BROBS Posted December 23, 2014 Share #851 Posted December 23, 2014 maybe the site changed how many posts will show per page? not sure! -Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazelot Posted January 10, 2015 Author Share #852 Posted January 10, 2015 Finally got around to fixing my modified pre WWII deck helmet. The right earcup had been torn off at one point so i had to source another one and reattach it. I am very pleased with the results. One of my favorite helmets now: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazelot Posted January 10, 2015 Author Share #853 Posted January 10, 2015 Back: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazelot Posted January 11, 2015 Author Share #854 Posted January 11, 2015 I finally found all the information about the original owner of my latest modified deck helmet. Below are the pictures of the helmet for reference sake. I just spent 30 minutes on the phone with George Hagood Center (Service number 116785, born on 16 September 1921) who was the original owner of the helmet. He joined the Navy on 22 September 1941. His date of rank for LTJG (which he was in 1944) was 1 May 1943. He earned a DFC for sinking (with the help of another pilot) a heavy Cruiser (The Kumano, a Mogami class heavy cruiser) on November 25th 1944 and a Silver Star for sinking a destroyer South of the Philippines when he was on the Hancock. After the Ticonderoga was hit by Kamikazes he went to the Hancock with VB-80 and he flew combat missions at Iwo Jima, in the China Sea and against the Japanese home islands. He had the helmet made by the riggers on the Ticonderoga in November 1944 and flew with it on every single mission till the end of the war (according to him he was issued a khaki helmet but wanted a personalized one so he had this one made and used it all the time). It is just incredible to talk to a WWII pilot who tells you he was there during the 2 Kamikaze attacks on the Ticonderoga, just incredible..... and the whole time the helmet was there... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundance Posted January 11, 2015 Share #855 Posted January 11, 2015 .....and he didn't want the helmet back? Great history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazelot Posted January 11, 2015 Author Share #856 Posted January 11, 2015 .....and he didn't want the helmet back? Great history.He actually sold it to the guy I bought it from. Always good to be able to fully research a. helmet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazelot Posted January 13, 2015 Author Share #857 Posted January 13, 2015 There is his Silver Star citation (thanks Dave for the information): Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazelot Posted January 29, 2015 Author Share #858 Posted January 29, 2015 Latest setup. Heavily modified white deck helmet. This an issued USN deck helmet where the strap was cut off and reinforced with leather. The goggle straps in the back are made of the same type of leather. In the back the pilot put lucky charms including a "Heart of Jesus" charm dated 1936 and a 4 leaf clover. Helmet is named inside the chincup but it is too worn out to read. I am displaying it with a pair of rare MK IV goggles which I recently bought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazelot Posted January 29, 2015 Author Share #859 Posted January 29, 2015 Back: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazelot Posted February 2, 2015 Author Share #860 Posted February 2, 2015 Nice VT-14 (USS Wasp) setup on its way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazelot Posted February 5, 2015 Author Share #861 Posted February 5, 2015 Latest setup named in 3 placed to Richard Bernon Downey born on April 8, 1923 and passed away on Friday, October 11, 2013. He was a gunner with VT-14 and received the DFC and the Air medal. He was downed on June 21 1944 after dropping bombs on Japanese tankers and he was rescued by the USS Ingersoll (DD652). He flew 33 strikes against the Japanese Fleet with VT-14. Lt Williams was his pilot and they dropped 3 500lb bombs on a tanker and sank it on the 21st before having to do a water landing. Setup is all original and named on the chincup, on the inside of the goggle strap and inside the goggles on the chamois. It is a simple M450 with TH37 receivers and AN6530 goggles but the history that comes with it makes it very special. Not very often can you find a helmet with so much combat history attached to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazelot Posted February 5, 2015 Author Share #862 Posted February 5, 2015 Report of his rescue by the USS Ingersoll (DD652) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazelot Posted February 5, 2015 Author Share #863 Posted February 5, 2015 Pictures of VT-14 enlisted men and pilots. I circled Williams in red: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazelot Posted February 5, 2015 Author Share #864 Posted February 5, 2015 His medals and missions flown: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazelot Posted February 5, 2015 Author Share #865 Posted February 5, 2015 Forgot to mention he was on the USS Wasp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazelot Posted February 5, 2015 Author Share #866 Posted February 5, 2015 He enlisted 30 Nov 1942 at NRS Washington, DC (Service Number 603-84-97) He was received 1 Sep 1943 in Torpedo Squadron Fourteen (VT-14) from CASU-22 as a S1c (AOM) He was transferred from VT-14 5 Dec 1944 to RS Norfolk, VA for further transfer to ComAIrLant as a AOM2c(T) Thank you for the information Impigpen1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BROBS Posted February 6, 2015 Share #867 Posted February 6, 2015 That's awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazelot Posted February 10, 2015 Author Share #868 Posted February 10, 2015 That's awesome! Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Driver Posted February 11, 2015 Share #869 Posted February 11, 2015 Amazing as always. Thanks for continuing to share your incredible collection with us Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazelot Posted February 14, 2015 Author Share #870 Posted February 14, 2015 Amazing as always. Thanks for continuing to share your incredible collection with us Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazelot Posted February 14, 2015 Author Share #871 Posted February 14, 2015 Latest helmet. A WWII Navy deck helmet with earcups and receivers. The issued deck helmet still has its original tag. It is attributed to John G. Chimenti who enlisted in June 1944. I do not know if he saw combat but my guess is that he was a crew member and not a pilot. Thanks Dave for all the information you supplied. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazelot Posted February 14, 2015 Author Share #872 Posted February 14, 2015 More pics: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazelot Posted February 14, 2015 Author Share #873 Posted February 14, 2015 Inside: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry_k Posted February 14, 2015 Share #874 Posted February 14, 2015 nice one:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazelot Posted February 14, 2015 Author Share #875 Posted February 14, 2015 nice one:) Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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