ID'd airborne M1 FS FB..info & opinions wanted!!

[25thid]

Just picked up this beauty on the cheap and would love some opinions on it. Would also like some help getting some info on the owner. It has the name Philip J Lauterbach written inside, as well as a laundry mark L6989 (I think). I can't find any info on him, he's not showing up on NARA.

The helmet has tons of character, clearly a battle worn example. The liner appears to be rigger modified, it has what appears to be tape residue on the front brim which makes sense because the shell does not have airborne chin straps. Although the tape residue doesn't look to extend past the liner onto the shell which is weird. One of the chin straps on the shell is torn and missing it's clasp.

Let me know if you have any questions or need more pics.

 

 

[elh1311]

The lack of matching tape residue would seem to indicate that the liner and lid were paired together at a later date. 

 

The liner itself is a WWII produced standard liner that was converted to paratrooper configuration later on. There is debate as to when and by whom but what has been settled on is that these "rigger" liners were not issued/used before hostilities ended in August 1945. 

 

Which leads to the reason why you're probably not finding that name in NARA. He most likely never served during WWII and was issued that liner some time after the war ended and the WWII dates of service ended as well. 

 

The rigger liners are typically associated with the Korean War-era. 

[elh1311]

And now that I see the service number begins with "RA", I am convinced this soldier served after WWII and during Korea. 

[MasonK]

6 minutes ago, elh1311 said:

The lack of matching tape residue would seem to indicate that the liner and lid were paired together at a later date. 

 

The liner itself is a WWII produced standard liner that was converted to paratrooper configuration later on. There is debate as to when and by whom but what has been settled on is that these "rigger" liners were not issued/used before hostilities ended in August 1945. 

 

Which leads to the reason why you're probably not finding that name in NARA. He most likely never served during WWII and was issued that liner some time after the war ended and the WWII dates of service ended as well. 

 

The rigger liners are typically associated with the Korean War-era. 

 

To add to this, the RA (Regular Army) after his name confirms post-war service.

 

I have a feeling your vet is still alive. Google search for Philip J Lauterbach finds an individual by the same name, age 91, in CT. This could also be the reason for not much info being available online. Try a search, and you may find a phone number. May be worth giving a call to confirm. 

 

 

[elh1311]

3 minutes ago, MasonK said:

 

To add to this, the RA (Regular Army) after his name confirms post-war service.

 

I have a feeling your vet is still alive. Google search for Philip J Lauterbach finds an individual by the same name, age 91, in CT. This could also be the reason for not much info being available online. Try a search, and you may find a phone number. May be worth giving a call to confirm. 

 

 

Concur with this. 1940 census has him at 9 years old (born 1931, so currently 90-91 years old) and living in CT. Same phone number for him is listed on several sites. I think it would be really cool to reach out to him and see if there's a conversation in it. 

[P-59A]

https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2020_10/DSC00019.JPG.b74487567c23ebf971abaa281a09c429.JPG    This is a link to a helmet I came across. I went down a few roads before nailing it down.