Vietnam Pilot Helmet Production Date Question

[historyrecovered]

Hello all !

 

Just picked up this interesting pilot helmet. A bit rough but it appears to be mostly all there. No dates but I was hoping to get some advice on how to date it.

 

It was made by Sierra Engineering Company 345-30

 

Contract Number DSA 100-68-c-0388

 

Part No. 570-303

 

Those are the numbers I can read... I believe it to be Vietnam but I could be wrong. Also came with a replacement sun-glass portion and top green portion.

 

photos to be posted soon

 

 

[historyrecovered]

Maybe also putting if up for sale if interested..

[hink441]

I believe the contract number has the year as part of the overall contract number. In this case it looks like it is from 1968.

 

Chris

[historyrecovered]

Thank you much !

 

It was an auction find today. :-)

[northcoastaero]

The helmet is a U.S. Army APH-5 series that has been modified with the black painted Sierra

oxygen mask receivers on the sides. The APH-5 was used in helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft

such as the Grumman OV-1 Mohawk. CW2 is the rank of the pilot. On what part of the helmet did

you find the 68-C contract number on? The contract date is 1968 as stated above. A 1968 date

seems late for an APH-5 with a white painted shell. The olive drab green shells were introduced

around 1967-1968. Many of the earlier APH-5 helmets were repainted OD green. The tapered white

or OD green visor lock knob with silver colored hardware is missing and would have the smaller LH

letters stamped into the top screw. Possibly missing the black mesh covers with closing snaps

that would be placed over the black coated foam ear cups. Hope this helps.

[phantomfixer]

looks to be an early APH-5..odd that it has O2 mask receivers would like to know more about the use of the receivers...maybe for the chem warfare mask?.....others will know more...

[northcoastaero]

The white painted Army APH-5 series helmets with a thin black edge beading were introduced by 1966.

My guess is that the oxygen mask receivers were for a modified variant of the MS-22001 mask for use

in the OV-1 Mohawk aircraft?

[historyrecovered]

The contract number was on the inside of the helmet on a white label.

 

Definitely learning some new things here. I have a second on of these but that one is all green. Missing the microphone part.

 

I'll try to add some more photos of this helmet . That'll.maybe help define a few things ...Thanks !

[mohawkALSE]

I actually have a AFH-1 helmet from 1968 that I'm restoring which was originally the OD color and was repainted in white. Was fitted for the O2 mask receivers so Id say was certainly OV-1 used. I also have another helmet that was a true white 1966 dated APH-5 that had the same Sierra self adjust mask receivers. That one was 110 percent used by a Mohawker as there is a large factory type Mohawk insignia on the rear of the helmet. Looks as if it was the round Mohawk logo the early aircraft had from the factory cut out in just the shape of the Indian and applied to the helmet. Any of those early Army helmets from the 60s with the O2 receivers would have been used by someone in the OV-1B and then later D as the SLAR birds were the only ones that would flight high altitude requiring oxygen. I was told that by a former Nam era Mohawker. Also Ive seen pics and videos from the 60s era showing the Hardman Xmas tree receivers, the Sierra black self adjust receivers and then the white cast receivers used by OV-1 crews.

[mohawkALSE]

Was able to attach some pics of my OV-1 used APH-5 with the Sierra self adjust bayonet receivers. I don't have it here with me but I recall this one was a 1966. The decal added to the rear is really cool, never saw another one like it. Looks to be cut out from a larger circular decal like the early full color aircraft had on the nose.

[boxerdogi]

That's a great helmet! As soon as they get personalized they take on a whole new meaning.

[historyrecovered]

Hi all ! I wanted to thank you all for your help with this helmet. However due to picking up a few other groupings I have decided to sell this in the e-stand here.