Organized in preparation for the Allied liberation of Europe, Jedburgh represented the transition from Allied support of resistance in a clandestine sabotage/intelligence mode to active belligerence against the German occupiers. Representing a collaborative effort between the American Office of Special Services, the British Special Operations Executive, the French Bureau Central de Renseignements et d'Action (Central Bureau of Intelligence and Operations) and other European clandestine/intelligence services, Jedburgh assembled small teams of men well-versed in airborne operations and European languages, and put together a group of three to four man teams (typically consisting of officer native to the area of operations, at least one American or British officer, and an NCO radioman of any nation, provided he had the skills needed). Like previous OSS/SOE operations, these teams were airdropped in occupied territory to link up with resistance forces already in the field. But unlike their predecessors, who typically arrived in civilian clothes and virtually unarmed, Jedburghs hit the ground in full military kit, armed and ready to lead patriots into harms way. In particular among their equipment was their field radio, dubbed the "Jed Set", capable of two-way communication between the partisans in the field and headquarters back in London, a quantum leap in connection over what the partisans had before, allowing them to report on enemy movements and request material support virtually in real time. While also deployed into the Netherlands in support of Market Garden and Occupied Asia, the lion's share of Jedburgh operations were in support of the Normandy Invasion; around 93 Jedburgh units were dropped into France shortly before and immediately after D-Day with varied results; many connected with the partisans and performed their missions as written, several died in conflict with the Germans, at least one was executed in captivity under Hitler's infamous order to terminate all commandos in contravention of the rules of warfare. Less than 300 men total were part of Operation Jedburgh. Among the Americans were a Chief of the CIA and the first commanding colonel of U.S. Army Special Forces; the former was the literal successor of the OSS, and the latter carried the Jedburgh's mission into the Cold War Era. The lot includes a jump jacket/pants set and a uniform jacket. The uniform jacket is standard army green with no maker's marks save a tag marked "REGULATION/ARMY OFFICER'S UNIFORM" in the style typically associated with uniforms made bespoke for American officers by British tailors. It has fine gilt American eagle buttons, "U.S." and crossed rifle Infantry badges on the lapels, a set of nickel plated captain's bars, and a set of silver finished jump wings. The shoulder patches are fine English bullion/felt construction, with the left shoulder bearing the "AIRBORNE" rocker and "AA" insignia of the 82nd Airborne Division, and the right bearing the signature Jedburgh patch, a bullion "SF." on a red dot with a set of bullion wings on black felt. The OSS actively recruited in the US, especially amongst the early cadres of the 82nd and 101st Airborne. Down by the left cuff is a set of 3 bullion overseas service bars, indicating 1 1/2 years afield. The jacket and pants are devoid of rank insignia or ribbons. The jacket is numbered "35B", and the pants are labeled to MacLaren Sportswear Company and the Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot. The inside of the waist is ink stamped "L555679" and "Waist 30/Inseam 32". While no ribbons or provenance are included with this uniform, consignor notes indicate a 2nd Jedburgh uniform jacket attributed to the same officer bearing the following ribbons: Silver Star (w/oak leaf), Bronze Star (x2 oak leaves), the American Defense Service Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (x5 stars), World War II Victory Medal, Belgian Croix de Guerre (w/Palm) and the French Croix de Guerre. Both jackets and jump jacket came together.

Very good overall with a torn hook loop on the jump jacket and mild wear and stains on all items. The bullion patches show a bit of darkening of the wire and light felt loss around the "AA" circle. The buttons are all solid and well-mounted. An extremely scarce piece of history from the evolution of unconventional and guerilla warfare, including the rarely seen "SF." Jedburgh patch.