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The use of foliage as additional helmet camo.


Sabrejet
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Squad leader

Thank's for the ID SL, seen this photo before in books, never IDed or captioned other then being in Normandy, online source of photo where I found it stated Old Hickory late June. If he's got scrim on his pot, he sure used a ton of it :lol:

 

Same wounded Pvt en route to the aid station.

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Manchu Warrior

I had a Drill Sargent in Basic at Ft Benning that told us that if you pick foliage and stick in your helmet it wilts and dies and turns brown and then you die.

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I had a Drill Sargent in Basic at Ft Benning that told us that if you pick foliage and stick in your helmet it wilts and dies and turns brown and then you die.

 

That's why you change it frequently - adapt to the environment.

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U.S. troops frequently failed to employ the camouflage lessons taught in training & described in manuals during WW2. I think the need to change foliage regularly is one of the reasons it was seldom used. This type of camo makes more sense when troops are in static defensive positions. Since U.S. troops in WW2 were frequently on the offensive from late '43 on, and were frequently passing through varied types of terrain (hedgerow/city/forest/field, etc.), using local vegetation for camo was less practical. While rarely seen, here's an example of a soldier using some local vegetation in Normandy.

 

 

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Also in Normandy, a tank destroyer crew with the 3rd Armored Division with vegetation in their camo nets. The vehicle provides good overhead cover but sort of undermines the benefit of the helmet camo... :dry:

 

Tom

 

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Is scrim considered foliage ?

in a manner of speaking yes, as it is applied for the same purposes as leaves and grass, to blend in with the surroundings.

 

 

Take like the troops in Panama in 1989.

 

Or today in Afganistan with the 10th mountain Division.

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  • 2 weeks later...

We always put foliage on our helmets & rucksacks when I was with 3-39th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division at Ft Lewis, WA in 1979.

 

I have photos, but can't get them posted.

We love to see those, what's the problem your having? I,m sure we can be of some help.

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Would like to add this one of member edgeer and posted by him, taken during the Panama Operation in January 1990, here it shows the abundance of Scrim that was common to GIs of the 7th Inf Div then.

 

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Here's a couple from when my father was in AIT at Fort Polk, LA in 1967. First up is my father. With all of that camouflage, the white t-shirt sort of stands out as a target. The second one is another guy in his platoon.

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Next up are some infantryman of the 82nd Airborne Division in Vietnam - 1/505th Infantry. Even with all of that camouflage, they are still wearing full color 82nd patches.

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More from the 82nd in Vietnam. Based on the load they are carrying, they are probably going out on a night ambush.

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seanmc1114

These next four pictures are screen shots from an official Army film on Fort Benning in the 60s I found on youtube. These particular soldiers are Infantry officer candidates.

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USMC-RECON0321

I've posted this before, but thought I would add it to this thread as an example of a confirmed alternative camouflage Vet bring back WWII US helmet. Painted GI Towel used as camouflage. Notice how the Hawley liner inside has formed around the wrinkles in the towel between the shell and liner.

 

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Burning Hazard

Speaking of alternative camo covers, here's a photo of an extremely rare prototype winter camouflage cover with specially designed slits (for foliage?). Cover was possibly manufactured in Belgium by an unknown maker. :D

 

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Did we add this image yet? Strips of camo 'chute silk woven through a net over a Mitchell cover...triple whammy!

 

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