I'm posting to pass on some info that I received from Mark Bando, a noted WWII historian.
Mr. Bando as written numerous books on WWII history and is the webmaster of Trigger Time; a web site dedicated to the 101st Airborne, their histories, equipment, and stories.
He has helped me greatly in sculpting my Bastogne Paratroopers
http://www.101airborneww2.com/
Jason,
Will respond to each of your questions, as best as I can:
Would it be fair to say that uniforms were mixed at the time of the Bulge with a mix of jacket styles? M42, M43, and blanket lined M38? Many film sources show a long heavy coat being worn over the top of the uniform.
The jackets you listed were worn,as well as M41 field jackets, tanker jackets, sleeping bags with leg holes cut in them, Mackinaws, and anything else available that was warm. The 41 jackets were usually worn in conjunction with 43 jackets, in the layering principle, which was a much used concept in the WW2 ETO. Many paratroopers did not have a long brown overcoat when they went to Bastogne. Some did, but only wore them in their foxhole, when sleeping at night. Those coats were left behind during attacks, when men had to move fast.
Some troops went to Bastogne with overcoats, but were ordered to take them off when going into an attack, and they never saw them again. 1st Bn 506th marching up to Noville and I/501 attacking Wardin (both on 19 Dec., 1944) are 2 examples of that, which come to mind.
Would it be accurate to use 2 styles of brown boots; the M42 jumpboots, and the later boots with the ankle flap? or is one style more likely at this time?
Both types of boot were worn in the Bulge, with 2 buckle combat boots in the majority
Would the men be wearing the pants that had the large cargo pockets on the legs and would they have the web tape ties at this time?
Both M42 tan jump pants as well as green M43 pants, with rigger-applied pockets were worn at Bastogne. I have photo evidence of that. Also, tan pants were sometimes worn in combination with green 43 jackets. Rigger-modified 42 pants had rigger-applied tie downs, and so did M43 trousers. But many troopers cut those tie downs off, as they considered them a nuisance. So depicting either type of jump pants with or without tie downs would be a reflection of what was actually worn.
Would they be wearing D-ring helmets and would any of them have the netting on them at this time?
By late 1944, probably less than 50% of the paratroopers were still wearing D bale helmets-this because of factors like prior combat casualties, loss/damage from earlier fighting, replacements arriving with fixed bale helmets, etc.
Hope this helps Regards, M. Bando
Trigger Time