Aggressor Helmet

[Mr.Jerry]

I have not seen many uniforms, (I would love to find one for my OPFOR collection) but here is another slightly different helmet from my friend's Dad and a photo of it in 1960s period wear:

[doctordirt]

I will have to search the barns and garage!

I have a "circle trigon" M1951 field jacket dyed in OPFOR green.

The "circle trigon" was the symbol of the aggressor army.

They spoke Esperanto and had a full complete order of battle.

Equipment was borrowed from the training aids branch on Army posts for field training.

 

Great memories.

jd

[craig_pickrall]

This is from a 1953 USMC Tour Book. They were in Japan when these photos were taken.

 

[Page-Hendryx]

This army film about "Aggressor Forces" was just uploaded to YouTube:

 

[12thengr]

This is from a 1953 USMC Tour Book. They were in Japan when these photos were taken.

 

I like the aggressor helmet, I like the cross flap canteen better, but KFC is that giant piece that he is sighting down.

[jkaler48]

Aggressor gear and helmets facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/groups/989816441088936/

[patches]

Let me bring up this topic again with this cool photo I scanned from the Army Information Digest of December 1963.

 

An ebullient Lt Gen Thomas W. Dunn, acting as an Enemy Generalissimo, triumphantly gives the Aggressor Salute .

 

Dunn was at this time III Corps Commander, but played the role of the enemy commander during Swift Strike III in July and August of that year

[patches]

I like the aggressor helmet, I like the cross flap canteen better, but KFC is that giant piece that he is sighting down.

That there is a PTRS-1941, a Commie Anti Tank Rifle, semi automatic I gather.

 

http://www.koreanwaronline.com/history/Enemy%20Weapons/Frames/113.htm

 

 

[Brian Keith]

Great Thread! I love stuff like this. I found one a few years ago. Remember, most of the time the Army is Training for War, not actually fighting one.

BKW

[sgtdorango]

I just found one of these recently, love these helmets!...mike

 

 

Also my buddy tom just found an aggressor/opfor shirt for me at brimfield this year, will post pics later today, its from a different era (1976ish) than the helmet (40s-50s) but still very cool...mike

 

[Mr.Jerry]

Nice set up Mike!

I have found more paper items and manuals, and a few insignia. would like to get a uniform.

 

What I think kind of funny is they actually changed it from "Agressor" to "OPFOR" (opposing forces) and made things look less Soviet to ease some of the cold war tension.

 

I know two guys that served as aggressors in the 1950s and one that went through one of their "POW" camps, an experience that really shook him up. They kept them in vertical culverts buried the ground, and had a simulated "torture area" littered with blood, bones and other debris to try and get them to "talk".

[Ray175INF]

Very cool thread, I remember seeing these aggressor helmets in the movie "Jumping Jacks" (1952) with Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin.

[Moonlight Gecko]

Here is another Aggressor helmet. it looks like the liner originally was for an MP.

 

close up

 

Not a helmet, but here is an Aggressor force vest that came with a 1950's paratrooper grouping.

 

vest in use

[patches]

Not a Helmet Liner as we see but worthy of a posting in this topic, which may turn out to be thee main topic on Aggressor items from the 50s-60s.

 

 

This was a find in an Command & General Staff College yearbook of the early 60s I posted earlier on in the Post The Patch Type Crest Beaing Worn, of this officer wearing the a PTC of the Aggressor Forces, officers in these portraits in the yearbook for the 50s up till 1970, if they wear any shoulder patch and DIs, wear the ones of the unit they just came from to attend this institution. Here, this officer clearly wears that insignia on his shoulder loops, in that posting I offered that "I couldn't begin to guess which unit would wear something like this as a permanent party unit crest, like was this a command organization with a CO, Staff and HHC" So the if anyone might have more info, post it here.

[patches]

Very cool thread, I remember seeing these aggressor helmets in the movie "Jumping Jacks" (1952) with Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin.20180912_171213.jpg

Good one Ray.

[patches]

A Twofer from the 2nd Inf Div at Benning wearing the Aggressor stuff in 1964.

 

First up is the divisional commander at that time Charles Billingslea. Billingslea with two French Army officers who are in attendance at these maneuvers we see.

 

 

 

And this one, on a MP liner as we see.

 

[Just another collector]

Well I’ve just realized that an old MSA liner I had used to be an aggressor helmet... never should have sold it.

[Mr.Jerry]

Just came across these and had to add them to my Aggressor collection. Thought I would share them here too- Now I just need to find a helmet!

[Nickman983]

I just picked up one of these helmets. Not in the best condition but not something you see every day so I decided to grab it. The liner shows multiple repaints, I assume from use prior to becoming an aggressor helmet.

 

more pics

 

the inside, unfortunately the webbing is trashed on this one

 

I also found these two pictures in a 5th ID year book from Fort Ord in 1956

[sgtdorango]

Nice?? A guy is selling a very nice one at the local show i go to, might grab it if he has it next week and the price is right, a little high if i remember...mike

[aznation]

Some guy is selling one of those on the US Military Collectibles "Make Offer" Page as well. You just have to make an offer. Once you get to the page you'll have to scroll down to find it. Last offer made was $80 which was turned down. Still available the last time I checked. Looks to be in great condition.

 

Here's the link if you're interested. https://www.facebook.com/groups/368647170717731/

 

I have no interest in the sale of this item.

[Nickman983]

Was going through my 5th ID yearbook and I found another picture of these helmets in use

[patches]

On 9/12/2018 at 8:18 PM, patches said:

Not a Helmet Liner as we see but worthy of a posting in this topic, which may turn out to be thee main topic on Aggressor items from the 50s-60s.

 

 

This was a find in an Command & General Staff College yearbook of the early 60s I posted earlier on in the Post The Patch Type Crest Beaing Worn, of this officer wearing the a PTC of the Aggressor Forces, officers in these portraits in the yearbook for the 50s up till 1970, if they wear any shoulder patch and DIs, wear the ones of the unit they just came from to attend this institution. Here, this officer clearly wears that insignia on his shoulder loops, in that posting I offered that "I couldn't begin to guess which unit would wear something like this as a permanent party unit crest, like was this a command organization with a CO, Staff and HHC" So the if anyone might have more info, post it here.

 

[patches]

Here's an interesting one, the Aggressor Comb fixed on top of the steel helmet or maybe the liner while a cover is worn , these are troops of the 40th Armored Division in the mid 60s. The 40th Armd Div we're finding seem to be one of the only National Guard division where the Leaf Pattern helmet cover was issued in the 60s, other NG units up to 1970 didn't have them, their helmets just plain, or with a Band only or Duck Hunter Covers or Para Camo etc.

[MattS]

Linking this thread to one I did on OPFOR uniforms and headgear. Not sure when the name changed from "Aggressors" , but it was OPFOR by the 90s.