VenitHora Posted February 1, 2017 Share #1 Posted February 1, 2017 I thought I would share an M-450 flying helmet I got from the daughter of the veteran. Her father was a rear gunner on an Avenger in VT-22 flying off the USS Independance in 1943. VT-22 was part of Air Group 22 and was the first Air Group stationed aboard the Independance. The gunner wore this helmet on raids over Wake Island, Rabaul and the Gilbert Islands including during the Battle of Tarawa. The helmet is an M-450 with rigger added chamois sponge rubber cups with lots of wear from flying time. The man later trained for night flying which is why he has red lenses in the goggles.Instead of stenciling his name on the helmet and goggles, he used his nickname "Jitterbug" which he got because he loved to dance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VenitHora Posted February 1, 2017 Author Share #2 Posted February 1, 2017 A view from the side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VenitHora Posted February 1, 2017 Author Share #3 Posted February 1, 2017 View from the other side Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VenitHora Posted February 2, 2017 Author Share #4 Posted February 2, 2017 I guess there is not much interest in these? Here is a picture of the USS Independance at sea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VenitHora Posted February 2, 2017 Author Share #5 Posted February 2, 2017 I guess there is not much interest in these? Here is a picture of the USS Independance at sea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VenitHora Posted February 2, 2017 Author Share #6 Posted February 2, 2017 Here is a picture of the veteran in his dress uniform. He was accepted for pilot training after his first tour of duty but the war ended before he could complete the course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VenitHora Posted February 2, 2017 Author Share #7 Posted February 2, 2017 Here is a photo of the veteran (right) wearing the same helmet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VenitHora Posted February 2, 2017 Author Share #8 Posted February 2, 2017 Here is a photo of other items from the same veteran. The grouping includes his good conduct medal, air crew wings, a diary he kept, photos of the squadron, training manuals, maps of Tarawa and his converse sneakers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garandomatic Posted February 2, 2017 Share #9 Posted February 2, 2017 That's way cool. I know what you mean, though, I've taken pictures and written up this and that before about things that people ought to find interesting, not long ago a gold star mother's pin that i was able to identify, nobody found it as interesting as i did apparently. Oh well, i like my stuff just fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VenitHora Posted February 2, 2017 Author Share #10 Posted February 2, 2017 Thanks, Garandomatic. I'm glad you like it. I guess as long as we enjoy our own stuff it's okay? Your gold star pin sounds very cool too. I will have to look for it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navybean Posted February 2, 2017 Share #11 Posted February 2, 2017 Great helmet love the history. I have a number of M450s but not that much info on any of the vets who owned them. Great stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pararaftanr2 Posted February 2, 2017 Share #12 Posted February 2, 2017 VenitHora, I've been to your web site many times, it is excellent and I recommend it to all Forum members. This is an outstanding grouping, thanks for sharing it. Maybe you could show us Art Singer's flight suit as well? Best regards, Paul (pilotsmanyourplanes.com) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VenitHora Posted February 2, 2017 Author Share #13 Posted February 2, 2017 Thanks Navybean, I appreciate it! Paul, I have been to your great website many, many times and have learned A LOT from it. I will be posting some more of my Navy stuff in the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falcon_ib Posted February 2, 2017 Share #14 Posted February 2, 2017 Amazing connection to the past. It's amazing to hold a piece of history in your hands and imagine the things it went through. If only they could talk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longbranch Posted February 2, 2017 Share #15 Posted February 2, 2017 Great grouping!!! Very cool, and those old Converse sneakers are pretty neat as well. I'm sure it's awesome to hold the helmet in your hands and imagine where it was 70+ years ago. Don't worry about any lack of response, it doesn't mean your grouping is any less impressive. I've posted several things on this forum that are incredibly rare or seen nowhere else on the internet, and received a lackluster response for those items. If you like it and enjoy having it in your collection, at the end of the day that is really all that matters... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hink441 Posted February 2, 2017 Share #16 Posted February 2, 2017 I love your group! The helmet is fantastic and the red lenses are very interesting. By the way, the picture of your veteran standing with his shipmate was used in a previous thread discussing the pistol shoulder holster he is wearing. Do you happen to have the holster in the picture?? Would love to see any additional items you have from this group!! Here is a link to an older thread about Navy shoulder holsters. If you scroll down on the provided link you will see your picture was instrumental in determining the earliest usage of this type of holster. http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/175474-us-navy-victory-model-shoulder-holster/?hl=%2Bnorfolk+%2Bholster Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDK Posted February 2, 2017 Share #17 Posted February 2, 2017 Great helmet and group. Thanks for sharing it! This forum is so large, it's easy to miss things. I just saw this thread today. JD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waltz41 Posted February 3, 2017 Share #18 Posted February 3, 2017 Same here. Very nice helmet and grouping. Going to check out your website now too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VenitHora Posted February 3, 2017 Author Share #19 Posted February 3, 2017 Thanks for the comments. Hink441, sadly I do not have the holster. The veteran got rid of most of his stuff soon after the war but these items were found in the attic much later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustin Posted February 3, 2017 Share #20 Posted February 3, 2017 I love your group! The helmet is fantastic and the red lenses are very interesting. By the way, the picture of your veteran standing with his shipmate was used in a previous thread discussing the pistol shoulder holster he is wearing. Do you happen to have the holster in the picture?? Would love to see any additional items you have from this group!! Here is a link to an older thread about Navy shoulder holsters. If you scroll down on the provided link you will see your picture was instrumental in determining the earliest usage of this type of holster. http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/175474-us-navy-victory-model-shoulder-holster/?hl=%2Bnorfolk+%2Bholster Chris Funny thing, I think the shoes are pretty darn special. The helmet is great but the shoes add the extra flare. Your going to want to check out my chapter on Small Arms in Volume Two of my book. I have multiple pages dedicated to the holster highlighted here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry_k Posted February 3, 2017 Share #21 Posted February 3, 2017 Funny thing, I think the shoes are pretty darn special. The helmet is great but the shoes add the extra flare. Your going to want to check out my chapter on Small Arms in Volume Two of my book. I have multiple pages dedicated to the holster highlighted here. Dustin any news when book will be available? Cheers, Jerry btw. Jon of course this grouping is a top of the top. As Dustin wrote, I think this shoes are more rare than helmet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VenitHora Posted February 6, 2017 Author Share #22 Posted February 6, 2017 Thanks for the comments! Yes, the shoes are add a lot to the group. Definately not something you see everyday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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