I have been collecting off and on for 50 years, and have found 4 crash crew helmets with the very early "Gold Leaf" adler decals, and one with a "droop tail" bird, but this is my first complete standard M34 Crash Crew piece with a standard second pattern bird. It isn't in the best shape, especially the bird, but it has one of the rarer chinstrap configurations, with the American patented Tuck-Tite quick release buckle, 4 point attachments for the strap, and the sliding short pieces of the strap. By this I mean that the 2 short pieces of the strap can slide on the arc of the loops to which they are attached, much like the chinstraps of an American M2 Paratrooper helmet can slide over the arc of the "d"-bales characteristic of that style shell. The liner is very well made, with a thick dome pad, and METAL brackets at the 4 attachment points of the strap. This helmet once had a comb, which was removed. The holes were not filled in. Not mint by any stretch, but a neat prewar fabricated piece. Hope you like it. Jim G.
The Crash Crews were the Luftwaffe fire brigades at the airfields. Typically they were issued M34 helmets with double decals, a Luftwaffe Adler on the left and a Tri Color on the right. Most of these have a characteristic horizontal white stripe around the circumference of the shell, just above the break between the apron and the dome, but some don't, like this one with the prototype "Gold Leaf" Adler decal.
Cricketchris AKA. Chris, Has one also but his computer is still down and I am unable to find his link.
Just spoke with him, and he should be back online in the next few days to add what I think will be a very short list of these from members.
But it will be great to see them all together on one thread!
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