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Dirk's helmet


Steve S.
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Picked this up cheap for a restoration project. it had been painted more than a few times, the original gold, yellow, blue & then the white/red arrow job. Anyone know if this was a squadron designation or a "personal" job? About 99% of the cracking is in the numerous layers of paint.

 

 

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back was signed "dirk" & also written inside.

 

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Here it is now after having all the layers stripped off & ready for epoxy primer. I took measurements for the red arrow & made stencils of the name & checkerboards on the sides to duplicate when it gets to the paint stage.

 

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Hate to say this but........I kind of liked it better in it's original state. That's just me though. Maybe I'll change my mind with the finished product?

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northcoastaero

The red arrow possibly represents a squadron. I had a H-2 helmet in the past which had a similar, if not

the same size, red arrow. The H-2 helmet shell was white. Your helmet appears to be a USN/USMC

H-4. Hope this helps.

 

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I always wish I knew more about the earlier basic markings. I had heard that the arrows were to help rescue crews know which end was up. I also thought the arrows were different colors to represent the different squadrons of that Air Wing, but not necessarily specific to a particular squadron. More of a 1st squadron red, 2nd squadron blue, 3rd squadron green, of that deployment. The side markings on this helmet may have been to represent a specific squadron....does that make sense?

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I assume that like everything else, the "beginning stages" of the jet era had alot of experimentation. 60-70 yrs later, some makes sense while other things can be real head scratchers!

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boxerdogi

Not to mention.....just when you think you have it figured out, you find an exception to the rule!

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Ultra Hog

I remember that shell. I saw it on eBay at a very nice price & was particularly happy to see it kept original & vintage markings...

 

As Boxerdogi, i always love original markings.

 

Cedric, one of FB flightgear page admin

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northcoastaero

boxerdogi,

 

Interesting information about the use of arrows on early USN/USMC hard helmets. I believe there is an

arrow painted on at least one of the helmets in the movie The Bridges at Toko-Ri. I have heard that the

gold paint on the H-3, H-4, and APH-5 helmets could be detected by radar, also to aid in rescue.

 

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I remember that shell. I saw it on eBay at a very nice price & was particularly happy to see it kept original & vintage markings...

 

As Boxerdogi, i always love original markings.

 

Cedric, one of FB flightgear page admin

 

 

Yes, thats the one. I actually made an offer on it & got it alot cheaper than it was listed for.

 

Also picked this one up for $75. Once I got all the dirt/grime cleaned off, it turned out to be an excellent original paint helmet. Someone had removed the original wings decal but I had one packed away in some stuff & dug it out & installed it & "spot cleared" it to seal it on. Liner is perfect, not even a sweat stain on the leather parts!

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  • 4 weeks later...

been working on this one off & on around other stuff. have to add the checkerboard on one side then a coat of clear to protect it, but pretty much have the hard part knocked out.

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Nice work. Let us see a picture when you get it put back together. Looks great so far!!

 

I just purchased an H-4 with an arrow ontop myself.

 

Chris

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  • 2 weeks later...

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