Helmets

[BEAR]

BEAR & browning,
But back to helmets.... After my 'chute deployed over a Bragg DZ one day, I experienced an unusual sense of airy freedom around my ears. Looking down in time to see my helmet racing me to the ground, I realized what had happened.

You certainly weren't alone in that one. Not even close...

When I was a Blackhat at Benning (don't say it), we would JMPI the students before their first jump and ensure their helmets were tight. During the flight, especially on hot days, the little tentpegs would loosen their chinstraps. It would rain helmets and Blackhats would be shouting through their bullhorns "HELMET!". Fortunately, in the three years I was a blackhat we didn't have any injuries. Things usually tightened up (snicker) with subsequent jumps. Worst place for helmet losses was wintertime Alaska. The balaclava did not allow for a secure fit.

BEAR
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Information

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[browningautorifle]

The balaclava did not allow for a secure fit.

That was the original job of the "Helmet hat" with it's chinflaps. The head band was to come out and the head harness loosened to allow correct wear with the steel helmets. I had one for years that came from Ft Wainwright but of course it now has been superseded by civilian life. The Balaclava inside the steel pot was terrible, unless worn without any head harness at all. The helmet with removeable head harness was never made into an M1C version that I saw.