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A.E.F. Camouflage “Combat” Helmets


world war I nerd
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Here is my only camo helmet. Still has a very clean sand texture. Obviously never used in combat or evem issued for that matter. But it is a very good example of the camo often seen being used over there.

 

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Hey Dave, if you only have one helmet like you say, you sure picked a pretty darn good one to have ---nice work.

Al

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world war I nerd

David D & AEF1917,

 

Thanks for posting the image of the heavily sand finished helmet and the information regarding where it was done, i.e. salvaged and refurbished by the Ordnance Department in France. I always wondered where the sand finished helmets originated, since all the info I've read on the U.S. made 1917 Steel Helmet stated they had a sawdust finish.

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Found these pics a little while back. No ID on the soldier (or sailor), but looks like he is homeward bound with his equipment, and a painted M1917 helmet. He is a SGT, has 2 overseas chevrons, and I cant make out what bar he has on his uniform.

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post-104684-0-16011100-1541336757_thumb.jpg

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world war I nerd

Dunmore 1774 … Great photo!

 

There's no way to know for sure, but it looks as if four of the men in this photo might be wearing camouflage painted helmets … any opinions? The image was borrowed from newsreel footage of the 1st Division taken during the St. Mihiel offensive in September of 1918.

 

These Doughboys hail from the 1st Engineer Regiment, 1st Division. Note the British style formation badge worn by the third soldier from the left.

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world war I nerd

A closer look at three of the four possible camouflage helmets. Note the dark, light and medium shades of paint that appear to have been painted on to the left, center and right helmets

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world war I nerd

Nice! MTC & 84th Division … Those are some terrific helmets.

 

Speaking of terrific helmets check out the cammo helmets in this post WW I press photo. I put in a significant bid on this photo, but it turned out to be the second highest bid - not the highest … Oh well.

 

Anyway, the image is of seven members of the 339th Infantry Regiment who have just returned to the United States from Russia. The caption on the reverse reads:

 

"These Detroit Doughboys, members of the 339th Infantry, returning to America today deny vehemently that their outfit had "gone on strike" a number of months ago, while in Archangel, Russia, as had been reported. None of them will ever visit Russia again they said. From left to right in the front row they are Frank L. O'Connor, William Staub, Charles A. Ordish and Robert B. Mosher: Back row Cecil Keller, John Charzanowski and David Wilson."

 

Obviously, what makes this image so great are the four camouflage painted helmets slung from the back of their haversacks.

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world war I nerd

In this closer look at the cammo "polar Bear" helmets, the added camouflage paint on two of them seems to have painted over the original olive drab paint, while the other two appear to have been whitewashed first and then camouflaged. All four helmets have "Russia" painted across their crowns, but only two of the four helmets have the polar bear logo painted on the front. in addition, only three helmets bear the numeral "339" for the 339th Infantry Regiment.

 

If nothing else, this photo proves that not all helmets within any AEF squad, company or regiment were painted exactly the same.

 

Photos courtesy of eBay seller n.e. collectables

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Just saw this and had to go dig out one of my helmets---looks surprisingly close in paint and pattern, especially on the right side...this belonged to a soldier in the 336th MG BN, 87th Division compare to the helmet in post #159....

Found these pics a little while back. No ID on the soldier (or sailor), but looks like he is homeward bound with his equipment, and a painted M1917 helmet. He is a SGT, has 2 overseas chevrons, and I cant make out what bar he has on his uniform.

post-2235-0-09892800-1550793441_thumb.jpg

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