P-4A helmet

[RMEAV8R]

I'm picking this helmet up today. It's identified by the seller as an Air Force P-4A. This area is mostly Navy so I'm not sure it's USAF, especially with the painted visor. Any opinions on the ID or origin appreciated.
Better photos after I have it in hand.

[Thrifter_01]

Helmet isn't an P-4A helmet, but possibly a Type HGU-55/P helmet if the Protection Inc sticker is anything to go by. 

[amateuraero]

According to the sticker inside the helmet, the helmet is a size medium HGU in HGU configuration from 1970.  May also be known as a DH-151 and later on HGU-33/P.

Looks to be in a USAF setup.  The penguins/birds on the visor housing should indicate a squadron?  Would accept the MBU-5/P oxygen mask made by Sierra or

General Tire or a mix of both manufacturers.  Probably used a skull cap and helmet bag also.  During this period, the USN/USMC custom helmets generally did not

use a nape/neck strap with pad and the communications cable seems to be the standard USAF CX-4708 series.  The helmet would also use the H-143/AIC earphones

and leather earpads with several holes in the outer face.  Could also have used plastic ear cups with the vinyl ear seals in place of the leather ear pads.  If the plastic

ear cups are used, then the ear cup foam would have the smaller center hole instead of the larger hole as found on SPH-3, -4 helmets.  The olive drab colored visor

lock knob with silver colored hardware appears to have been originally for the Army APH-5A helmet.  Since your helmet is a custom helmet, it could have been ordered

with this type of visor lock knob.

 

[RMEAV8R]

3 hours ago, amateuraero said:

According to the sticker inside the helmet, the helmet is a size medium HGU in HGU configuration from 1970.  May also be known as a DH-151 and later on HGU-33/P.

Looks to be in a USAF setup.  The penguins/birds on the visor housing should indicate a squadron?  Would accept the MBU-5/P oxygen mask made by Sierra or

General Tire or a mix of both manufacturers.  Probably used a skull cap and helmet bag also.  During this period, the USN/USMC custom helmets generally did not

use a nape/neck strap with pad and the communications cable seems to be the standard USAF CX-4708 series.  The helmet would also use the H-143/AIC earphones

and leather earpads with several holes in the outer face.  Could also have used plastic ear cups with the vinyl ear seals in place of the leather ear pads.  If the plastic

ear cups are used, then the ear cup foam would have the smaller center hole instead of the larger hole as found on SPH-3, -4 helmets.  The olive drab colored visor

lock knob with silver colored hardware appears to have been originally for the Army APH-5A helmet.  Since your helmet is a custom helmet, it could have been ordered

with this type of visor lock knob.

 

Thanks, great information! I'll post better photos in the post I also put Aviation Flight Gear/Helmet section. The ear cups are leather only one remains.

[amateuraero]

Just noticed this.  Are there three holes in the helmet shell underneath the single visor housing?  If so, the helmet could be a modified HGU-2A/P or a lightweight custom shell with the three holes added?

 

[RMEAV8R]

Updated photos. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[unclegrumpy]

11 hours ago, amateuraero said:

Just noticed this.  Are there three holes in the helmet shell underneath the single visor housing?  If so, the helmet could be a modified HGU-2A/P or a lightweight custom shell with the three holes added?

 

 

The PROTECTION INC tag means this helmet was a customized by them for this pilot.  The vent holes and padded roll edge are typical things that were done....as was the custom interior padding to fit this guy's head.  

 

[RMEAV8R]

Thanks, I appreciate the input. Do you agree that it's a HGU-2A/P?

[unclegrumpy]

2 hours ago, RMEAV8R said:

Thanks, I appreciate the input. Do you agree that it's a HGU-2A/P?

 

Yes....look in the middle of this link....http://www.salimbeti.com/aviation/helmets6.htm....at the custom fit versions.

 

Yours is earlier than most of these, because it has the straight oxygen mask receivers.  It is neat that is 1970 dated....I wonder if you can track the pilot?

[unclegrumpy]

I decided to see if I could find your guy.  This is the only "W O Craig" that was in the USAF in 1969...he was a Captain then.  I didn't cross check the Navy.  

 

The link below has his service history.  The penguins are another clue.  Maybe someone knows which squadron those relate to, but they could also be related to his call sign.

 

More work needs to be done to confirm this is your guy, but it looks like a strong possibility. 

 

https://petemuseum.org/peterson3/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Craig-Wayne-O..pdf

[RMEAV8R]

13 minutes ago, unclegrumpy said:

I decided to see if I could find your guy.  This is the only "W O Craig" that was in the USAF in 1969...he was a Captain then.  I didn't cross check the Navy.  

 

The link below has his service history.  The penguins are another clue.  Maybe someone knows which squadron those relate to, but they could also be related to his call sign.

 

More work needs to be done to confirm this is your guy, but it looks like a strong possibility. 

 

https://petemuseum.org/peterson3/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Craig-Wayne-O..pdf

Thank you, I have also started the search. The only Penguins I found were the U.S. Navy "Penguin Squadron" was 

VXE-6 (Antarctic Development Squadron Six), nicknamed the "Puckered Penguins," known for their vital support of Antarctic science with ski-equipped aircraft (LC-130s) from 1955 until their deactivation in 1999. The USAF took the mission after 1999 but didn't keep the Penguin association.

 

[RMEAV8R]

I'm hoping I can clean it up, find a replacement leather ear cup and maybe locate the O2 mask. The previous owner had it in storage. I'm waiting to see if they find the mask and the memorabilia that was with it.  If I can get it looking good I'd like to trade it for a decent SPH-4, I flew helicopters with one in the Army and had to give it up when the HGU-56/P came out.  I have my fixed wing HGU-55P helmet that I used for a few years when I was flying an RU-21H, it's shown below. It was a unique set up because we flew both low altitude and high altitude surveillance missions.

Thanks again for the great info and reference links.