ken88 Posted October 13, 2018 Share #1 Posted October 13, 2018 So, I recently came across one of these nets and at first had some trouble finding period footage of it being worn. This net seems to be the only US regulation net ever issued during WWII. I therefore thought it deserves a special place in the helmet section. The NET, HELMET, with BAND (dubbed the M1944 net (or should we say M-1943?)) seems to have made its entrance into combat during the Battle of the Bulge. To my knowledge these nets were not yet issued for earlier operations. The band, as with many things, seems to have been copied from rubber helmet bands the Germans experimented with. Stitching it to a handsome net is nothing short of genius. Below I will be posting period pictures of this net being worn, for future reference and for anyone interested. If you come across any other pictures of this net being worn, please feel free to share (please, late WW2 pictures only). You may, of course, also share pictures of your own ww2 helmets that have this net. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken88 Posted October 13, 2018 Author Share #2 Posted October 13, 2018 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Posted October 13, 2018 Share #3 Posted October 13, 2018 My specimen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Posted October 13, 2018 Share #4 Posted October 13, 2018 ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Posted October 13, 2018 Share #5 Posted October 13, 2018 ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Posted October 13, 2018 Share #6 Posted October 13, 2018 ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Posted October 14, 2018 Share #7 Posted October 14, 2018 Bulge period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted October 14, 2018 Share #8 Posted October 14, 2018 Here's a bunch interestingly enough in the Pacific, these are of an unknown Infantry unit of the 25th Inf Div on Luzon 1945. most photos I will post come from the 25th's 25th Year in Combat book ( a 25th Inf Div Divisional yearbook from the fall of 1966 ). This one was was an online find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted October 14, 2018 Share #9 Posted October 14, 2018 The following were scanned by me from that yearbook of 1966. U.S. made net with band being worn on Luzon. As typical, some guys wear the net with the band while some do not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted October 14, 2018 Share #10 Posted October 14, 2018 Another one from the book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted October 14, 2018 Share #11 Posted October 14, 2018 One more. again from the book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted October 14, 2018 Share #12 Posted October 14, 2018 This final one of the U.S. made net w/band on Luzon, 25th Div, was one I found in the 1960 Army C&GS College yearbook I got, and scanned it. In summary. Don't know how widespread the wear of the U.S. made net w/band or without band was within the Infantry of 25th Inf Div, like did all the Infantry Regiments that get them? was it just one of the regiments? was it just a battalion or two within the regiments etc etc, did any other units in the division get them?, like the engineers, the Recon Troop etc. admittedly it would of been rare for these to be seen in early 1945 or even the summer of 45 out there, as so far these have been the only photos we ever seen both in books and on the web of them being worn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Posted October 14, 2018 Share #13 Posted October 14, 2018 Bulge & winter 1945 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Posted October 14, 2018 Share #14 Posted October 14, 2018 Band only Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Posted October 14, 2018 Share #15 Posted October 14, 2018 April 5, 1945 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Posted October 14, 2018 Share #16 Posted October 14, 2018 Late WWII Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted October 14, 2018 Share #17 Posted October 14, 2018 Yes the band by itself was pretty prevalent on Okinawa, as seen here on General Simon Buckner 10th Army commander (photo taken a few minutes before he was killed), was always curious as why the bands and not the nets where seen by in all those photos on Okinawa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted October 14, 2018 Share #18 Posted October 14, 2018 Bands by themselves were also seen to some degree in the Philippines, here two soldiers from the 37th Infantry Division during the Battle of Manila. Again why not the nets right, we did see them in the 25th Inf Div being worn, why not the other divisions?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted October 14, 2018 Share #19 Posted October 14, 2018 Bands, this time the 32nd Infantry Division, Leyte November 1944. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Posted October 14, 2018 Share #20 Posted October 14, 2018 Guam, July 21, 1944, and band only. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Posted October 14, 2018 Share #21 Posted October 14, 2018 Famous AAAO regiment Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Posted October 14, 2018 Share #22 Posted October 14, 2018 Close up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Posted October 14, 2018 Share #23 Posted October 14, 2018 March 6, 1945 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken88 Posted October 29, 2018 Author Share #24 Posted October 29, 2018 Decoration of a 6th armored div. medic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Posted November 6, 2018 Share #25 Posted November 6, 2018 Germany 1945 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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