wnewmanhp Posted June 25, 2015 Share #1 Posted June 25, 2015 Looking to ID this helmet. Microphone is M-33A/AIC and the headphones are MX-2088/U. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnewmanhp Posted June 25, 2015 Author Share #2 Posted June 25, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hink441 Posted June 25, 2015 Share #3 Posted June 25, 2015 Looks like a painted up Hippie Helmet!! :-) Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLeo Posted June 26, 2015 Share #4 Posted June 26, 2015 Maybe an HGU-2 shell?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlegto Posted June 26, 2015 Share #5 Posted June 26, 2015 It looks like a U.S. Army APH-5A helicopter helmet to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnewmanhp Posted June 26, 2015 Author Share #6 Posted June 26, 2015 Looking at some of the other posts, the APH-5A seems like a close match. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLeo Posted June 26, 2015 Share #7 Posted June 26, 2015 I think you are probably correct about it being the APH-5A missing the visor housing after I did a quick search for that type on the web. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfixer Posted June 26, 2015 Share #8 Posted June 26, 2015 looks like an early APH-5 with the leather comm socket on the left side.... The white under the edge roll...?? the Comm cord is cool USAF marked.. has the 174 connector and a single PL-54 style (but longer) plug....why the two??? anyway cool helmet maybe a vet turned Easy Rider???...guess if MC used he would have taken off microphone.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluespicker Posted June 26, 2015 Share #9 Posted June 26, 2015 Think the APH-5 ID is spot on. Interesting graphics. Just a few observations: the flag would be under the visor housing if it were applied to the helmet when in use so I would suggest that some of the graphics were placed on the helmet after it left the military. These helmets were surplused out in large numbers and they were available in surplus stores, often for not very much money. It looks like the paint was applied after the helmet left the service and those in the antiwar movement often showed up at demonstrations with a variety of helmets. It actually could have been painted in this manner. The good news: It could be restored. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnewmanhp Posted June 26, 2015 Author Share #10 Posted June 26, 2015 Nice observation, I didn't think about the visor housing covering the graphics. I have another helmet I'm trying to ID. It looks kind of close to a HGU-7/P (http://www.salimbeti.com/aviation/helmets2.htm) Any thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfixer Posted June 26, 2015 Share #11 Posted June 26, 2015 Combat vehicle crew member helmet... a tankers helmet with a 75 contract date Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnewmanhp Posted June 26, 2015 Author Share #12 Posted June 26, 2015 Oh great, thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gitana Posted June 26, 2015 Share #13 Posted June 26, 2015 2nd one is a DH-132 CVC helmet, made by Gentex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11thcavsniper Posted June 26, 2015 Share #14 Posted June 26, 2015 I would leave it the way it is. That's part of our History also. I would like it in my collection. L.T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfixer Posted June 26, 2015 Share #15 Posted June 26, 2015 I would agree with leaving it (the flight helmet) alone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boxerdogi Posted June 27, 2015 Share #16 Posted June 27, 2015 I would leave it as is as well...there is always the chance it was used "in country". There are plenty of pictures showing helicopter crews wearing helmets without the visors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnewmanhp Posted June 29, 2015 Author Share #17 Posted June 29, 2015 Thanks for the info everybody. That's interesting that some of the pilots didn't have the visor housing. I was thinking if it had been used for anything else after military use they would have taken out the mic and cords, so maybe the paintings are legitimate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boxerdogi Posted June 29, 2015 Share #18 Posted June 29, 2015 Leaving the mic and earphones on made me think the same thing. I have also seen flight helmets used by vehicle crews as well....not sure if they changed the mic and earphones out though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted June 29, 2015 Share #19 Posted June 29, 2015 Whether is was painted by a pilot or a protestor (no one will ever know which), the helmet is a piece of historic folk art unique to that era and should be left as-is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
popcorn Posted June 30, 2015 Share #20 Posted June 30, 2015 Have to agree with the others suggesting to leave the paint as is. That is one cool helmet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northcoastaero Posted July 1, 2015 Share #21 Posted July 1, 2015 The first helmet is most likely a pre 1968 U.S. Army APH-5A. Probably mid to last variation white painted version with thin black edge beading as opposed to the earlier thick rubber edge roll. The olive drab painted ones were introduced in 1967-68. Helmet has the issue U-93A/U communications plug and what looks to be a plug for a stereo system. I had a military headset at one time that was modified for civilian use in the same manner. I have known collectors who had military helmets that were modified by the pilots with plugs for tape recorders to record themselves and radio conversations during flight and also possibly to play music--yes, similar to the movie Iron Eagle. Believe it or not. Hope this helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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