insults about who dressed them. A complete scale of Pacific clothing was designed in a rush to give NZ soldiers a National identity. NZ soldiers didn't want to look like Americans.

The New Zealand khaki drill shirt and trousers were sprayed in three fast colour stain paints; dark brown, dark green and lime green. The dark green and brown were applied in irregular patches 3-6 inches long, allowing some of the khaki drill to show through and on top of these were over sprayed 2 inch diameter spots of lime green 9-12 inches apart. Each was allowed to dry so that no mixing occurred. Only the top surface was affected so that when the sleeves were rolled up the original khaki drill was evident. Under continual use the colours gave way to an overall blue-green shade and ended up lighter than the webbing. Headgear consisted of the US herringbone twill field cap or wide brimmed hat of New Zealand manufacture which could also be camouflaged. All spray painting was done by hand.

The complete suit consisted of