TheMinistryOfAviation Posted June 27, 2017 Share #1 Posted June 27, 2017 Hey guys, I'm wondering about the personalized markings on the front of this lid. I like the look of it, but it seems kinda counter productive to paint such "loud" markings on the front of your helmet. Owner wrote his name inside. Trying to find out who he was and perhaps the "SKIPPER" might make sense. Looks like: "Besson HQ Co 1st Batt 381". Hoping to hear your thoughts are on the paint though. Thanks! Jeremy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMinistryOfAviation Posted June 27, 2017 Author Share #2 Posted June 27, 2017 Exterior.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMinistryOfAviation Posted June 27, 2017 Author Share #3 Posted June 27, 2017 Interior... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMinistryOfAviation Posted June 27, 2017 Author Share #4 Posted June 27, 2017 She's a Schleuter! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMinistryOfAviation Posted June 27, 2017 Author Share #5 Posted June 27, 2017 The ID Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpstout Posted June 27, 2017 Share #6 Posted June 27, 2017 Nothing wrong with this paint, great helmet set! Actually, loud helmets, as you put it, were quite common in WWII when you think about it. Should be possible to identify this guy with some elbow grease and web surfing...good luck on that effort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warguy Posted June 27, 2017 Share #7 Posted June 27, 2017 One possibility to consider-just spit ballin' it here, but Skipper was popular term of endearment for Marine Corps Captains in WWI. If that carried over to WWII, it is possible this "loud" paint was covered by a frogskin cover. Don't know if any of that corresponds to your name and unit though. I think the paint looks authentic. Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtdorango Posted June 27, 2017 Share #8 Posted June 27, 2017 Love it!....mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catfishcraig Posted June 27, 2017 Share #9 Posted June 27, 2017 I like it! Thanks for sharing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conn Posted June 27, 2017 Share #10 Posted June 27, 2017 all we need to do is find gilligans helmet lol love the helmet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Screamingeagles101 Posted June 28, 2017 Share #11 Posted June 28, 2017 I like it. If your looking to get rid of it, I might know a guy Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VenitHora Posted June 28, 2017 Share #12 Posted June 28, 2017 Looks great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArchangelDM Posted June 28, 2017 Share #13 Posted June 28, 2017 Correct ageing and lettering for the period Very nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M24 Chaffee Posted June 28, 2017 Share #14 Posted June 28, 2017 Very nice helmet! I love that "been there" look. Frank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
63 RECON Posted June 28, 2017 Share #15 Posted June 28, 2017 cool, be a great research project. What units had 381 in them? 381st Bomb group, 381st Field Artillery? 381st Infantry regiment, 381st engineers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMinistryOfAviation Posted June 28, 2017 Author Share #16 Posted June 28, 2017 Thanks everyone for the feedback! I really appreciate it! As someone mentioned I also had thought that the helmet could have donned a cover when worn into combat. Definitely looking forward to researching this one a lot more. As 63Recon posted the 381st Bomb Group, 381st Field Artillery Battalion, 381st Infantry Regiment, 381st Engineers Battalion are the four units I came up with. That's a lot of leads, but at least there's more information to go off of. Thanks again for all the praise! -Jeremy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikie Posted June 28, 2017 Share #17 Posted June 28, 2017 all we need to do is find gilligans helmet lol love the helmet Thanks, I've been fighting like heck resisting making a Gilligan comment. Now I can relax. Mikie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted June 29, 2017 Share #18 Posted June 29, 2017 If we're reading this correctly with unit, it would have to be the 381st Infantry (96th Infantry Division), as it says HQ Co 1st BN, only regiments had different battalions in them, ie, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions, all the other units were battalions in themselves IE, HQ, A, B, C Companies and or Batteries, don't know about the flying units, but I imagine they would be Group, Wing and Squadron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntssurplus Posted June 30, 2017 Share #19 Posted June 30, 2017 Little late to this thread, but I love the helmet. Always cool to find these personalized helmets. -Hunt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMinistryOfAviation Posted June 30, 2017 Author Share #20 Posted June 30, 2017 Thanks Hunt! I'm definitely excited to have it in the collection! And I agree with Patches, I'm leaning towards the 381st Infantry Battalion. -Jeremy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sappuh Posted August 2, 2021 Share #21 Posted August 2, 2021 1LT Besson, Joffre A, (Rt #1, Box #62, Gilroy, California) was the owner of this helmet. Just joined the site, but thought that might help if you know. https://worldwartwoveterans.org/1st-battalion-headquarters-company-381st-infantry-regiment-96th-infantry-division/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fight Posted August 2, 2021 Share #22 Posted August 2, 2021 1 hour ago, Sappuh said: 1LT Besson, Joffre A, (Rt #1, Box #62, Gilroy, California) was the owner of this helmet. Just joined the site, but thought that might help if you know. https://worldwartwoveterans.org/1st-battalion-headquarters-company-381st-infantry-regiment-96th-infantry-division/ Nice! Here's a few things I found on Ancestry for him: Alec Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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