US M1 Helmet

RCS, I am curious about your net cover. Which era did it come from and who issued them. I have pictured a camouflaged mosquito net cover that was given to me by my old platoon sgt. in 1975. He served as a Marine in Vietnam and was issued two of these covers. He was told that they were Korean war issue, which made sense because he was with the 1st contingent of Marines sent to Vietnam. He said he was issued two but his first day in the bush tore one to shreds so he stuffed his second net in his duffle bag. I have never seen a camouflaged mosquito net cover until I saw yours. The pattern is different but it is a similar net.
Attachment 106153

Attachment 106164Attachment 106165Attachment 106166Bear, I got this net cover from a man that was in a US infantry battalion in the mid 1960's in the states, not overseas. He told me the entire unit had them.

This was some years ago and maybe these covers were from Korea ?

Does yours become a mosquito net or is it just a netted helmet cover?
Mine can roll down as a mosquito net and cover the face. Even has a draw string to cinch around the neck. If one buttons their collar around the neck it provides a fair amount of protection.
The draw back is the weak construction in the bush, it tears too easily.
Attachment 106195Attachment 106196

My cover is very thin and without a mosquito cover - I am certain my cover is before Viet Nam

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BEAR

The draw back is the weak construction in the bush, it tears too easily.

---

Those were never designed for heavy use anyway. Ours had a solid top and were just for sitting still. You know you'd never be able to see or hear properly when wearing one patrolling or doing fire and movement... RCS' looks like it was cut from a head net and altered to be a helmet cover. I didn't use them, just bug juice, and I had to bathe in it...

I believe this two tone helmet net might be from the UK ? I have seen photos of American and Canadian troop preparing for the invasion of Kiska in the Aleutian Islands (1943). The Canadian troops have US M1 helmets with this net as well as US troops also with the M1 helmet and the same net. The Canadian troops are armed with the Lee Enfield No 4. Any additional information ?Attachment 106198Attachment 106199Attachment 106200

I had a substantial quantity of that netting back in the 70's when I found a vehicle net that was being tossed out, used to be for a jeep I think. It was small...we'd gone to a completely different type for vehicles and these sat gathering mold. They dated back farther than anyone wanted to admit, I think WW2, we had lots of stuff that did.

Point being, I think those helmet nets were made from vehicle nets and formed by the men themselves. Even if you have it done division wide...after all Patton had his guys wearing neckties in action through general order, so how hard is it to direct the units to sacrifice a few vehicle cam nets? That's what the material looks like anyway.

A few years ago Sportman's Guide had GI surplus helmet nets that they sold in lots of (3). I still have one of them on a helmet pictured below. I figured they were probably from WWII or Korea, but not sure. I may still have the sales receipt with the description of them - I'll post if I find it. - Bob

Found the Sportsman's Guide sales slip for those surplus helmet nets. Just says they were "Military Issue." - Bob