Some WW2 Hawaii helmets

[Ben@HI]

First off is the only fixed bail naval supply center Pearl Harbor M1 I know of. These pop up here from time to time however they tend to be (to my knowledge and from the ones I've seen) late war swivel bail helmets, mostly RS. The ID bracket came with it however I do not know for certain this was her helmet although I believe she worked in supply so it would be a heck of a coincidence that they ended up together especially as these did not come from a militaria dealer.

[Ben@HI]

This was most likely a marine M1917A1 before the war because of the lighter green exterior paint and the riveted chin strap. These were issued out locally on Oahu to civilians just after the attack on pearl harbor to air raid wardens. The picture is from the book "Hawaii Gos to War" and was taken in 1943 during a training. The gas masks were issued to civilians as well as air raid wardens. The period picture is from the same book.

[anton67]

Very cool!

[GeneralCheese]

Really nice helmets.  The M1917A1 is the first type, which started being issued around 1936 I believe.  They are extremely hard to find and yours is in excellent condition!

[Ben@HI]

Thanks, there are some pretty interesting helmets from out here during the war. The air raid warden helmets and naval supply center pearl harbor helmets are really a hawaii thing. I've never encountered them on the mainland unless in a collection. I have had a number of the air raid warden helmets before, they almost always are early 1917A1's. I actually had a 1917A1 from the 1920's once. I think the liner was dated 1925 or 26? The really early one's like that are strange. The one i owned had an enlisted man's cap badge on it under the paint and they have a thicker leather for the liner. They also have a leather chinstrap with cast brass buckle and sharp J hook like the canvas straps on the later ones just made from leather instead. They must be really rare though, I've only seen 3 of them and the one I had went for $2,000 on eBay about 8 years ago. Really a neat helmet. I always wondered if there was an officers version of it or if they all had enlisted cap badges.

[aef1917]

1 hour ago, Ben@HI said:

 I actually had a 1917A1 from the 1920's once. I think the liner was dated 1925 or 26? The really early one's like that are strange. The one i owned had an enlisted man's cap badge on it under the paint and they have a thicker leather for the liner. They also have a leather chinstrap with cast brass buckle and sharp J hook like the canvas straps on the later ones just made from leather instead. They must be really rare though, I've only seen 3 of them and the one I had went for $2,000 on eBay about 8 years ago. Really a neat helmet. I always wondered if there was an officers version of it or if they all had enlisted cap badges.

 

They weren't cap badges, they were modified bridle rosettes.

[Ben@HI]

I didn't know that, do you know if they were all the same? No officer version?

[aef1917]

They were not intended to denote officer or enlisted, and are simply referred to as a US coat of arms badge in period documents. 

[Ben@HI]

Thank you, that actually makes sense especially for the time. Kind of like the WW1 french helmets.