Spanish Legion and Paraciadista Spot uniforms

I was lucky enough to get my 4th example of this very rare pattern. Much to my surprise it turned out to be quite different! I'll discuss that in my second post. First, the four types I have:

1. M69, medium cotton twill. No stamps or tags that I can find, just a small size tag in the neck.



2. M76, heavy cotton twill. Paraciadista quarter master stamp.



3. M76, light cotton. Paraciadista quarter master stamp.



4. M76, light cotton. Embroidered Legion epaulettes.

The M69 jacket not only has different features than the M76, but it is a different printing. The M76 types use a dark green for the most dominant color, but the M69 jacket uses a light olive drab. The M76's dark olive drab is instead a light green on the M69. the background color is a little more mustard yellow on the M76 types vs. the very light tan on the M69. Both use black in the same way.



Steve

My goodness, those are so obscure, I haven't even heard of rumours of their existence.

You've got to have the most extensive collection of Franco-era camouflage in the world..

Great finds of course and if you have any that are surplus, I've got a largely unused kidney on standby.

Thanks! I've had some amazing opportunities over the years when, fortunately, I had money available. The latest spot shirt addition was a complete fluke, though. I didn't even know what it was until it arrived!

Steve

You should post those in the bragging right section...

I knew about one variant, but had no idea they had so many variants... But i guess it makes sense considering how many versions they have of their other patters as well.

Really beautiful uniforms

BTW, not surprisingly the Legion jacket's badges are real, but not correct for the time period. The rank, jump qualification, and unit also are at odds with each other. I'm probably going to pull the badges off of it.

The experimental Woodland type, which predated the standard issue by several years, also comes in two different cuts. Or perhaps more.

Steve

I recently got a swallow tail hat in this pattern with a Paracaidista stamp inside. Here it is:





Also, here's a link to another thread about these uniforms. Some information and a few pictures not posted here:

https://iacmc.forumotion.com/t491-rare-spanish-fleck-camo-uniform

Steve

There are some Paracas experimetal sets rounding the world.... if stamped that´s one. The problem with that type of camo design is that there was a hunter commercial pattern quite similar to that. Even some Boel members used one of those Bonnie hats. But THEY WHERE BOUGHT OUT OF UNIFORMITY BY THEM. There are too many curiosities of Boel uniformity...the UNOFFICIAL ONE.

Best

Yes, I have one commercial shirt. The colors are different and the construction is terrible, so it is obviously not a real item But you are saying there are other commercial pieces that are similar to the military ones (other than boonie hats)?

I am not surprised that BOEL soldiers used many personal items not issued by the Spanish government. That is normal for special forces and frustrating for collectors like me. I do not want an item from a store shelf, I want one only from real soldiers. But sometimes it is very difficult to know the difference

Steve

When pre boel was formed (UOEL) they really run out of almost everything, in very early moments even weapons. So they had to manage by themselves , everyuseful thing was used. Neverending story.

Best

Thanks for that info! Yes, never ending story for sure! "You are part of a new elite unit, but we forgot to buy stuff for you so grab what you can"

My father was in the 503rd Parachute Regiment when it was still independent. This was around 1960. They were still using WW2 weapons, radios, and pretty much everything else. That is because he was stationed in the Philippines and Okinawa. If he was in Europe he would have had new stuff.

When they ran out of things they would form a raiding party at night and go "shopping" at a big naval base. I am sure the navy guards at the gate had a lot of very nice Sake in exchange for going to the bathroom at just the right time

Steve