Vietnam Helicopter Aircrew Body Armor

[AirMechanic]

I picked this up recently and wasn’t really able to find much on the value of these. I guess they don’t come up for sale that often. This one is dated 1968 (regular size) and has only one plate (in the front, dated 1968 also). Were they typically issued with one plate or two? The only one I found online that was similar sold on IMA for $395.00, but that is on a well advertised militaria site. What is a ballpark value on this one? Any help is appreciated!

[mohawkALSE]

Never saw this post when it was made but I will reply to it now.  These vests were issued with 2 plates, front and rear.  Alot of times when issued though,  if issued to pilots the rear plates were not worn since they sit in armored seats and would also be really uncomfortable as well.   Lots of times that rear plate was donated to the aircrew in the rear to put on the floor under their seats to help out since they lacked armored seats in the back.  The crew in the back always wore their front and rear plates in their vests.    When my father had one of these issued in 1969, even wearing the whole carrier as a pilot was seen as uncomfortable that they would just separate the vest and take the front carrier side with the front plate and just rest it in front of their chest and then secure it down with the shoulder harness.  Not really smart I think if you got in a crash but it was commonly done by pilots.  I have numerous pics from his unit of this being done.

 

As for prices, they vary.  I bought a brand new old stock 1984 contract vest with both plates for 250 a couple years ago.  Was all matching date wise as well.  The Vietnam era vests will have more value to them but they have to also have the matching plates date wise.  Ive seen some Nam dated carriers with plates from the 80s or early 90s added.  All matching Nam era ones can go around 350 with both plates.  Obviously only 1 plate detracts from the values.

[AirMechanic]

Thanks for the info!

[RMEAV8R]

Almost always referred to as a "chicken plate" by Army aircrews.  I flew with one in the early 80's a few times only to get familiar with them, heavy and restrictive.  The 101st aviation unit I was in stacked them up and disposed of them to the on base DRMO.  I don't know if they sold them or disposed of them, at the time there wasn't any value seen in them.  If I remember some were new and some were used and beat up.  Later on the armored vest in the Gulf Wars were ceramic and much lighter.