The History of: The US Military Mitchell Pattern (Part One) | Uniform History

Come gather around and enjoy part one of our short series in which we cover the Woodland camouflage patterns of the United States Military. In this first part we will be covering the somewhat mysterious reversible camouflage pattern simply referred to as The Mitchell Pattern.
Music by: www.juliancrow...

[@Andrew-yn5rq]

For those interested or looking for the origin of the name Mitchell Camouflage, my grandfather Mel Mitchell was the inventor of the Mitchell pattern as far back as the 1930’s. He was a commercial artist in New York and got involved in with the development of camouflage for the war department in the 1940’s and 50’s. As kids we grew up with both the green leaf and brown cloud pattern and helmets and jackets that my grandfather had stored in his basement. Marine maneuvers were performed in the Mitchell camo suits on the beaches on Long Island.

[@brandeneese2407]

Please tell me if your grandfather holds a copyright for this pattern. I want to make one shirt for myself and can't have it printed without a release. I would appreciate hearing from you. Thanks. Brande

[@mauriciogomez5694]

Que interesante , tu abuelo es parte de la historia de las fuerzas armadas de EE.UU . Debes sentirte muy orgulloso , mis felicitaciones por tan interesante historia y tan notable familiar.. Saludos cariñosos desde Chile 🇨🇱 ✌

[@jamesdeek7039]

That's so cool!

[@warweasel2832]

Not to be too skeptical, but it would be really great if you could find some documents or other written proof of this, so that this information could be preserved and added to the wiki entries for this pattern. Even just a document from his commercial services more generally would be amazing.

[@haley746]

@@brandeneese2407buy it from China 😘 there are commercial print fabrics available

[@huntclanhunt9697]

We need reversible patterns again.

[@jeff7.629]

The Marines used to have a saying, "Green side out, brown side out, run in circles, scream and shout!"

[@Mishn0]

I have heard the first half of that saying as, "when there's worry, when there's doubt".

[@michaelscott8567]

The WW2 camo pattern seen on marine marines helmets, etc and the current Australian Army camo (Which has been in use since the mid 80's) pattern are very similar.

[@JeepWrangler1957]

I do disagree with the camo pattern being successful with the Marines. It was only used for a brief period. The troops hated it because it was so hot. They went back to the herringbone

[@haley746]

@@michaelscott8567the ADF is now using AMCU, which is a multicam variant 😩

[@yakitoly7461]

Can you please make video about Czechoslovakian and Czech uniforms?

[@toradora1439]

Yes, we need this.

[@jakubmatta6642]

Definitely. Vz. 60, Mlok, Mrácky (clouds), Dubáky (liebermuster), and the tarp camos.

[@TheCleansingx]

Oh man, 90's footage and instantly we see Kevlar helmets and GI glasses! lmao

[@SSN515]

BC Glasses!

[@Alemikkola]

The Finnish M05 would make a cool video, as it has the woodland, snow, cold, desert and rare urban versions. Also the Russians made a quite good copy out of it.

[@phil_cassidy]

I've seen and worn the woodland, cold, snow and desert versions (blame the desert on warehouse jaegers). I didn't even know there was an urban pattern? Ja ny ku isämmaalaisittain puhutaan nii mentäskö torille?

[@LAHFaust]

Russians copying a camo pattern? Nooooooo never!

[@nukkumatti9587]

About finnish m62 camo!

[@dongblak7048]

Desert AUSCAM looks like it was based on the Brown Clouds Pattern and has the same grey blotches included.

[@ReviveHF]

Probably that's the missing link between AUSCAM and Brown Clouds Pattern, since Australia did sent troops to South Vietnam where they took opportunity to evaluate the camo pattern before came up with their own ideas.

[@thriddy8191]

I always thought of it as a combination of Brown Clouds and Duck Hunter.

[@Parsekh_G]

Great video man! Could you please make a video about the greek lizard camo pattern? I think it would make an interesting topic, as it is somewhat unique.

[@josef3072]

the original lizard pattern is french big dummy

[@Parsekh_G]

@@josef3072 Yeah, but there are many versions depending on the country and its terrain, flora etc. Maybe there could be a series about this camo pattern family.

