This guy's site is about the tops in painting US Army figures in WW2...
M1942 paratroop jump jacket and trousers - These items sometimes appear as a light or dark green color in product box art, which is wrong. Use an Armor Sand or SAC Bomber Tan. The large reinforcement patches on elbows and knees were sewn onto many, but not all, airborne uniforms; the color varies from a dull light green to gray-green. Some of the cargo pockets on the trousers were also trimmed out with reinforcement strips in these shades as well. You can also paint the tie strips, which helped secure the supplies in the large pockets, this contrasting color.
http://www.usarmymodels.com/guidetopainting.html
http://www.usarmymodels.com/UNIFORMS%20EQUIPMENT/PARATROOPER%20AND%20GEAR/paratrooper.html