$133 wasn’t a terrible price to pay for this MSA large ACH with ACU cover.cover and pads.

WW2 goggles of this type made fore the USAAF have a thin leather chamois on them to protect the face.

Wow! I think I've seen post-Vietnam War helmets in saltier condition than this one! It's almost like it's frozen in time.

Thanks Rakkasan187 and Allen0820 :)

Very true, one should be skeptical of tall tales without real provenance.   Yep! I'm sure it happened, but it definitely would have been rare. I think that's another reason why the helmet hasn't sold yet. The elusiveness of a real camo-painted shell, plus the lack of solid provenance is not a good combination. Like I've always been told by more experienced collectors, buy the item, not the story!

Viking73. Tread with caution! I started out with a P-51D seat a long time ago. After doing the things you are planning to do I found myself going down the same rabbit hole Blaze one has opened up for you....well long story short I ended up with a fully out fitted pilot sitting in that seat. One good idea leads to another...just know this. That is a great seat you have! Have fun with your new money pit!

Russell A. Hanscom was born February 16, 1923, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire to Justin and Sadie Hanscom. He went to Portsmouth high school, completing two years, then joined the work force. He worked for the South Portland Shipyard as a welder before going into the Army. Enlisting on October 23, 1942, Hanscom was stationed at Camp Croft, South Carolina, eventually going overseas as a member of Company M, 15th Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division.   Shipping overseas in early 1943, Hanscom participated in Operation Husky, the amphibious landings of Sicily. He fought with the 3rd Infantry Division between July and August until the capitulation of the island following a month of combat. In late September, 1943, the 3rd Division made their amphibious landings against Italy when they went ashore at Salerno. Pushing the Germans north, the 15th Infantry Regiment made contact with the enemy as they advanced up the Sabato Valley. They then pushed the Germans out of their mountain positions around Avellino before driving towards the Volturno River.   Most defensive positions in Italy were characterized by geographic features such as mountains and rivers that cut across the country. The Volturno River was no different. A natural body of water from which the Germans could set up a defensive position, getting to and taking the Volturno was part of allied plans. The 15th Infantry Regiment, of which Hanscom was attached, advanced from Avellino, met some resistance near Cancello and pressed forward through Baiano and Maddaloni to positions in the mountains near Caserta. This advance ended October 6, 1943, when the 3rd Division reached the Volturno River.   Establishing high ground on the southern bank of the river, the 3rd Division sent out patrols and reconnaissance to plan for crossing the river as bridges in the area had been blown. Makeshift boats from floats, rafts, cans, and life jackets was planned as traditional assault boats were not available. Continuous patrols were made by the 3rd Division to gain details about enemy strength, position, and the terrain. While patrolling, the 15th Regiment encountered machine gun fire as well as hand grenades being tossed at them from German positions on the northern bank. At midnight on October 13, 1943, heavy weapons and artillery opened up on the enemy. Just before the planned fording of the river, smoke shells were shot off to provide cover.    At 2 am, jump off, the 15th Regiment began crossing the river just south of Piana di Caiazzo. While rafts were available, some troops crossed on foot using guide ropes. The Germans contested the crossing with everything they had including machine gun, artillery, and mortar fire that was continuous. Hanscom’s 3rd Battalion crossed the river at the foot of Mount Castellone. Hill 246 was the objective and it was taken from a determined enemy under a hail of intense enemy fire from dug in positions to the north. By dark the Germans had been shoved further north beyond Piana di Caiazzo and the Volturno River.   It was during this effort across the Volturno River that Russell A. Hanscom was killed in action by a shell fragment to the abdomen. He was 21 years old. Initially buried in the American Military Cemetery, Avellino, Italy, Plot A, Row 10, Grave 114, he was sent home to Harmony Grove Cemetery, Portsmouth, New Hampshire.     

Note: the DM .50 had been jacked with, projectile pulled, cat litter filled, reseated and the primer messed with, but yo7 can still see the staking.

Hi gents   Wanted to introduce myself and come out as a patch collector 😄 Have long felt the attraction of collecting US WWII SSI but managed to resist until last month's visit to Normandy when I finally succumbed. Next to medals and paper I now officially also collect patches. Hope you don't mind showing off my very first purchase. I also wanted to jump in prepared, next to trying to read and soak up as much information as possible from the internet I also bought what I think is a pretty good reference work to help me find a bit of a direction in the collection. Hope to learn a lot here in the USMF and perhaps one day contribute myself.   Best regards

You are correct. Shake them to see if any powder is present….but that doesn’t confirm, I have examples that the projectile was pulled, filled with cat litter, then projectile pressed back in. They do appear to have been pulled and reseated.   Weight of my original unmolested, 120 grams, you can also check the TM for overall length. Another one ( DM) has staked primers, commonly seen with .50 for aircraft MG’s.