[@hardremer33]

Swedish m90 is a very different and intresting pattern. Would love a video about it

[@Trav_Can]

I wish the Mitchell Pattern(s) would make a come back. The green "oak leaf" Mitchell is my favorite camo pattern ever.

[@zackscott903]

Didn't know the Mitchell camo was used in desert storm

[@jiroyoshida6617]

I’d really love to read more about the Mitchell pattern myself, especially about it‘s use by other nations and so on. I’d appreciate it if someone might tell me where I can read more about the Mitchell pattern.

[@miniggodd7922]

Wouldn’t mind getting a video on the history of the frog skin camo of WW2 and another on the various types of tigerstripe

[@julietlima5564]

Cant wait until they cover the Tiger Stripe

[@SSN515]

It was never official and you couldn't wear them outside of Nam, Laos, Cambodia, or Thailand. They were made local by Mommasan's and such. I was told, years ago, that they started out as a French in country issue during the Indochina War.

[@laughsxgiggles]

WWII US Frogskin camo soon? (Army and Marines)

[@AlcerusOfficial]

I own a Vietnam era helmet with a Mitchell helmet cover. My dad was an MP at the time and that was the helmet he acquired along with his black MP helmet

[@thenetnewb]

I've been waiting for this. Great work! While I'm excited about ERDL and woodland what about P42/P44 frogskin? I've been having a tough time finding info on America's first real military pattern.

[@ponraul1221]

Can you do a video on the M1 Helmet itself?

[@Szala45]

Hey, I don't know if it's correct clue but back in the days I was using Mitchell's paints for my models. I bought them in Poland in mid 90's, model paints imported from USA if I remeber correctly. Try it maybe they were used for prototype camo as they were painted by hand on trials.

[@kylelaughinghouse1893]

U might be onto something

[@jic1]

I don't know if that's the real reason, but I like it anyway.

[@blackore64]

I am kind of interested in the uniforms used in 1984 film adaptation from well, 1984. Especially the helmets, I have seen people claim they were russian helmets, and sell supposadly film-used helmets which were Czech Vz. 53:s, but I am very suspious of military equipment still in use in eastern bloc somehow ending up in Britain for movie productio . The shape does not simply match either. The rivets and shape seem closest to Swedish M37 helmets.

[@thepicklegambit6226]

Can you do a video on WWII era frogskin camouflage?

[@cammobunker]

In USMC Boot Camp in 1982 we were issued Mitchell Pattern Helmet Covers from the 1960's. Once I got to the Fleet it was mostly ERDL until the PASGT helmets came out. I never saw a Woodland M-1 helmet cover in the Marines. I know they existed for the Army though, and some Marine units may have had them. I also know that Mitchell and ERDL helmet covers served side-by-side in the fleet for a long time.

[@LAHFaust]

I've seen M1 M81 covers, though I don't believe they were American. The helmet was... I want to say Austrian or something?

[@cammobunker]

@@LAHFaust US M1 Woodland covers were absolutely made and issued; I've seen many. For a time in the Late 90's and early 2000s they were everywhere in surplus stores and adorning many an M1 Steel Helmet. Search ebay for "US M1 Helmet Cover" and you can find numerous examples sprinkled in with all the others.

[@m1keshatter]

THANK YOU FOR STARTING THIS SERIES, I've been wanting you to make a series about the m81 woodland.

[@thesturm8686]

Hey, are any of your videos cover the "science" behind camouflages, or are camos just made by matching color and shapes with an environment?

[@andrewcooper7143]

They should have called oak leaf fall and oak leaf spring.

[@renaissancemarinetv3536]

looking forward to this series on the best camo pattern the u.s. has ever had.

[@1joshjosh1]

Canada was even rocking these on their M1 helmets from about 1975 to about 1986'ish. Then the Woodland took over, but not completely. Then we got our new Kevlar helmets with the Cad-pad.

[@MrEvanfriend]

You should do the Marine Corps pattern from WWII - and specifially, its relationship with the Australian "jelly bean suit", which looks almost identical.

[@TheAmateurHobbyist29]

You should do the uniforms of the movie of Beast of No Nation!

