WW2 US MP M1 Helmet Markings Guide

[Burning Hazard]

Hello everyone,

 

As a student of history, I've been studying period footage/photographs of how policemen marked their M1 helmets with the iconic MP markings and came up with a table. There were official orders on how to paint the MP markings, along with the letter size, on 26 November 1943 and that's pretty correct as the earliest I've seen MP marked helmets was on a 1943 reel recorded in Italy.

Some policemen were stationed away from the front lines and had access to quartermaster equipment, which appears to have result in elaborate stenciling of their helmets while others painted them free hand.

 

I'm hoping to add more examples to the table, if you have any other period footage of marked ones that aren't listed then please post.

 

Unconfirmed on the table means I couldn't find any footage but an original example appeared for sale on eBay or a militaria site.

[Burning Hazard]

These are probably the 2 most commonly seen variances, they pretty much follow the 1943 order sheet, small variances on the letter "M" but very close nontheless.

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Couple of more examples of the common ones, including my MP helmet.

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Stencil work, many different variations on both the M and P but similar examples

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Here is my stenciled MP helmet, I found a similar example where the M is whole while the P has the small gaps.

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Some more stenciled helmets, different variations.

[falcon_ib]

Thanks for the info! I've always wondered about variations in MP helmets

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Some more stencil variations, this one was taken in Italy and the MP is very far apart.

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Interesting way to stencil the M, I've seen this on a few helmets and liners before.

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Stylized fonts

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Some more stencils

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Famous D-Day MP photo showing the "square-ish P"

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Just another variation showing the M fully aligned top and bottom, it includes my original white MP liner as an example.

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Stenciled MP helmets in France, note the M is stenciled on as visible by the gaps.

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Couple more classics taken from reels dated November 1943

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Original helmet examples in my collection, many different styles, sizs and variations.

 

If anyone has any more period photos then feel free to contribute

[Bugme]

Very nice research with great photographic evidence! After some discussion on this, I will likely pin this thread for reference.

[USMC-RECON0321]

Very nice job on this. I love the unit marked MP Helmets, especially that 88th.

 

Troy

[TFH]

Great job and really nice helmets !

Thanks,

TFH

[fstop61]

​Impressive thread with great information Thanks

[sgtdorango]

I agree great job...love the MP helmets!...mike

[jkash23686]

This guy feel left out

[Cap Camouflage Pattern I]

Here you go jkash

[jkash23686]

stencil.png

Here you go jkash

 

[1canpara]

Here's one I used to own. It's a FB and had a couple of reprints, the outline of the MP letters were drawn with a pencil which was still visible.

 

Rick