1965 Mitchell Cover with "V"

[matthewsq]

Hey guys,

 

I picked this up recently from an army surplus store website. They had a few Mitchell covers up, but this was the only unique one. It was listed as a "Vintage Military Helmet Cover 1973," but the contract actually dates to early 65, according to an extremely helpful list somewhere on this site.

 

There are two "V"s painted/sharpied on to the helmet cover. I did some research and have found some people saying that the 24th ID did this to their Mitchells, and one or two people saying that 5th Marines did it.

 

Can anyone shed some light or photo evidence of any V marked helmets? Does anyone have one like this in their collection?

 

I don't have it in hand yet, so can't give a good judgement yet as to authenticity, but just wanted to spark some discussion.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Quinn

 

 

[vzemke]

24th Infantry Division. Their motto was "Victory" and they marked their helmets with a "V". I'm not sure if they did that as early as 1965 or not, I always thought it was something they started when the division was reactivated at FT Stewart in 1975.

[matthewsq]

Maybe 1965 produced and reissued to a 24th ID guy post-1975?

 

Thanks for your insight!

[Nickman983]

Looks to be a long flap cover, I'm not certain on the dates but I believe that the long flap variations were a late 60s early 70s change. To my understanding the theory is that when the change from short flap to long flap covers was made the long flap covers continued to be produced under the same contract. So 1965 may be when the contract was awarded but the cover could have been manufactured at a later date. I'm by no means an expert on these covers though, so I'm I'm off a bit someone feel free to correct me.

[Cap Camouflage Pattern I]

Yes I agree with nickman, not sure how this conclusion was reached aside from no pictures showing high arch covers before 1969 but the consensus is high arch covers were I produced in 1969.

 

Contracts can last for years, some contracts are indefinite length indefinite quantity, also sometimes contracts are renewed under the same contract number.

 

Never heard of 5th marines doing it but I know the 24th did it quite extensively.

[matthewsq]

Thanks for the info about flap length guys. I think we can conclude with reasonable confidence that this is a post Vietnam war 24th ID cover.

 

Cheers,

Quinn

[Justin]

Thanks for the info about flap length guys. I think we can conclude with reasonable confidence that this is a post Vietnam war 24th ID cover.

 

Cheers,

Quinn

Definitely, years ago they would pop up often. You see ERDL covers with 70s dates marked exactly the same from time to time

[Longbranch]

I had a BDU M1 helmet cover with the exact same marking.

 

The Mitchell pattern covers were still in use well after Vietnam. I remember seeing a small lot of M1 helmets used by a National Guard unit, and all of them had the clip-on chinstraps and Mitchell covers, and some of the liners had removable suspensions, indicating likely use well into the 1980s.

[matthewsq]

Thanks for the help guys. I just found this photo on an ebay listing showing the "V" helmets being worn.