[@theburgernoder2441]

Most of them are mixed and matched. I think Agu used the m56.

[@rhoelfernandez]

Can you also do a piece on tiger stripe camo? More power! 8 )

[@od1452]

68 through 71 we wore the Mitchell pattern helmer cover. it was reversible .. green in summer brown (cloud) in winter.. sometimes the green side didn't have the vines as the cut of the piece didn't have it. During the Korean war... some wore a green od helmet cover.. I don't know how prevalent but I got the idea it was kinda rare. The marine covers might be a topic for the future.

[@edgedsharp6081]

Awesome video again Uniform History! You guys are doing your homework and it's very enjoyable to learn something from your videos :)! Keep going!

[@nightwalker9828]

Please make a video about indonesian special forces camo pattern

[@aleksi_s3465]

Could you possibly do a video on the finnish m62 camouflage pattern as it has quite a lot of variations through out the years and it isn't talked about almost at all.

[@6Alpha-yankie_novemberdy2n]

In jungle warfare. All camo paterns become, black beyond 60m.

[@AZSP1966]

Which countries military is that with the burgundy berets and green uniforms @ 0:38 seconds and what pattern camo is that?

[@lhpl]

If I understand correctly, the Mitchell/Vine pattern was first used by the USMC? What about the U.S. Army? This Big Picture movie kzbin.info/www/bejne/oaa6kJipqch5eMU shows Berlin Command soldiers in training, in what must be very soon after 1961, judging by the M48A1 tanks and M59 APCs, wearing a camouflaged helmet cover. There is a very clear shot at around 17:04, and again at 17:11. I can't tell from the B&W image whether it is the brown Mitchell, or something else. Were Mitchell M1 covers in use in Berlin in 1961?

[@robertshriver9723]

At 6:46 you can see Robert Mitchum examining an M79, February 16th 1967

[@mel87059]

I was given a mitchell pattern utility cap and beret along with frogskin pattern udt style swim shorts with side zipper all appear to be made in country by a Japanese tailor all ink stamped 86-v, came from an 82 year old man that served in the air corps and Vietnam as a marine. Interested what something is worth all together as there is few examples.

[@Delta82]

You forgot the other name woodland pattern has.... Gods plaid!

[@harosokman]

I really looking forward to the upcoming vids

[@BakuninsGeist]

Vietnam related Question: Why have wear the Vietcong black? I have not found an answer yet. Can you make a Video about the Vietcong Uniform and why the wear black?

[@utahraptor4729874]

Do a vid on NVA Strichtarn

[@bobafett1877]

I have a suggestion for the next video: the uniforms worn by the Spaceballs.

[@mrsmihthydaop1828]

The indonesian units that used the vine leaf camo was not airborne units allthough some of the did use it for shorts period of time the main users of the vine leaf is the indonesian kostrad from the 1970s to the 80s ( because in the 80s indonesian armed force used the dpm for the whole armed forces until the 2000) in the 1990 the camo was popular again an saw used byb some indonesian soldiers

[@caritzstahl1284]

Hey man,great video as always! I love that you are now covering the Woodland camo. It would be nice if you could cover the various chinese camo patterns that are now in use, once you have finished this series of course. Keep up the good work

[@Vespuchian]

Is there record of the 'clouds' pattern being produced in other colours? It seems a fairly good, generic set of shapes that could be colour-matched for various environments.

[@jic1]

The old Australian woodland AUSCAM was somewhat similar.

[@superjake1919]

Have you done a video on frog skin camo from WWII? I would love to see it if you have.

[@stang3787]

sure to check out kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKO4pZ1vbbOWq9k

[@robertw4230]

I wore the Mitchell pattern on my steel pot that I was issued and never knew what it was called.

[@BUBBA808]

Everybody gangsta till the trees start speaking Vietnamese

[@Sturmdude]

What's the story with the guy who had a plastic bull strapped to his helmet?

[@paullemieux3371]

Sorry german of waffenss hade the first camo

[@cursedmonkey1033]

Why in Vietnam did they have it on only the helmets and not the uniforms?

