Eric Queen Posted January 30, 2017 Share #1 Posted January 30, 2017 This came from an 82nd Airborne vet who passed away near Windom, MN in 2011. The family put this and some other things in a local estate auction. A friend of my friend (George Petersen) lives near there, saw it and convinced the auction coordinator to let him make an offer to the family (through the auction house). He ended up getting the estate without it going to auction, told George about it and he put him in touch with me. I was able to get it the following year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Queen Posted January 30, 2017 Author Share #2 Posted January 30, 2017 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Queen Posted January 30, 2017 Author Share #3 Posted January 30, 2017 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarbridge Posted January 30, 2017 Share #4 Posted January 30, 2017 Great helmet... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhcoleterracina Posted January 30, 2017 Share #5 Posted January 30, 2017 "German Helmet" is a wee bit understated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USCapturephotos Posted January 30, 2017 Share #6 Posted January 30, 2017 I love it. Hope to find one with the GI vet provenance myself someday. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KurtA Posted January 30, 2017 Share #7 Posted January 30, 2017 Army FJ helmet. Wow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Marine Posted January 30, 2017 Share #8 Posted January 30, 2017 That is an amazing piece. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronny67 Posted January 30, 2017 Share #9 Posted January 30, 2017 realy nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted January 30, 2017 Share #10 Posted January 30, 2017 Great item Eric Lots of things still in the wood work Windom is a nice area.Been through there many times.Great litle town. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Dentino Posted January 30, 2017 Share #11 Posted January 30, 2017 An absolutely outstanding Heer FJ helmet. How rare.....see 5 Luft FJ helms for every Heer! She is a real one looker Eric. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Nicolaou Posted January 30, 2017 Share #12 Posted January 30, 2017 Great helmet! This is something I am interested in. Send you a message Eric. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reforger Posted January 30, 2017 Share #13 Posted January 30, 2017 Holy cow, that's an incredible helmet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtdorango Posted January 30, 2017 Share #14 Posted January 30, 2017 Sweet jesus....thats a rare bird indeed.....mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted January 30, 2017 Share #15 Posted January 30, 2017 Great rare find! Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
268th C.A. Posted January 30, 2017 Share #16 Posted January 30, 2017 The George Peterson of NCHS. I knew him back in the 70's. The helmet is a beauty and a double decal too! I hate to think what this one cost....$$$$$$$$$ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beerdragon54 Posted January 30, 2017 Share #17 Posted January 30, 2017 Utterly speechless. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdk0911 Posted January 30, 2017 Share #18 Posted January 30, 2017 awesome FJ lid - I smell a couple of digits before the comma!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ugafx4 Posted January 31, 2017 Share #19 Posted January 31, 2017 I did not even know this existed. Wow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted January 31, 2017 Share #20 Posted January 31, 2017 I did not even know this existed. Wow. The Army badges are rare too...; D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEABEE SON Posted January 31, 2017 Share #21 Posted January 31, 2017 Incredible. Not many of these around. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themick Posted January 31, 2017 Share #22 Posted January 31, 2017 Eric, you keep doing this!! Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torch03 Posted January 31, 2017 Share #23 Posted January 31, 2017 Fantastic helmet Eric congrats! Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M24 Chaffee Posted January 31, 2017 Share #24 Posted January 31, 2017 That is a very exciting bringback to see! Frank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Queen Posted January 31, 2017 Author Share #25 Posted January 31, 2017 Thanks to all who commented. Here are a couple of follow up observations regarding this type of helmet. As of now (and of course this could change any time and more comes out of the woodwork) the German helmet collecting community (of which I am not a member) estimates that there are no more than half a dozen of these (M38 Heer paratrooper helmet) to have survived. Interestingly enough, all are the same size and have the same lot number. Also interesting is that there is no (photographic) evidence that the army paratroopers wore these prior to being transferred to the Luftwaffe on 1.1.1939. Earliest photos of them in wear are from the period of JAN-MAR 1939, a period when they were officially part of the Luftwaffe but not as of yet been issued Luftwaffe uniforms. This is conjecture, but it is most likely that ET made only a small batch (one size, one lot) of these prior to the order (for army helmets) being cancelled. They delivered what they had and they were issued to those with the corresponding head sizes. You see isolated cases of the army helmets being worn during operation Case Yellow (invasion of the low countries) and there is at least one photo of one on a grave marker on Kreta. You can see when looking at this one (the interior shot) that the liner has been period changed from the M38 liner (with buckle chin strap) to the M40 liner (with friction snap chin strap). Evidence shows that with the emergence of the M40 (single decal Luftwaffe helmet) in Oct 1940, a majority of the (now obsolete) M38 (double decal, both Luftwaffe and Army) were sent to the jump schools to be used by trainees. Same was true with the M38 jump smock which for many years collectors called the "jump school smock". Here area couple images to support this. Both of these photos were taken years after the army paratroopers were transferred to the Luftwaffe and notice both have been replaced with the upgraded M40 chin strap systems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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