6th.MG.BN Posted October 1, 2019 Share #1 Posted October 1, 2019 Why is it you see more WWII helmets with white officers vertical "follow me" bars painted on the back than you see of the NCO horizontal ones? I'm guessing since that practice of painting the helmets was early-mid war, the nco's might have been promoted to officers? It just seems that the officers version is all you see anymore. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Rooster Posted October 1, 2019 Share #2 Posted October 1, 2019 Interesting question... Ive got a couple guesses. The ratio of officers to NCO's is small so..... Im thinking, being ofiicers, they had more oportunity to take their gear home? Not sure if officers had to pay for thier gear like they do their clothes? Or maybe there are just more fakes out there? My 2cents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickman983 Posted October 1, 2019 Share #3 Posted October 1, 2019 They're still out there, as with most painted helmets originals are just not super common. I know Steve Klima sold a one on the m1 helmet depot not all that long ago and I've got an overpainted helmet with a NCO bar coming through the paint that I picked up about a year ago. Could also be that the Follow Me stripes are popular due to movies like Saving Private Ryan so you see more people trying to buy or sell (or fake) them than helmets with NCO bars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6th.MG.BN Posted October 1, 2019 Author Share #4 Posted October 1, 2019 I agree with your response that officers probably could hold onto there gear easier than other ranks. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6th.MG.BN Posted October 1, 2019 Author Share #5 Posted October 1, 2019 They're still out there, as with most painted helmets originals are just not super common. I know Steve Klima sold a one on the m1 helmet depot not all that long ago and I've got an overpainted helmet with a NCO bar coming through the paint that I picked up about a year ago. Could also be that the Follow Me stripes are popular due to movies like Saving Private Ryan so you see more people trying to buy or sell (or fake) them than helmets with NCO bars. I think your right in that the fakers add more officer ones to the ranks. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobS. Posted October 1, 2019 Share #6 Posted October 1, 2019 Here's one that is named inside and has a horizontal bar in back. I wonder if an officer bar was removed, could be a story there Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobS. Posted October 1, 2019 Share #7 Posted October 1, 2019 pics Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conn Posted October 2, 2019 Share #8 Posted October 2, 2019 nco is smarter than an officer who would want to put some type of marking on your helmet that says i am leading men just my thoughts my neighbor where i grew up was an SS german sniper, he would say why did US officers put a target on their helmet for me to shoot at for target practice very sad, but true semper fi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airborneguy44 Posted October 2, 2019 Share #9 Posted October 2, 2019 My .02 is no matter what officer rank you are, you still have the vertical bar. So if you started as a 2nd Lt. and ended as let say a major, still a white vertical bar. However, field promotions were so common, Im guessing soldiers didnt have the time/care enough to mark their helmets. You have the stripes and members in your company know youre an NCO, so no need to paint a bar on your helmet. Probably not a lot of white paint in the combat areas anyways Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted October 2, 2019 Share #10 Posted October 2, 2019 And a sad fact, faked officer helmets sell better and for more $$$ than a faked NCO helmet. Let's be honest, while I do see a lot of officer marked M-1's, I see very few "legit" officer marked M-1's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6th.MG.BN Posted October 2, 2019 Author Share #11 Posted October 2, 2019 And a sad fact, faked officer helmets sell better and for more $$$ than a faked NCO helmet. Let's be honest, while I do see a lot of officer marked M-1's, I see very few "legit" officer marked M-1's. True. Setting up at a lot of the shows in the 90's-mid 2000's, I rarely saw any legit officer's or nco marked helmets. Now you can view new ones daily. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacksmith Posted October 2, 2019 Share #12 Posted October 2, 2019 +1 on fakers. As I heard quipped about SS helmets years ago: For every SS helmet issued during the war, only ten still exist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king802 Posted October 2, 2019 Share #13 Posted October 2, 2019 This is only the 2nd one Ive ever owned in over 23 years of collecting. I sadly sold my first and regretted it ever since. This one came from Steve at M1 Helmet Depot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickman983 Posted October 2, 2019 Share #14 Posted October 2, 2019 Here is my over painted one I mentioned earlier int his thread. Not the nicest example but I was able to get a good deal on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theriddler Posted October 2, 2019 Share #15 Posted October 2, 2019 Heres my fixed bail McCord with a NCO stripe on the back. Note the line of original paint near the rim of the helmet. It looks like whoever repainted it did so with the chinstrap still wrapped round the back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6th.MG.BN Posted October 2, 2019 Author Share #16 Posted October 2, 2019 Nice helmets. Thanks for taking the time to share them. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usoverlord Posted October 3, 2019 Share #17 Posted October 3, 2019 FS/FB Schlueter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usoverlord Posted October 3, 2019 Share #18 Posted October 3, 2019 Also has a name and laundry number. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted October 3, 2019 Share #19 Posted October 3, 2019 Im thinking this is a NCO bar covered over with tape....its on a 113th Cav helmet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted October 3, 2019 Share #20 Posted October 3, 2019 Local 3rd ID veterans helmet. Im not sure its a NCO bar on the front but the residue is from medical tape.I have his uniform and discharge.He was wounded twice in Italy and his rank was private. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burning Hazard Posted October 3, 2019 Share #21 Posted October 3, 2019 Overpainted NCO marking checking in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6th.MG.BN Posted October 3, 2019 Author Share #22 Posted October 3, 2019 FS/FB Schlueter resized_IMG_20190908_150604.jpg resized_IMG_20190908_182246.jpg Love that named nco marked lid! Thanks for sharing. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6th.MG.BN Posted October 3, 2019 Author Share #23 Posted October 3, 2019 Local 3rd ID veterans helmet. Im not sure its a NCO bar on the front but the residue is from medical tape.I have his uniform and discharge.He was wounded twice in Italy and his rank was private. !ab1.jpg !ab3.jpg !ab2.jpg Interesting 3rd ID lid with tape on front. Whats the yellow marking on the back? looks like a backwards. seven? Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6th.MG.BN Posted October 3, 2019 Author Share #24 Posted October 3, 2019 Overpainted NCO marking checking inMakes sense they would paint over the horizontal marking as the war progressed. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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