[@Sir-Vivor]

I really love it because it’s reversible

[@TenShine1productions]

Any chance on UK DPM/DDPM and MTP?

[@homelandfighters8541]

Malaysian army camo please

[@JeepWrangler1957]

My helmet cover was this one

[@paulwolf2775]

When, I can dig it out, I have a camo pattern helmet cover, and M-1 helmet. I thought that it was U.S.M.C. World War 2 but could be wrong? I got it many years ago at a yard sale, sometime, back in the early 80s? Anyway,the series is very interesting. Looking forward to more. Btw. I have a pair of Rhodesian camouflage pattern, pants. Found them years ago. They no longer fit, but I refuse to part with them, lol.

[@atfjacknz]

Very cool video, I only really just found this channel, and I am really enjoying it. Could you also do a video on NZDPM/NZDDPM and/or MCU's

[@edgedsharp6081]

Awesome video again Uniform History! You guys are doing your homework and it's very enjoyable to learn something from your videos :)! Keep going!

[@robertwaynefathurrahman]

Marine Frogman Pattern

[@elokall4148]

Hello, thank you for your videos, a video about bulgaria and northkorea would be interesting.

[@yogabbawabba_4793]

Its the Frog Pattern

[@jed-henrywitkowski6470]

Saltwater and sweat rendered the USMC camo used in the Pacific useless.

[@lol-ti6rq]

Hmm, why does he sound like Covert Cabal?

[@travpots6318]

Good job

[@TheMaineiacguy]

Very interesting stuff. Thanks for the video.

[@christianguzman8228]

We had some of this camo pattern with some old-school laser tag equipment at Ft. Jackson.

[@thurin84]

great info!

[@TheIndogamer]

Is it possible to have a pair of Vine Leaf Crye G3 All Weather trousers?

[@AbcAbc-sg6fp]

im not sure if you can find info about it but can you make a video of camouflage patterns used by the turkish army?

[@louiskeeling163]

history of British and her commonwealth camos!

[@nopinkeyfinger]

What about Frog Skin camo? IIRC, that was America's first foray into camouflage.

[@WWIIman1942]

@Projekt:Kobra That's a myth. A very widespread myth. There's no proof that says that.

[@WWIIman1942]

@Projekt:Kobra They didn't have records in Alexander the Great's time like they did in WWII. In WWII they reported and recorded everything because all information was vital. This includes death reports which told who died, when, how, and why. If guys were being killed because their camouflage uniforms made them appear as German soldiers, don't you think there would be a single report about it somewhere? Especially seeing that this camouflage pattern was used heavily in France by the famous US 2nd Armored Division. I understand where you're coming from, it's just that nobody has ever found any official government documents, records, reports, or first hand accounts that said that guys were being killed because their camouflage made them look like Germans.

[@WWIIman1942]

@Projekt:Kobra No, honestly I haven't read every report. And I doubt that you have either. The myth was most likely created by a boomer who was talking out of his ass. Just like the whole "hitting en bloc clip off helmet to make Germans come out" myth. Lots of "historians" make stuff up as they go due to an absence of info. If someone were to be killed by friendly fire, Im sure it would've been reported, but they mightve neglected to bring forth justice to avoid losing a helping hand on the front. However, I do agree with the possiblity of someone stating that it could happen. Perhaps thats the origin of the myth and the lack of proof of it ever actually happening. Perhaps it was someone saying that it may happen, and then as it got strung down the line, it turned into "it did happen". Just like the whispering game that we all played as children. That's a very plausible possibility. Much like you said, about the casualty expectancies for Operation Downfall. I'm glad to have had the opportunity to have a civilised debate on this subject. Discussions like this are very important when a case like this one arises. I'm also glad that we put our heads together and found some common ground on the subject.

[@WWIIman1942]

@Projekt:Kobra You as well.

