M1 Garand and M1 Helmet Pictures

[Harlan (Deceased)]

These photos were taken in 1940 and show a Fort Benning soldier modeling two new experimental helmets in a firing position with the new M1 Garand rifle. This is one year before the start of the U.S. entry into WWII and it demonstrates that even at that late date the U.S. Army was still trying to determine what would replace the U.S. M1917A1 that was still in service at that time.
(National Infantry Museum)

This is the TS-2 helmet which would eventually be further refined and designated the iconic M1 Helmet




This is the same soldier but he's wearing the Model 5 helmet that was the other helmet that was under final consideration at the Fort Benning trials.


It's difficult to imagine U.S. soldiers looking like Spanish Conquistadors while storming the beaches at Normandy but it almost happened.

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