Original Item: Only One Available. As used by U.S. infantrymen during the Normandy Invasion as part of Operation Overlord on D-Day June 6th, 1944, this is an excellent almost unissued condition M4 lightweight service gas mask set.

The M4 mask is in near unissued condition with supple rubber and is maker marked and dated 1944, and even has the original cardboard insert. The M6 bag is constructed from later war darker fabric which coincided with the D-Day invasion. The filter is unused and also in excellent condition. The set comes complete with all contents to include gas mask, filter, and accessories. This is a rare set to find complete as most of these masks were discarded after the initial months of the invasion. Perfect for a Normandy invasion collection!

The M4 Lightweight Service Mask was a gas mask used by the United States during World War II. The unsatisfactory weight and bulk of the M2 series masks led to the development of an improved service gas mask. In 1942, the M3 Lightweight Service Gas Mask was standardized, weighing only 3.5 pounds vs. about 5 pounds for the M2. It used the molded rubber facepiece from the M2A2 mask with the addition of an interior anti-fogging nosecup, and an improved, lighter M10A1 filter canister. The changes and improvements retained the same level of protection to the wearer as the M2 series mask. The corrugated hose between the facepiece and the canister was shortened to save materials. The M3 was manufactured from both grey rubber and black Neoprene (synthetic rubber). The Neoprene was found to become unusable in cold weather due to hardening of the mask under those conditions while the natural rubber remained flexible even in cold weather.

In 1944, the M3A1 mask was released featuring an improved outlet valve. Over 13 million of the M3 series masks were produced during World War II. The M3 series remained in use until obsoleted in 1949.

M4 Lightweight Service Gas Mask
In 1942, the M4 Lightweight Mask was standardized to add additional improvements. It had many features in common with the M3 series, including the M2A2 facepiece, internal nosecup, outlet valve, shorter hose and lighter M10A1 canister. The M4 series masks were made of natural rubber in olive drab color. The Army ordered 250,000 of the masks. A modification to the outlet valve resulted in the M4A1 Lightweight Mask in 1945. The mask was obsoleted in 1949.