[@mauriciomartinezmartinez5343]

Hello i always been a lover of the us armet forces uniformes espacialy the vietnam uniform era and de 80s woodland i used this one wen i was in the military in colombia nacional army very nice to wear the ladies love

[@syhaidar7489]

British dpm camouflage please

[@Jordan_Code7]

I hope you cover tiger stripe before you get to God’s plaid

[@johndowe7003]

VSR Russian camo, orange for emergency responders

[@tristin6995]

Maybe Billy Mitchell? As a homage to him like the B25

[@nortor100]

Swedish kingsguards please

[@dominikheiderer9161]

👊🏻

[@shadowwolf7622]

I was issued woodland camo BDU's in July '82, along with a woodland helmet cover, at Ft Sill, OK, when I began US Army basic training. The class across the road from us, who were 2 weeks ahead of us, had OD green pants and shirts and Mitchel helmet covers. All the classes behind us had woodland.

[@sinisterthoughts2896]

Great video as always

[@ApophaticCartesian8]

The coolest looking camo pattern in history imo.

[@tombrown5280]

agreed. just iconic.

[@jic1]

The brown side is cooler than the green. I wish they'd just used a green cloud for the woodland side, like an updated duckhunter or a prototypical AUSCAM.

[@007kuntasod]

I've never clicked so fast after sawing uniform history uploading

[@YR7A]

*seeing

[@MONEYPYROgaming]

So recently I got a Mitchell cover for my M1, since I've started collecting Vietnam gear and uniforms. I showed one of my buddies, and he really liked both patterns, the green and brown sides. He went on to say "This (the brown side) looks like grandpa Multicam. I bet it would've done really well in the desert. Actually, why didn't we just use this as our desert pattern? It probably would've done really well". And surprisingly, that was a good question from him. I mean, the first desert pattern the US had after that time was Chocolate Chip, and that turned out pretty bad. So what if they did use the brown side of the Mitchell pattern?

[@Riceball01]

The "chocolate chip" pattern wasn't actually that bad, it was just unsuited for the deserts of the Middle East which were more sandy than the rocky deserts of the US that the pattern was originally designed for. It's like saying woodland MARPAT is pretty bad because they don't work in the lush green forests of Canada when it was designed for the browner forests of the US.

[@pyeitme508]

SO COOL! Please make videos about the uniform used in the Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon series?

[@nathana.4752]

I think that's just multicam, but there is a video on that pattern

[@pyeitme508]

@@nathana.4752 I know but wish he can make this video about Ghost Recon.

[@lucahindelang5237]

Please do one about the austrian armys Camos

[@AEIOU05]

Whilst i agree, i think that this would be premature. The new camo pattern was introduced 1.5 years ago, and is still only worn in one base in Styria at this point. If you're talking about the pea camo pattern on the other hand it might be enough for a short video. And a video about the plain coloured "Anzug 75" or "Anzug 03" would be pretty boring.

[@lucahindelang5237]

@@AEIOU05 what about the k4 camo?

[@Kriegter]

Pls make video about German erbsenmüster

[@FIREBRAND38]

Do you have a link to that 1962 camo report? Thanks.

[@nunyabusiness4904]

Thank you so much, I know I've commented on more than a few of your posts asking for M81 woodland and it seems that Christmas has come early.Never will I ask anything if this channel again as my prayers have been answered, now all I will have to do is enjoy your content.

[@matthewpham9525]

TIGER STRIPE

[@demonprinces17]

Was issued helmet cover in 80's.

[@spirosstav838]

Hmmmmmmmm lizard camo

[@mikhail6518]

The brown "cloud" pattern reminds me of the Soviet "Butan" camo.

[@williambeavers9046]

4:48 Elon Musk? >.>

[@Davepat117]

I love your videos man. One of my top youtubers! Keep it up!

[@randycheow4268]

I always thought the marines still used WW2 era camouflage helmet covers during the Vietnam war according to footages seen during the battle of Hue because it looked very similar

[@warpartyattheoutpost4987]

I was U.S. Army '96 to '98. I look forward to seeing part two of this series when my old BDU pattern shows up. Cheers!🍻

[@YR7A]

why only 2 years?

[@jkhstudios5224]

You should do some Russian patterns after this series.

[@Riceball01]

That would be a lot videos since the Russians have a ton of different camo patterns, like one for every branch (infantry, artillery, armor, etc.) within each branch of service; or so it seems. But it would be interesting and would give him video material for a long time to come.