Pbaczuk Posted July 30, 2019 Share #1 Posted July 30, 2019 Hi all, I found a really rough fixed bail helmet with a red square on the front and back. In the Marine Corps, I remember Landing Support Battalion Marines who wore little red patches on cover and trousers. I don't think these Marines were organized like that in WW2 . Has anyone else seen the little red squares? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pbaczuk Posted July 30, 2019 Author Share #2 Posted July 30, 2019 another Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usoverlord Posted July 30, 2019 Share #3 Posted July 30, 2019 Kinda like this set.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usoverlord Posted July 30, 2019 Share #4 Posted July 30, 2019 This set has been together for a very long time, quite possibly since new. Heat lot #161, front seam/fixed bail. Hawley liner w/fixed chin strap. So yes, I think the Marines were organized like that early on during WW2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pbaczuk Posted July 31, 2019 Author Share #5 Posted July 31, 2019 Thanks Milan. Have you identified yours as USMC? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarbridge Posted July 31, 2019 Share #6 Posted July 31, 2019 My Uncle was a 5th Mar Div Marine and he said they were given red paint to paint red squares on their trousers for Red Beach...this was for the assault on Iwo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usoverlord Posted July 31, 2019 Share #7 Posted July 31, 2019 Frankly I hadn't thought of it being anything other than USMC ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burning Hazard Posted July 31, 2019 Share #8 Posted July 31, 2019 I remember reading somewhere that red or orange squares on USMC helmet covers were for demolitions. Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorin6 Posted July 31, 2019 Share #9 Posted July 31, 2019 At the Army Surplus store in Ashboro, NC they've had a rear seam, swivel bail (no chin straps) helmet shell on the shelf for some time that has a red square on the front and a red square on the back, They are both the same size and color of red as the ones shown in this post. I have no idea what they mean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usoverlord Posted July 31, 2019 Share #10 Posted July 31, 2019 Marine beach support unit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pbaczuk Posted July 31, 2019 Author Share #11 Posted July 31, 2019 Molan, my iPad autocorrected to Milan.. I apologize for not catching it. For Tarbridge, what role did your uncle have on Iwo Jima -aside from just surviving? Did he ever share that with you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarbridge Posted July 31, 2019 Share #12 Posted July 31, 2019 Before assualting Red Beach while on shipboard...they were told to paint squares with red paint on their trouser legs.He always assumed it stood for Red Beach.They were first wave assault Infantry...he was an Infantryman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aef1917 Posted July 31, 2019 Share #13 Posted July 31, 2019 I used to have an M1 with red squares that belonged to a soldier in the 594th Joint Assault Signal Company. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stealthytyler Posted July 31, 2019 Share #14 Posted July 31, 2019 Some Navy Beach Platoons (not to be confused with ETO beach battalions) in the PTO were ordered to paint a 2 inch yellow circle on their shoulder and knee as well as their helmet to identify as "shore party". Maybe these red squares are attributed to a similar team that was confined to the beachhead? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted July 31, 2019 Share #15 Posted July 31, 2019 The Marines used a red square and still do/ did as a beach unit.There is also a Kevlar helmet with sewn square on the forum.Possible this is a Marine beach party helmet. http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/157476-usmc-red-patch-shore-party-cover/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted July 31, 2019 Share #16 Posted July 31, 2019 http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/276767-kevlar-helmet-shore-party/?fromsearch=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArchangelDM Posted July 31, 2019 Share #17 Posted July 31, 2019 Square was added to the helmet or clothing to identify them as non combatants when on the beach. They where there to remove the wounded/dead bring supplies etc. Not saying they didnt get into it with the enemy but they are there to control and supply the beach head. Red square would stop units pulling them forward into battle - Dean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6th.MG.BN Posted August 2, 2019 Share #18 Posted August 2, 2019 Example shown on page 195 "Painted Steel" by C Armold. believed to be USMC Beachmaster. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svt40 Posted August 2, 2019 Share #19 Posted August 2, 2019 Wish we could find info on yellow squares. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntssurplus Posted August 2, 2019 Share #20 Posted August 2, 2019 I have a ww2 front swivel bail helmet with a red painted square on the front and one on the back. Has postwar chin straps though. Not sure if it was painted during ww2 or postwar. Hunt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pbaczuk Posted August 2, 2019 Author Share #21 Posted August 2, 2019 Great responses folks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usoverlord Posted August 2, 2019 Share #22 Posted August 2, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pbaczuk Posted August 3, 2019 Author Share #23 Posted August 3, 2019 Very nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickman983 Posted August 6, 2019 Share #24 Posted August 6, 2019 I ended up picking this one up from Pbaczuk, here are some more pictures of the original helmet in question if anyone is interested. Overall pretty rough but it a lot of the original paint still managed to hold in there. Unfortunately the inside of the shell got the worst of the rust and is pretty toasty. I was very pleasantly surprised to see that this one is actually a FB Schlueter! I've got a few swivel bails in my collection but this is my first FB Schlueter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickman983 Posted August 6, 2019 Share #25 Posted August 6, 2019 more pics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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