Gold painted WW2 flak helmet

[kphfun]

I have a chance to buy this helmet, it seems to have been painted gold all around as it's original color. Does anyone know anything about this type of lid?

 

Here is the inside.

[kphfun]

side flap, you can see the red primer underneath.

[kphfun]

one bail strap has the male snap for the chin cup strap. This is the other side.

[kphfun]

No one?

[Caseydiggz]

no clue buddy. surely done postwar and for the hell of it

[Sabrejet]

A bizarre piece for sure! The only "painted" ones I've ever seen in WW2 photos have just had names or sometimes "nose art" type designs on them. It should have a factory-applied, all-over matt flock finish...inside and out. Why it appears to be painted gold inside the shell is beyond me! As the web suspension is attached directly to the shell in these helmets, if it was re-painted gold after manufacture, there should be some tell-tale paint splashes on the webbing as it would be near impossible to avoid doing so if painting the interior with the webbing in place.

 

Sabrejet :think:

[Caseydiggz]

I'm sticking with my guns on the post-war repaint

 

And whats with the scratches on the inside. Could an incorrect postwar liner have been added to this helmet and taken out to add a correct liner for a restoration? I haven't the slightest idea. But, it sounds plausible

 

and too amswer the original question...its an m3 flak helmet. Worth quite a bit if the liner is still in good shape, whihc it looks like it is.

 

I'd say in the $100 area

[kphfun]

A bizarre piece for sure! The only "painted" ones I've ever seen in WW2 photos have just had names or sometimes "nose art" type designs on them. It should have a factory-applied, all-over matt flock finish...inside and out. Why it appears to be painted gold inside the shell is beyond me! As the web suspension is attached directly to the shell in these helmets, if it was re-painted gold after manufacture, there should be some tell-tale paint splashes on the webbing as it would be near impossible to avoid doing so if painting the interior with the webbing in place.

 

Sabrejet :think:

That was my thinking also as there is not a trace of paint on anything suspension, also the straps were put on after the paint as the bales are also in the gold color underneath the cloth. :think:

[HoovieDude]

I have no relevant input but think it is an interesting piece for sure. Would be a splash of color and conversation piece in among the drab!

[Sabrejet]

That was my thinking also as there is not a trace of paint on anything suspension, also the straps were put on after the paint as the bales are also in the gold color underneath the cloth. :think:

 

 

"Curiouser and curiouser..." as the saying goes! Maybe it was the 5,000th one off the production line!?

 

Sabrejet

[sgtbrown]

As mentioned earlier, flak helmets were covered with flocking. This was done so they wouldn't stick to the skin when handled/worn at the seriously below zero temperatures at altitude. Secondly, there should be heavy felt padding on the inside of the ear flaps where they come in contact with the headphones on the flier's leather helmet. This is a repaint.

 

Tom

[wcarboni]

side flap, you can see the red primer underneath.

Hi: I'm new to this I also have an M-3 flak helmet thats painted gold with a light blue or gray primer underneath. Strange. looking for a chin strap for it any help.

 

wcarboni

[Wild Bill Kelso]

Maybe it was the helmet from a flak staff on an aircraft carrier?

[sgtbrown]

Maybe it was the helmet from a flak staff on an aircraft carrier?

 

TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, M-3, M-4 and M-5 flak helmets are aircrew only and AAF only.

 

The above statement applies to WWII. Postwar, all bets are off. As austerity returned, everyone used everyone else's gear, as shown by instances of Korean War infantry wearing WWII AAF flak armor as the first infantry "flak jackets".

 

USN gun crews used M-1 helmets and "talker" helmets.

 

Tom