Description
This U.S. M1 fixed bale helmet was made by McCord Radiator. The lot number indicates it was made during early 1943. The shell was fully stripped of post-war paint then repainted the correct shade of WWII flat olive drab paint. The paint was textured with pulverized cork just like the original versions.
The helmet has been restored to look like it might have been worn by a member of the 502nd Parachute Infantry regiment during operations at Normandy or Market Garden. During those operations there were not enough of the so called D-bale paratrooper helmets to outfit all them men who needed them. To fill in the short-fall regular M1 fixed bale helmets were substituted and paired with jump liners.
For this restoration the helmet was fit with a Westinghouse jump liner. The liner shell is original but has been rebuilt with new suspension and A yokes. The A washers are the green urea coated versions and are original.
The 502nd hearts are hand rendered and were the exact size and design as the originals were.
The helmet comes fit with and original O.D. #7 net. There is a bit of scrim still handing on the net. The 502nd was one of the units that were issued with scrim. The helmet has been heavily distressed to look and feel like an original example.
If you’re looking for a Paratrooper helmet to fill that hole in your collections this is a great example that won’t break the bank.
