Tonomachi Posted November 16, 2019 Share #1 Posted November 16, 2019 A seller at a flea market I frequent showed me this picture of a helmet that he found at a different flea market. I've never seen anything like this before and was wondering what it was for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wake1941 Posted November 16, 2019 Share #2 Posted November 16, 2019 Any liner? Looks like some sort of prototype Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickman983 Posted November 16, 2019 Share #3 Posted November 16, 2019 Very nice helmet! It's a M1 modified for use for aircraft crewmen during WWII. Here's a short thread with another one http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/332448-m1-helmet/ I'd love to own one of these myself some day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pararaftanr2 Posted November 16, 2019 Share #4 Posted November 16, 2019 It's an M1, field modified to serve as a flak helmet. These were done by the 8th AAF, prior to the availability of dedicated flak helmets. Very rare and very desirable. They actually used a screw-jack inside the helmet to bulge out the sides so it would fit over a radio headset. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray42 Posted November 16, 2019 Share #5 Posted November 16, 2019 That is pretty cool, it looks like it was designed so that the wearer could have a head set on under them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Costa Posted November 17, 2019 Share #6 Posted November 17, 2019 hope you grabbed it bro. I have one and it was the only one in 50 plus years of collecting I have seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonomachi Posted November 17, 2019 Author Share #7 Posted November 17, 2019 Very nice helmet! It's a M1 modified for use for aircraft crewmen during WWII. Here's a short thread with another one http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/332448-m1-helmet/ I'd love to own one of these myself some day. Thanks everyone for this information and this link. I tired to buy the helmet but the seller had an inkling that it was rare so he is going to put it for sale on eBay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Posted November 17, 2019 Share #8 Posted November 17, 2019 Thanks everyone for this information and this link. I tired to buy the helmet but the seller had an inkling that it was rare so he is going to put it for sale on eBay. Cash is king.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray42 Posted November 17, 2019 Share #9 Posted November 17, 2019 Thanks everyone for this information and this link. I tired to buy the helmet but the seller had an inkling that it was rare so he is going to put it for sale on eBay. Well now we know to track the most expensive hemlets on ebay until this pops up. lol That would have been a real find if you had got it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickman983 Posted November 17, 2019 Share #10 Posted November 17, 2019 Any idea what these things go for? I'm considering throwing my hat in the ring if I see it listed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Costa Posted November 17, 2019 Share #11 Posted November 17, 2019 with no liner I say-- 500 to 800.00 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1canpara Posted November 17, 2019 Share #12 Posted November 17, 2019 Yup, pretty cool modified lid, I’d love to have that one in my war room to sit with my flak helmet collection! I have a similar helmet but it was in no way as well engineered in the modification. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted November 18, 2019 Share #13 Posted November 18, 2019 I bought my first jeep from an 8th AAF veteran back in 1991. He was a gunner on a B17. He still had his helmet just like the one in this thread. I tried real hard to get it away from him but he wouldn't let it go. Eventually another collector talked him out of it. Don't know where it is now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOLO Posted November 21, 2019 Share #14 Posted November 21, 2019 try to buy it before it gets on ebay, make him an offer he cant refuse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bodes Posted November 21, 2019 Share #15 Posted November 21, 2019 Pretty cool lid...Now my quest begins...Bodes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAW Posted November 21, 2019 Share #16 Posted November 21, 2019 try to buy it before it gets on ebay, make him an offer he cant refuse. ^^^This! There would be a magic price. You just have to figure out what that is. He's going to lose fees, etc. listing it online...and it's a crap shoot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickman983 Posted November 21, 2019 Share #17 Posted November 21, 2019 I've been keeping my eyes peeled for this one and I haven't seen this pop up on ebay yet so I assume it either wasn't listed yet, it's been sold offline or shortly after it was listed. If I saw this one at the flea market I would have been running to the ATM to make sure I could buy it. If he's still got it the next time you're at the flea market I'd try to make him a good offer on it, cash is king as they say. Heck, even if you're not interested in keeping it I'm sure you could flip it if you get it at the right price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted November 21, 2019 Share #18 Posted November 21, 2019 The ATM? You might loose out while you’re there. Keep abundant cash in your pocket when you shop. I’ll never make that mistake again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bodes Posted November 21, 2019 Share #19 Posted November 21, 2019 The ATM? You might loose out while youre there. Keep abundant cash in your pocket when you shop. Ill never make that mistake again I almost missed out on an SS helmet that way....Guy had one on his table at a local baseball card/coin show....When I inquired about what he was asking for it, he replied it was already sold....Went back and asked how much it sold for?...He said $50....I walked away in disgust, but a voice in my head told me to to go back and offer $100...Figured I had nothing to lose....He agreed to the offer, but as luck would have it, I didn't have the money on me...Called home to have a family member to bring me the money...I waited about forty five minutes, pacing the floor...But I did get the helmet, but very much could have missed out...Bodes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pararaftanr2 Posted November 23, 2019 Share #20 Posted November 23, 2019 A similarly modified M1, but this variation had the rear brim removed: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccmax Posted November 24, 2019 Share #21 Posted November 24, 2019 This is one of the occasions in which the investment in books pays off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pararaftanr2 Posted November 28, 2019 Share #22 Posted November 28, 2019 I see the helmet that started this thread is now available on ebay. https://www.ebay.com/itm/VERY-RARE-FIELD-MODIFIED-M1-FLAK-HELMET-USAAF-8TH-AA-CORPS-SUPER-RARE-SHIPS-US-/372856642720?&_trksid=p2056016.l4276 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Rooster Posted November 28, 2019 Share #23 Posted November 28, 2019 As of this morning its at $910.00 with 9 days to go !!! This is going to be a crazy one !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickman983 Posted November 28, 2019 Share #24 Posted November 28, 2019 Wow, that's insane. I never understood why people bid outside of the last few minutes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Rooster Posted November 28, 2019 Share #25 Posted November 28, 2019 Wow, that's insane. I never understood why people bid outside of the last few minutes I totally agree.If I was serious about it, Id bid in the last 4 seconds. Was out of my leauge yesterday. lol It'll be fun to watch. Grab the popcorn. As of right now its $1,225.00 Yikes!!! Whats everyones guess what it'l go for? My Guess- $7,000.00 Who knows? What its worth and what it will sell for. Its got 9 days to go!!! Popcorn and beer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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