RDUNE Posted December 7, 2017 Share #1 Posted December 7, 2017 Hello all, I'm thinning out the M1's in the closet and noticed this one had something painted inside it. I'd never noticed it before and I guess the light hit it just right. I can't really make it out but to me it looks like a name, possibly a serial number, and Port (something) Casablanca. I've tried to photograph it using different filters and contrasts on my camera but I can't seem to make it any clearer. The helmet itself is not much to look at and I almost put it in the 'sell' pile but I'm intrigued by the writing in the helmet. Perhaps I'm seeing things that aren't really there. I just wanted to post it for opinions and see what other sets of eyes make of it. All thoughts and opinions are appreciated -Ryan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDUNE Posted December 7, 2017 Author Share #2 Posted December 7, 2017 With a little color and contrast modification. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDUNE Posted December 7, 2017 Author Share #3 Posted December 7, 2017 Outside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDUNE Posted December 7, 2017 Author Share #4 Posted December 7, 2017 Inside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDUNE Posted December 7, 2017 Author Share #5 Posted December 7, 2017 Direct natural sunlight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stealthytyler Posted December 7, 2017 Share #6 Posted December 7, 2017 Looks like an officers service number Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntssurplus Posted December 7, 2017 Share #7 Posted December 7, 2017 Looks like an officers service number That would explain the hole on the front of helmet and what looks to be burnt around it. Some kind of officers insignia, maybe a Major or Lt. Col. Hunt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stealthytyler Posted December 7, 2017 Share #8 Posted December 7, 2017 That would explain the hole on the front of helmet and what looks to be burnt around it. Some kind of officers insignia, maybe a Major or Lt. Col. Hunt Good eye. You might be right Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phineaus Posted December 7, 2017 Share #9 Posted December 7, 2017 Looks like his last name, officers ASN, Port ____, and Casablanca. Manick ?? O-_18403 Port ______ Casablanca Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted December 7, 2017 Share #10 Posted December 7, 2017 Well Casablanca is a port city, so the word after Port must be some kind of army word, Port Director, Port Command, Port Commander etc etc???? Is that word starting with the M say Maj or Major? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntssurplus Posted December 7, 2017 Share #11 Posted December 7, 2017 Would it be possible to have a picture straight on the front of the helmet where the hole is?Thanks, Hunt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted December 7, 2017 Share #12 Posted December 7, 2017 It says Eat at Ricks Cafe Americain, Casablanca. Heres looking at you kid. Ronnie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL THE PATCH Posted December 7, 2017 Share #13 Posted December 7, 2017 It says Eat at Ricks Cafe Americain, Casablanca. Heres looking at you kid. Ronnie To funny Sent from my XT1031 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted December 7, 2017 Share #14 Posted December 7, 2017 That does appear to be "MAJ" something, followed by the officer SN.n Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntssurplus Posted December 7, 2017 Share #15 Posted December 7, 2017 From what I can see on the pictures it looks like there is an outline of a major or lieutenant colonel insignia that was welded on or something. I think your guy was a major. Hunt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captainofthe7th Posted December 7, 2017 Share #16 Posted December 7, 2017 The serial number, if O-018403, is Charles Walker Raymond II. By 1942 he was a Lt Col. http://apps.westpointaog.org/Memorials/Article/9096/ Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted December 7, 2017 Share #17 Posted December 7, 2017 The outline around the rank reminds me if the 34th division shape and position when I saw this posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted December 7, 2017 Share #18 Posted December 7, 2017 The serial number, if O-018403, is Charles Walker Raymond II. By 1942 he was a Lt Col. http://apps.westpointaog.org/Memorials/Article/9096/ Rob Welp there's that Casablanca connection, he may have been temporally detailed to this Moroccan port during the summer of 1943?, as the 34th Div did not go into Sicily, but stayed in North Africa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted December 7, 2017 Share #19 Posted December 7, 2017 Welp there's that Casablanca connection, he may have been temporally detailed to this Moroccan port during the summer of 1943?, as the 34th Div did not go into Sicily, but stayed in North Africa. Agreed and my first thought was 34th then seeing his bio posted Im sure he had a 34th insignia on the front with rank in center. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogface44 Posted December 7, 2017 Share #20 Posted December 7, 2017 Definitely Red Bull helmet. Really nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccmax Posted December 7, 2017 Share #21 Posted December 7, 2017 Looks like a 34th indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntssurplus Posted December 7, 2017 Share #22 Posted December 7, 2017 So he was a Lt. Col! Nice call on the 34th doyler. Nice to see this helmet come out to be something really cool, definitely a keeper! Hunt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stealthytyler Posted December 7, 2017 Share #23 Posted December 7, 2017 Still looking to get rid of it now? haha I wonder what the circumstance was of it being removed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntssurplus Posted December 7, 2017 Share #24 Posted December 7, 2017 Still looking to get rid of it now? haha I wonder what the circumstance was of it being removed? Maybe buy the family to keep the insignia and sell the rest of the helmet? It also could have been removed with thoughts of being reissued but when the army found the hole they gave it to a surplus store or something. This helmet turned out to be really nice. The OP is really lucky they didn't sell it. Hunt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captainofthe7th Posted December 7, 2017 Share #25 Posted December 7, 2017 Having it in hand you will have to decide if the ID matches to what's written. There could be another digit after the 3, the 8 could be a 9, 3, or a 2...and it's so hard to tell what's written above. One letter or number difference could totally bust the potential ID! I've had items for years only to examine them later and realize I was looking at it the wrong way. Sometimes we see what we want to, not what's actually there. With those words of caution, I do think Col. Raymond is a proper match. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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