USMC WWII "Frogskin" Covers - Rethinking The Norm

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4 hours ago, 326thAEB said:

With the new photos of the high quality footage recently released is it safe to say this has changed? 

 

The whole intended purpose of this thread was (and still is) to try and determine the truth as best possible by working as a group project of those collectors interested in the subject using original period photos for trying to not only determine which variation of helmet cover(s) were among the first produced and worn, but to also try and pin down with all resources available when each type entered service if at all possible.  Written documents are the only true answer, and all the answers are there to be found at some point.

 

With documents scarce, other than those helmets in collections, period photos are all we have also to roughly gauge still at this point unfortunately which can be tough and leave open ended questions and views as expected.  Thankfully, newly released images and better-quality examples of many of those photos we've all seen in the past have come forward along with some fantastic research by many here and some great documents too!  The one thing that is not up for debate as shown here time and again is that picture quality means everything, though opinions can certainly vary by way they are found as expected.

 

326th, I think you and Nickman both have done a wonderful job in finding this small segment and presenting it here.  Though a period video, it's in original color and not modern colorized or tinkered with other than to try and gain higher definition which also allows for a near single frame stop instead of the common slightly blurred screenshot look.  The clear close up of this Marine is great and of even greater value is being to view differing angles as he turns his head.  Differing angles of the same Marine has proven very valuable as well in what we've researched and studied in this thread as a determining factor in what is actually being worn at the time. 

 

This segment in particular sure checks all the boxes that I would think could be asked of a period photo at least showing a non-slit USMC Frogskin helmet cover in use during March of 1945 IMHO and is great to see!  I was hoping there might be a larger consensus and discussion among many interested from what was presented.  If the feeling among the group here is it's already known and enough is enough so no reason to pursue further, I'm fine with that.  Over ten years is a long time for a single thread in the USMF Helmet Board not to go haywire.  That's seems to be a feat in itself around here....lol.....just kidding Admin's/Mod's. 🙂

 

As I mentioned before, this originally envisioned group based thread has grown way beyond foliage slits and found new answers with information provided and created even more questions still looking for answers on the history of the USMC Frogskin helmet covers thanks to the dedication of all those who took an interest over the years.  Any good info on the entire history of these helmet covers is great to see added here.  I actually thought it would probably die out after a month or two, go figure!

 

The question now until documents do become available with true answers if any are still interested in continuing this period photo project would be to try and find and present here any other photos of equal or better quality in order to expand the timeframe in either direction during WWII from what is considered here presented as being March of 1945.  As this group-based research thread was always intended to do from the beginning over ten years ago when a date was deemed to be found of any variation type of the USMC helmet cover being worn during WWII.         

[Oompie]

Great thread, thanks to the contributors.

I have a question on EGA's and the variations we expect to see on the covers. I have a couple of the discussed non-slit covers with the black stenciled EGA, but recently picked up a helmet set with a non-slit cover that has a couple of interesting features (at least to me). 

It has EGA's stenciled on both sides also front and back, but these appear to be the smaller post 55 version that I have mostly seen on the diamond patch covers. On this one they are direct onto the cover. One only the outlines, no fill. 

Second the cover has a repair or an update whereby holes originally made for the chinstraps have been stitched close on both sides creating a half moon on each side. Not sure if this is a personal repair or a reissue aspect. 

Looking forward to your views

[326thAEB]

High Quality original photo from the marine archives. Iwo Jima February 1945. Marine on the left definitely has a non slit cover. The marine on the right appears to be a likely non slit as well. Included a close up and the original photo. 

[MedrickMilitaria]

High quality pic of a Marine with what looks to be a non-slit cover at Tarawa. 

Source: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/74252739 

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Hi Medrick,

This Norman Hatch photo was brought up as far back as Page 2 of this thread and was researched further. With the original photo found, his helmet cover does have the foliage slits included as described on Page 9, Post #214. 

[GeneralCheese]

Just from a manufacturing perspective, the "3rd" pattern covers with buttonholes in the flaps would definitely be the earliest produced.  Since those extra buttonholes were useless, they would have been the first to go in the name of efficiency.  And in the spring/summer of 1945, when production on everything went into overdrive in preparation for the invasion of mainland Japan, the rest of the buttonholes would have been skipped seeing as they were not critical.

 

I have no doubt all no-slit covers were produced before the end of the war, but most would not have seen service.  I think this also explains why so many no-slit covers show up with EGA stamps post-war