This is a World War II M1 helmet and liner with 101st Airborne unit markings. The shell was manufactured by the McCord Radiator company, the liner was made by Westinghouse. The heat stamp of 378A puts this one being manufactured around November/December of 1942. The helmet has a dark appearance, with about 60% of the original paint remaining. The only place where the original cork texturing remains is around the rim of the helmet. There are a couple of small dents in the top of the helmet. A very small split is also in the top of the helmet, about 1/4" in length. There is also a stress crack at the front of the helmet where the front seam band meets, approximately 1" long. The stainless steel band around the rim has lost the majority of the paint. It is a front seam, but is also split on the left side just behind the chin strap bail. The chin strap bails are fixed, another indication of an early war helmet. The chin straps are sewn directly to the bails and are OD #3 in color. The long strap has a raised bar brass buckle and adjuster. A black stencil has been placed on the strap and reads S-059 with the last number being illegible. The strap shows heavy wear, has couple of frayed areas and a lot of dirt and grim ground in. The short strap has the brass hook to attach to the buckle on the long strap. This strap is also shows heavy use, being frayed at the bail, with plenty of ground in dirt and grim. The shell is covered with a 1/2" olive drab netting, complete with draw string. Woven into the netting are strips of dark green and tan burlap, just like the pictures of the Normandy drop. The 101st used playing card symbols to designate the Infantry battalions, the 501st PIR were diamonds, 502nd PIR were hearts, 506th PIR spades and the 327th GIR were clubs. On each side of the helmet is an off white painted spade, designation of the 506th. The tick marks are at the three o'clock position, representing the 1st battalion of the 506th. The Westinghouse liner is from 1944 - 45. The Westinghouse stamp is clearly visible in the inside top of the liner. The liner shows only the original coat of paint on the exterior, retaining about 50%. Visible on the right front of the liner is a stencil that reads D-9545. The liner is intact, but shows honest wear and minor damage. There are cracks on the right side of the liner. One is between the steel studs for the suspension liner and the garter for the liner chinstrap. It is not cracked all the way through the liner except for 1/2" from the rim. There are two small cracks on the right rear, each about 1/2" long, by the nape strap. The suspension cloth is cotton and khaki in color. It is retained to the liner by black painted brass A washers. The sweatband is complete, but broken in the front. The entire suspension system shows heavy use, the sweatband being a dark brown, almost black color, from use. The cotton suspension straps are also heavily soiled. The garter for the liner chin strap is missing on the left side. The liner chin strap is missing. The A yokes have been cut out of the liner. Only small remnants remain visible behind the suspension A washers. The leather jump chinstrap is no longer with this helmet. The internal snaps for the chinstrap are made of brass and both are still reporting for duty. All in all, this is a very nice example of an Airborne helmet from WWII. Obviously the liner was not around for the D-Day jump, but who knows when this pair was matched up. It most certainly could have been around for the Market Garden operation. This one came from a big WWII collector, and he had one of each of the 101st Infantry Regiments helmets. I just thought I'd begin listing them with this one first, since everybody is familiar with the 506th, "Band of Brothers". This one is the real deal, and if you have an airborne collection this could well be your center piece!

Item # AA1232

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