Another helmet...historical?

[Garandrew]

Chad Helmet pictures by AndrewG1957 - Photobucket

The couple I work for had bought some old properties. This was found amidst the leftover stuff.
Its an early M1 steel pot, fixed bales, sewn strap, and the shell is cammo'd, its got a liner, with 2 unit markings, one on each side, and a pin hole in front, like for a rank.
The first pic is the sewn strap, and fixed bale, the next 3 pics are the liner, the next 2 are the M1 pot, and the last is the underside of the liner..
Please LMK opinions?
Andy

Information

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[Harlan (Deceased)]

That's a nice pre 1943 fixed bail helmet. Interesting camo on the shell.

The liner is post WWII. (Probably Korean war vintage)

[VET70]

The first patch shown is for the 76th Infantry Division which fought in Europe during WW II. I don't recognize the second one.

[VET70]

I take that back. The second patch/crest is from the 304th Infantry Regiment of the 76th Division

[Johnny Peppers]

Wasn't camo tried in Europe and quickly withdrawn because of too many friendly fire incidents. The Germans used a lot of camo, so anything seen in camo was assumed to be a German.a

[Garandrew]

I was thinking, it looked more like Waffen SS than USMC.
Andy

[doncb]

Wow.a beautiful helmet, too bad it cant talk. don b in fl

[Johnny Peppers]

Wow.a beautiful helmet, too bad it cant talk. don b in fl

If it could talk it would probably complain about some kids shooting it with their .22.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

There were some hand pained helmets and most used by Marines in the pacific. It's hard to tell if the camouflage is vintage on this helmet though, but anything is possible. All the camo helmets I've seen are very simple (and usually crude). Soldiers didn't have many resources and used any paint they could find, including the yellow paint that was supposed to be used to detect poison gas.




I agree the 'bullet damage' looks like someone messing around with a small caliber for fun (Sad if this was original camo) - It ruins collector appeal.

BTW- Larger military calibers such as 8mm Mauser punched right through M1 helmets.

The liner is definitely post war. Decals can come from anyplace.

~ Harlan