mwesson030 Posted August 5, 2019 Share #1 Posted August 5, 2019 Iâm sure most of you have seen it already, but I was wondering what some of the more experienced eyes thought about this helmet up for auction on eBay right now. Is it period? Was it commemorative? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m1a2u2 Posted August 5, 2019 Share #2 Posted August 5, 2019 Very hard to know. You could have them take a picture with a black light to see if the florescents have degraded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boxerdogi Posted August 6, 2019 Share #3 Posted August 6, 2019 A couple of thoughts..... the actual King Cobra was experimental and was early 70s. Im thinking the helmet would be an sph. Even Cobras were late 60s... so again Im thinking an sph. I also believe it was common practice for helicopter pilots to paint their white helmets olive drab prior to deployment to Vietnam. Super helmet, but I question if it was ever in combat. Provenance would be key with this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrei Posted August 6, 2019 Share #4 Posted August 6, 2019 The 129th AHC has a Facebook page, maybe you could ask them directly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwesson030 Posted August 7, 2019 Author Share #5 Posted August 7, 2019 Super helmet, but I question if it was ever in combat. Provenance would be key with this one. Yeah, that was my concern as well. Possibly it was used in testing stateside? I think that the APH stayed in production for quite a while. The seller was not able to supply any provenance. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mohawkALSE Posted August 7, 2019 Share #6 Posted August 7, 2019 Doesn't have to do with the AH-1 Cobra, the Guns (UH-1 gunships) of the 129th were the Cobras I believe. https://www.129th.net/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boxerdogi Posted August 7, 2019 Share #7 Posted August 7, 2019 They did get Cobras in the early 70's...but you do make a good point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfixer Posted August 7, 2019 Share #8 Posted August 7, 2019 from the pictures.. I like the paint and the wear..scratches, dings etc...To me...looks like an operationally used helmet.....I am not passing judgement on when and where...but I think the guy flew with it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itshistory Posted August 7, 2019 Share #9 Posted August 7, 2019 The 129th guns were known as King Cobras to differentiate themselves from other units like the 114th guns Cobras. I have a patch in my collection with the exact image on it as that is painted on the back of the helmet. If this is some sort of bogus repro it has taken a significant amount of effort to produce. IH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boxerdogi Posted August 7, 2019 Share #10 Posted August 7, 2019 Dont get me wrong.... I love the helmet. Worn in country?.... maybe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itshistory Posted August 9, 2019 Share #11 Posted August 9, 2019 Well, someone liked it as it sold. IH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMT500E Posted August 14, 2019 Share #12 Posted August 14, 2019 Looks period correct for the Huey Bravo gunship era and most likely the real deal. Combat used or not, it's still a very cool piece of history. Nice score! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucky52 Posted October 5, 2019 Share #13 Posted October 5, 2019 The 129th was at Lane Army Heliport,An Son ,Viet Nam in the 70-71 time period(when I was there) and there were Cobras there.There is a facebook page for Lane Army Heliport.It was pretty much roll your own over there so if a pilot had had taken his APH 5 over there he could have painted it up and wore it, although the SPH 4 was the norm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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