Helmet Collection
I'm new to the forum and figured I'd share my collection with the members here. I've posted many of these helmets elsewhere so some may have seen these helmets before. I've been collecting for about 2.5 years at this point and focus mainly on US helmets and ordnance (espescially training ordnance). I try to have a little bit of everything in my collection but the main focus at this point is the WWII/KW eras. I'll write a little info about each helmet and and highlight a few of my favorites. Unless otherwise noted, the nets/chinstraps on these helmets were added by me for display.
Up first is the main display
Starting from the top shelf going left to right, up first is a late 50s/early 60s USMC helmet. It consists of a FS/SB McCord, late war westinghouse liner, and WWII 3rd pattern cover. It has a unit roster/property number painted on the rear of the helmet, liner, and on the beach side of the cover. This one is salty in all the right ways
next is a very early FB with 1st pattern Hawley liner. This helmet came from a lot of helmets from the USS San Francisco that were being sold online last year. Unfortunately, due to poor storage the Hawley has become very warped but is still completely intact and still manages to retain its chinstrap after all of this time
third on the top shelf is another early war helmet with 1st pattern General Fiber liner. The liner itself is not in the best condition but considering the very limited number of 1st pattern General Fiber liners I can't complain. The helmet belonged to Emery Herbert Hapworth, who served as a Seabee in the USNR. Mr. Hapworth served stateside during the war after a prexisting back issue was aggregated during training. The shell is marked "E. H. Hapworth" inside and both the shell and liner are stamped with his initials.
Last on the top is a very nice condition early war McCord. This one has an early Westinghouse liner with rayon webbing. Save for the liner sweatband, the helmet is in fantastic condition. The helmet and liner are also both named to "Lange".
Starting the second row is very excellent conditon late war Schlueter. Outside of some minor storage scuffs the shell is nearly in mint condition and the liner is in nearly perfect condition. The napestrap and chinstrap were both added by me to finish the set.
to the right is another late 50s/early 60s USMC set. This one is a set I put together with a 1953 blue anchor cover.
Moving on is a mid WWII FB. The helmet and liner are both named to "Smith, G.A". Based on the name I believe this one is either USN or USCG
Last in the second row is a RS/SB Schlueter. I believe this one to be KW era. On either side of the helmet is an upside down red triangle with a blue T in the center. I've not been able to identify these markings
Up first on the 3rd row is a very salty FB Schlueter with shore party markings on the front/rear. This is my only helmet without a liner as the inside is rusted to the point that it will not easily accept one
Next is a FS/SB McCord with an overpainted NCO bar. This helmet has seen a lot of use with the post WWII chinstraps being field repaired at some point. I've paired this helmet with a KW era 5th ID NCO liner.
Next are two of my M1917A1s. Both of these helmets are from the McCord production run rather than being a refurbished M1917. The one on the left has a camo paint job that appears to be on top of a blue repaint. It also has the last name "Brown" painted under the rim. The other M1917A1 has red Captain's bars painted on the front. The chinstrap is named to a "Robert Price". I may have a partial ID on this one but I don't have enough to be sure.
On the bottom row we start with an early war FS/FB McCord. I believe this helmet to have a war time repaint. The J hook is tied on to the chinstrap. Overall this one has a nice look.
Next is my M3 Flak helmet. Outside of a dent near the crown it's in fantastic condition, retaining almost all of the original paint and 95% of the original flocking.
Finally there are my two M1917s. The first is named to Carroll Clifford Stander, a Wagoner in the Medical Department, 339th Ambulance Co., 310th Sanitary Train, 85th Division. I don't have enough of Mr. Stander's records to come up with a definitive reason why the helmet has the III Corps insignia on it, but it's possible he transferred do a unit under the III Corps at some point during his service.
The other M1917 is unfortunately missing its liner but still retains its chinstrap.
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Next up is one of my side displays
The top row consists of a RS/SB Schlueter with taped captains bars/follow me stripe. I'm not 100% on the originality of the markings on this one but it still displays well.
Next is a post KW era helmet. The helmet is named on the inside to Billy L. Colvert (RA 14363494) and then to Theodore R. Clinkscale (RA 15266720). Mr. Colvert served in the Korean War as a private. From my research I believe Mr. Clinkscale was a Spec/5 in Battery A, 21st Artillery during Vietnam. The AAD death files lists him as passing away on January 29th 1964. I'm not entirely sure what the marking on the front is, but it seems to be obscured by Mr. Clinkscale using his laundry stamp.
Last one on the top is a late WWII McCord with double J hook. This helmet came with a post KW liner with a 78th ID decal on it. I've added a canadian two tone net for display.
Second row consists of a 50s era M1C. Due to it being painted red I believe this was may have been used as a cherry jump helmet.
Next is a front seam, manganese rim swivel bail Schlueter navy helmet. The liner is KW era with a VN era sweatband.
Last are my two Vietnam era helmets. The one on the left came to me as a set and consists of all 1965 or earlier parts. The one on the left is a set I put together with a liner given to me by a friend.
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by PaddyD00
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