M3 US Army Gas Mask

One of the most common pieces of equipment issued to G.I.s of the Second World War was the humble gas mask. The M3 series gas masks, or often referred to as diaphragm masks, were designed to allow for speech and were issued to ground personnel due to concerns about potential chemical warfare. The M3 mask started production in 1941 and with some updated variations such as the M3A1 mask began production in 1942. The metal diaphragm connected to the MIXA1 or MIXA2 filter, common in American and British masks of the era. Both the M3 and M3A1 were made with rubber facepieces, adjustable elastic head straps, and hard plastic lenses. M3A1 updated the voice emitter and exhaust valve from metal to plastic components. Both masks were typically issued with a carrier bag, such as the M1VA1 or the M6 bag, to carry the mask, filter, and accessories like anti-dimming cloths.

However, chemical warfare was never used in combat on any front during war, so why were gas masks still issued? There was a real concern that chemical weapons would emerge during the war. Nazi Germany on several instances used chemical weapons on the Eastern Front on entrench Soviet positions between 1941 to 1942, and Imperial Japan used chemical weapons during its invasion of China in 1938. Besides these instances chemical warfare was never used in full scale combat, however both sides stock piled chemical weapons during the war. Essentially these masks were a precaution, which is ironic as some early mask designs were potentially deadly as they may contain asbestos.