US heavy helmet with insignia

[gerard]

Hello everyone, For once, I'm submitting this strange heavy helmet "shell" to US helmet specialists. I have a guess as to its intended purpose, but it's only a guess. This heavy helmet was recently found in the curio cabinet of a Belgian lord of the manor. Its movable fasteners have been removed, and its original paint is still visible under the whitewash and inside. The lot number, as far as I can tell, is "3742." Is this WW2 service or just post-war?

[gerard]

Hello, anyone, for identification, it's for a friend of mine who brought in this helmet.

[JohnK83882]

Hard to know if it was a military paint job or something done for a football game or music concert. The chinstrap rings knocked off doesn't help but could be typical for use within the unit it was issued. ECM could stand for electronic counter measures, which would give some sense to the "Jam it" on the side.

 

The white paint job could be WW2 winter camouflage. If so, that would be most of the helmet's value.

 

If it's a military paint job, the animal on the side could be some kind of chimera, reflecting the various roles covered by the unit it represents. An oozlefinch is a chimera used by the US Engineers.

 

 

[JohnK83882]

Look for numbers stamped inside the helmet. There are tables telling you the manufacturer and date range.

[gerard]

I'll look and let you know as soon as possible if there is a number.

[gerard]

19 minutes ago, JohnK83882 said:

Look for numbers stamped inside the helmet. There are tables telling you the manufacturer and date range.

The batch number is as far as I can read: "3742".

[JohnK83882]

The helmet looks like it was fixed bale which would make it early WW2. Get some good pictures of the markings and post them here.

 

There are different tables and I'm sure there are experts that have other sources, but start here. https://second-worldwar.com/m1-helmet-shell-dating-heat-stamp/

 

Batch number    Production date
0-100        01/1941 – 03/1942
100-200    04/1942 – 06/1942
200-300    07/1942 – 09/1942
300-400    10/1942 – 12/1942
400-500    01/1943 – 04/1943
500-600    05/1943 – 08/1943
600-700    09/1943 – 10/1943
700-800    11/1943 – 02/1944
800-900    03/1944 – 05/1944
900-1000    06/1944 – 08/1944
1000-1100    09/1944 – 11/1944
1100-1200    12/1944 – 02/1945
1200-1300    03/1945 – 06/1945

[Marshallj]

Looks like an Air Force Electronic Counter Measures helmet. The bird is a crow. ECM people are nicknamed crows.  

[john k]

Is the rim made of Stainless or manganese material?  (most of the pics seem to me to look like manganese, but that could be the lighting)

 

Could you post a picture of that number inside the shell ("batch number")?

[History Man]

The helmet's vibe is giving 1960's - 1970's based on how "JAM IT" is painted on the side, feels like a very distinctive font used during that period.