Help with WWII M1 helmet

[Bill Hollinger]

Folks, I need some help with a WWII, front seam, fixed bale M1 helmet.

That is what I know I have. It is a rather unique helmet in that it has a rank insignia on the front. The rank is of a full bird Colonel. There are some numbers on the inside of the nape strap that place it around October 1943 (CSC W11-009-QM. 16876) as best as I can figure. The helmet has 542A stamped on the inside behind the bill but no "S" so I'm assuming it is a McCord Radiator. The liner is a Westinghouse with their logo and a 1-9 above that.

Possible name L Adams or P Adams???
Possible hand written numbers are:
2?06827 (on the outside of the nape strap) ???2206827 on the liner between the nape strap and the head band.

There is a vertical white band 1" X 3" on the rear and the silver bird on the front. It looks as though the bird is a collar or epaulet insignia that has been attached through two small holes . The bird is off gig line by about 5/8" to the right.








Now I'm not going to say what I paid for this helmet but let's just say I should be facing a judge

Because there were not a huge number of full bird colonels running around is there any way to research using the numbers (maybe service number) and name cross reference? I've searched and can't come up with anything. Maybe someone has more helpful information? As I come up with more I'll update the post. TIA

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[RCS]

Bill, An officer will have a service number starting with a 0 while enlisted will start with different numbers which you can pin point: drafted, Nat Guard, reg army etc

The liner is easy to change with the helmet too

Both the helmet and liner are nice WW2 items

Robert

[Bill Hollinger]

We believe the 2?06827 may start with a zero but I think that would be one number too much. We may just be seeing things too since we both have been staring at this thing all day trying to figure it out! The liner was stuck inside the shell and when I got it out the gunk and water marks, slight rust left foot prints on both shell and liner. I believe the liner and shell are a match but it is so difficult to really tell. They have been together for many many years though.

Anyway, thank you Robert.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Bill,

That is an OUTSTANDING find! It's early WWII and valuable! (Plain 'fixed Bale' helmets alone bring a premium!) The liner is from the same early period as the helmet... (Later WWII liners used an adjustable nape strap)

There are many fakes around these days with 'Follow Me' stripes added on the back and sometimes rank insignia on the front. People fake them because originals are so valuable of course.

Yours appears to be quite original! I've viewed many original helmets and the real ones stand out from even the best fakes even using advanced artificial aging techniques. It's funny, but when viewing the best fakes, you kind of scratch your head with some wondering, but when you see an original's natural aging compared to other originals you've seen the originals leave no speculation.

Having the insignia off-center and the stripe a little crooked actually adds to the originality... Most ALL marked helmets were done at a local unit level. Many were done by the original user. (Officers often had a private or someone else do the work) -- There were never any Military standards of how the markings were to be applied... Just general ideas. Paratroop helmets with playing card markings on the sides were done freehand mostly, some used stencils but few were very perfect. They were often done by soldiers as a punishment like 'KP' so the 'artist' wasn't overly motivated!
Most fake helmets you see today have 'perfectly' shaped and centered markings, and that's a red flag to begin with.

Most people don't realize it, but many marked helmets were repainted after the battles or actions were over, and many more (most) were repainted after WWII. A lot of the Jr. officers who had bars painted on the front and knew they would be going into battle removed their rank markings before the battles so they didn't stand out from the others.

[Bill Hollinger]

Harlan, thanks for the information. My take on the off gig suggests to me a possible field promotion. The left side hole mounting the bird is dead center and to me would be suggestive that a lieutenant colonel cluster was there and when the rank of full colonel was made whoever mounted the bird just used the one existing hole and poked another hole in it. Also, I am almost sure this bird is either a collar or epaulet insignia. To me even more evidence of a field or unceremonious promotion.

I paid $50.00 for this helmet. I bought it for one reason and that was to turn it. It's on eBay right now and I'm shocked at where it is and especially with the number of days left. eBay item #271428619167.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

$50??!!! HOLY COW!! You STOLE that thing!

[lkgmadmax]

Wow it sold for 785.00, now that's a nice return on the 50.00 investment!

[browningautorifle]

Very nice return. The new owner's probably tickled with it too...

[Bill Hollinger]

Yes he is. The buyer is in France and he was so excited when he got it. His emails to me were very flattering