Bugme Posted June 11, 2017 Share #1 Posted June 11, 2017 This is a rare WWII American Field Service helmet(Adrian) belonging to Bertrand Hutchinson. How I came upon this helmet is incredibly amazing but, the short story is that the guy who inherited the Costa Mesa, CA storage unit this came out of, sold it to me. COURTESY OF THE ARCHIVES OF THE AMERICAN FIELD SERVICE: When: WWII Where: France Category of People: WWII Driver Last Name: Hutchinson Given Name(s): Bertrand Decorations: Decorated in WWII(Croix de Guerre) Unit (WWII): FR 40-1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted June 11, 2017 Author Share #2 Posted June 11, 2017 Almost forgot, here's a photo of Bertrand Hutchinson from the AFS Archives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarbridge Posted June 11, 2017 Share #3 Posted June 11, 2017 Something new to see even after all these years...Congratulations . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horridohutch Posted June 11, 2017 Share #4 Posted June 11, 2017 Being a Hutchinson I find this helmet very interesting..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted June 11, 2017 Author Share #5 Posted June 11, 2017 Thanks guys! For those who don't know about the AFS here is a little snippet: During World War II, the American Field Services volunteer force was stationed in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, India, and Burma. AFS Drivers served near the front lines alongside Allied soldiers. Approximately 2,200 AFS Drivers had served by the end of the war, and they carried over 700,000 casualties. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RustyCanteen Posted June 11, 2017 Share #6 Posted June 11, 2017 Scott, you shouldn't shock people without warning. That is one cool WWII helmet. Thanks for sharing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burning Hazard Posted June 11, 2017 Share #7 Posted June 11, 2017 Very cool helmet and an interesting piece of history! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAST Posted June 11, 2017 Share #8 Posted June 11, 2017 That is one amazing find! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted June 11, 2017 Share #9 Posted June 11, 2017 Snagged one out of Kalifornia. Good job Scott. Ronnie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted June 11, 2017 Author Share #10 Posted June 11, 2017 Thanks gentlemen, I know it is not an M-1 but, it is for all intent, an American helmet even though it was supplied by the French. The AFS badge on the front designated the wearer as an American volunteer Ambulance driver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newcollect Posted June 11, 2017 Share #11 Posted June 11, 2017 Wow! Nice! Congrats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLHSS Posted June 11, 2017 Share #12 Posted June 11, 2017 Outstanding! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilHar Posted June 12, 2017 Share #13 Posted June 12, 2017 Very cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fstop61 Posted June 12, 2017 Share #14 Posted June 12, 2017 That's something you don't see very often. Fantastic helmet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted June 13, 2017 Author Share #15 Posted June 13, 2017 Thanks gentleman! I realize, that few people know a lot about the AFS both in WWI and WWII. Here's a link to a WWI AFS drivers helmet also in my collection: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/80255-rare-wwi-m-15-american-field-service-adrian-helmet/A little more from WWII AFS: This is the most well know WWII driver, Actor Robert Montgomery who put his career on hold to be a volunteer driver. The insignia on his helmet appear to be a WWI version badge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted June 13, 2017 Author Share #16 Posted June 13, 2017 Here are some AFS drivers during WWII(The driver on the left also appears to have a WWI AFS badge while the driver on the right has the standard French infantry badge) The point being that AFS badges for WWII are very rare and hard to find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumpin Jack Posted June 13, 2017 Share #17 Posted June 13, 2017 Probably one of the most notable members of the AFS in WWI was Hemingway. I had a friend who volunteered for the AFS in Italy, WWII, who was kind enough to give me his bring backs and his uniform insignia. Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtdorango Posted June 13, 2017 Share #18 Posted June 13, 2017 Nice uber rare helmet Scott...are we gonna get to see a family photo of both your AFS helmets together?!...mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted June 13, 2017 Author Share #19 Posted June 13, 2017 Here's the best I can do right now Mike, When I get some time I'll do some nicer side by side photo's. WWII AFS(first) WWI AFS(second) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdk0911 Posted June 13, 2017 Share #20 Posted June 13, 2017 awesome looking 'Twins' !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Jerry Posted June 13, 2017 Share #21 Posted June 13, 2017 Awesome! (now leave some for the rest of us!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted June 14, 2017 Author Share #22 Posted June 14, 2017 Awesome! (now leave some for the rest of us!) Will do Jerry however, I am reasonably sure there are not a whole lot of these left but if I find another one, I'll give you a call. This one only took about 30 years to find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted June 16, 2017 Author Share #23 Posted June 16, 2017 Just a bit more information of the rarity of these WWII AFS helmets... up until I precured this helmet, The only other one I'd seen was in this artists rendition and in one period photo that I now can't locate in my e-files. However, since I posted this helmet, one other collector from the Netherlands has shown me his WWII AFS Adrian. Hopefully he will post his as well since he is also a member here. So, this is a grand total of two that I've seen in 30 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted June 16, 2017 Author Share #24 Posted June 16, 2017 Adding a bit more to the rarity of the AFS Adrian, is the fact that later in the the war M-1's were made available to AFS drivers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtdorango Posted June 16, 2017 Share #25 Posted June 16, 2017 Nice!...did they ever put that badge insignia on the M1 helmet?......mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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