Help ID'ing HGU Helmet

[mwesson030]

I recently impulse bought this HGU series helmet for 50$, and I was wondering if I could get some help ID'ing the model. I think it might be some sort of HALO helmet just based on the black paint and velcro, but I don't know. The helmet hasn't arrived yet, so I am limited to the photos of it on eBay.

 

Thanks,

Mwesson030

 

 

 

Front/inside

[mwesson030]

left side/back/right side

[mwesson030]

Now this is the part that really confuses me. There are two main wires, some sort of mounting brackets, an extra snap point, and holes drilled for mask receivers that only need two screws.

[phantomfixer]

Looks like a HGU-55/P modified for use with a clip on boom mic, mic boom is similar to the headsets worn by the USAF in the 60s and 70s.

 

Modified/painted for special ops? it had the older style oxygen mask bayonet receivers, from the paint outline, which might make this an early HGU-55/P

Looks like they removed the rt side visor snap and relocated it...odd

 

50.00 well spent

[mohawkALSE]

It is a Gentex HALO helmet. They have a dual comm headset. Each earphone is its comm designed to use 2 mics hence the little quick release dovetails for the QD boom mounts. Its missing the 02 recovers which would have black plastic covers over them

[mohawkALSE]

This is the HALO I have. This one was a Air Force variant that actually had a different dual comm headset setup. Instead of just having the jacks to plug in the boom mics with a headset downlead cable, it has 2 wired in downleads. Shell, boom mounts and mask receivers are the same setup as yours. You'll notice on both helmets, the nape pad screws have little nylon loop straps. Those are for attaching goggle straps for the parachute jumps vs the HGU visor. Regardless of which headset cable setup they have, the HALO helmets usually have a rigger made pouch attached to the bag via velcro to stow the downleads when not used. I have it but wasn't installed when I took my pics of this helmet. If you want I can show you what the factory detachable booms look like for these as well as a rigger made variant. Those are usually made up of a J style O2 mask bayonet and part of a boom assembly, makes a quick detach mic. Gentex also made specific goggles for these helmets as well that attached via the snaps.

[mohawkALSE]

Took a pic of the mics stuff. The brand new headset cable is a Gentex factory downlead for the headset setup on your style. Looks like a super long version of a CX-4707 O2 mask headset/mic cable. The M-87 boom mic below is the setup of Quick Detach boom your helmet would also use. The round mount in the back has a flat square mount to slide into those dovetails on the LH and RH side of the helmet. Installed with this boom is a late 80s Carter Engineering brand version of the new Gentex cable there. Then final is a local rigger made QD boom mount with the O2 mask bayonet, short part of the boom and a M-138 type mic. My helmets headset would use this type of mic cable setup since it has the headset cables already wired into the dual comm headset. Ive been meaning to covert the M-87 boom I had to just a mic cable like the M-138 has. If you look at any of those books with lots of pic of AFSOC guys, you will see the dual mics being used on those HALO helmets on the ground while driving dirt bikes and ATVs. My helmet was said to have been used by a AFSOC Combat Control Team member.

[phantomfixer]

...is there a special designation number or is it a 55P shell?

[mohawkALSE]

Its the same basic shell design as a 55P but has its own NSN and Gentex P/N and is labeled as "Parachutist Helmet". They were made at Gentex West in CA too where the O2 mask stuff is vs Gentex in PA where the usual flight helmet and kevlar helmets are done. Also the setup is more like the original 55P with the separate chin and nape straps, doesn't have an integrated chin/nape like current 55P helmets. The parachute helmets seem to have a thicker edgeroll too when you see brand new ones. Both this one posted and the one I have are well loved, my edgeroll is shot. This style helmet is or already has been phased out by the Gentex PM HALO helmet.

[mwesson030]

Any idea as to why there is an extra visor snap point with the cable bracket?

[RedLegGI]

I had one of these within the last year, and if I remember correctly, under one of the padded ear pieces on the shell, there should be a label.

[mohawkALSE]

I think the lower/closer to the front snap is for attaching the Gentex goggles designed for this helmet, the rear snap is for a standard visor as I had installed. Usually the label on these helmets was externally on the rear of the shell 6 oclock pos above the edgeroll, which its usually removed or covered by the velcro added. Some can be found with the label intact. Newer/current HGU-55/P flyers helmets would have the label on the inside right hand side by the ear cup. Early 55/Ps had it on the inside 6 oclock pos under the EA liner.