Yellowkid Posted December 23, 2020 Share #1 Posted December 23, 2020 Hi folks -- new to the forum and first post. in fact I registered so that I could share this find with the right audience, and hopefully learn a bit more about it. My wife found this at a local estate/garage sale and brought it to my attention. I collect Imperial German militaria, and am a regular on the WAF, and posted this a while back (perhaps some of you saw it there), but again figured this was a better place for it. first, the folks at WAF said it was a wartime liner (cast buckles I believe) and steel pot (heat treat numbers?), but post-war used. I did do as much research as I could including searching posts here, and here's what I think I've got. the painted insignia are for the 325th Glider Infantry regiment, and only applied post war. they did occupation duty in Germany, and also were still active in the US (including some time at Ft. Dix nearby I read somewhere?). They were deactivated in 1947 according to one site. As you can see the OD paint is a second coat presumably over the wartime finish? and I assume done when the insignia were also applied? The liner decoration is basically scratched in to the paint, and looks like the 325th crest (?) I've seen on line in my research. Also I understand that the glider troops did not wear M1C's during the war. the trooper's name was Henry Meller jr., from Cliffside Park, NJ -- a few towns away from me. I bought it from his nephew, who simply said "my uncle was a paratrooper. I used to play army with that helmet when I was a kid". As to its authenticity, this is exactly as I found it, and I paid $50 for it, so no scammer there. AS to my motives, I am not looking to sell, since frankly I'm a big fan of all things militaria and US airborne (my brother was in the 10th SF and made two jumps for the film "A Bridge Too Far") and it's already got a nice spot on the shelf! I hope to research the trooper but his name is all I have -- no service number. MY guess is that he enlisted, got in late and did post war service. but might he have served in the war and also post-war? thanks for any input you might have. Have too say it's really become a favorite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhcoleterracina Posted December 23, 2020 Share #2 Posted December 23, 2020 Nice helmet but what a lovely wife. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellowkid Posted December 23, 2020 Author Share #3 Posted December 23, 2020 absolutely! She's always got her eye out for me but it's not typically something like this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryant U. Posted December 23, 2020 Share #4 Posted December 23, 2020 Wow! Great find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Usmc2004 Posted December 23, 2020 Share #5 Posted December 23, 2020 That’s a great find! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Dentino Posted December 23, 2020 Share #6 Posted December 23, 2020 Very cool helmet to my favorite unit!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtdorango Posted December 23, 2020 Share #7 Posted December 23, 2020 Holy Schnikies!!!!😍👍🏻.....mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArchangelDM Posted December 23, 2020 Share #8 Posted December 23, 2020 What a great look that helmet has ! Congrats really nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted December 23, 2020 Share #9 Posted December 23, 2020 All the above! I love that artwork on the liner that just really puts it over the top. Did you find anything else that helps you ID the original owner? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMC-RECON0321 Posted December 23, 2020 Share #10 Posted December 23, 2020 Love the look of this helmet. Congrats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gravecreek Posted December 23, 2020 Share #11 Posted December 23, 2020 Great Find ! It would be my favorite too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Rooster Posted December 24, 2020 Share #12 Posted December 24, 2020 Thats a Beauty !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellowkid Posted December 28, 2020 Author Share #13 Posted December 28, 2020 thanks all yeah its just a very neat piece. oddly there war really no other 82nd/325th stuff with it. the nephew was selling a pile of "military stuff" of his uncle's and father's (his father had served in the navy and was the trooper's brother) that the helmet was part of. there were three M43 jackets but none with anything sewn on. no uniform items at all. a copy of his manual as a Civil Air Patrol Cadet was included, and also a book "How to get along in the Army" that he checked out of the Cliffside Park, NJ HS library in March '43 (and never returned) were thrown in. but the nephew said that's all he had. Wish it were a proper grouping but at least it's a nice piece and with a name I can try and run down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-59A Posted December 28, 2020 Share #14 Posted December 28, 2020 That is a very solid looking helmet! Your wife has a good eye!! Outstanding!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbmilitaria Posted December 30, 2020 Share #15 Posted December 30, 2020 That's a smoker for sure. You should buy your wife some jewelry! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddyd00 Posted December 30, 2020 Share #16 Posted December 30, 2020 Awesome helm dude. And a fellow Jersey boy. Don’t want to post an ad here but the german helmet seller Ken N has one of these for sale w the same unit marking. Been on his site for awhile now. But can’t beat $50 and a local find! Also has “the look”. Nice one Zach Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellowkid Posted January 4, 2021 Author Share #17 Posted January 4, 2021 Thx yeah up in Bergen county! I went to kens site but couldn’t find it - would have loved to see it. Curious of course do you recall what he was asking? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddyd00 Posted January 4, 2021 Share #18 Posted January 4, 2021 6 hours ago, Yellowkid said: Thx yeah up in Bergen county! I went to kens site but couldn’t find it - would have loved to see it. Curious of course do you recall what he was asking? Oh yes. Just looked. Gone. Bummer. It was pretty mint for an M1. If memory serves me it was for $1900. It was on there a long time though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellowkid Posted January 4, 2021 Author Share #19 Posted January 4, 2021 Thx! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6th.MG.BN Posted January 4, 2021 Share #20 Posted January 4, 2021 As has already been said by many, nice lid. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddyd00 Posted January 4, 2021 Share #21 Posted January 4, 2021 27 minutes ago, Yellowkid said: Thx! I prefer yours TBH but maybe if you email him he can share with you pics of that one just for your reference :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helmet2id Posted January 9, 2021 Share #22 Posted January 9, 2021 LOVE it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted January 10, 2021 Share #23 Posted January 10, 2021 Outstanding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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