August 25, 20223 yr #1 Been a while since I've picked up a new helmet or posted here but after a bit of a break I finally have a new addition to the collection. Some of you may have seen this posted in the FS section but I haven't seen a thread on this one so I figured I'd share it here. The helmet is a very early FS FB with a single coat of dark gray paint over the OD. Heat stamp of 58A which is now the lowest in my collection so far, just beating out my other early navy helmet off the USS San Francisco. The liner is a 1st pattern Hawley which has some condition issues but overall is in decent shape. The two snaps at the front of the webbing attaching the sweatband have unfortunately pulled and there is some minor cracking/flaking of the liner itself but all things considered it's still in solid condition. Both the shell and the liner have the right amount of salt and match up perfectly. What really makes this one interesting are the engravings on the inside and outside of the shell. Inside the shell a previous owner etched their name "P N GRAY" into the side of the interior. On the outside though, an imperial Japanese flag is carved into the left hand side of the helmet with two hash marks under the flag, likely for two kills on Japanese planes or ships the wearer was involved in.
August 25, 20223 yr Author #2 Close up of the engraved Japanese flag and hash marks on the outside The etching really pops with the user of a UV flashlight Name on the inside, looks like it might be marked as "P, N Gray"
August 25, 20223 yr Author #3 This is now my 3rd helmet with a Hawley liner. All 3 are first pattern and part of a matching set with a navy helmet From left to right is a named set ID'd to a seabee who ended up serving state side, the helmet in question, and a set off of the USS San Francisco
August 25, 20223 yr Author #4 The helmet also came with a Japanese civil defense helmet. That helmet has a bullet strike but I think it's likely it was a souvenir that was used as target practice state side. I've tried doing some research on the name inside the helmet. So far I haven't had any luck with a positive ID. I've found one match so far for a "P. N. Gray" in the navy muster rolls, who seems to have served as a stewards mate. There are two matches for "N. P. Gray" if the name is read that way, that might be a more likely match, but I haven't found anything conclusive. I'm still waiting on the seller to get back to me on whether or not he has some more info on where the helmet was originally found but for now I've seemed to have hit a road block in my research.
August 27, 20223 yr #5 Love it Nick and I love the Lineup too. Great Early Navy’s. The USN M1 + Hawley combo can’t be beat. Something “real” about them. it’s a bummer when you can’t find the guy. I have a few lids like that but doesn’t take away from this great set. You will just have to wonder about it is all. Nice pickup! Z I saw this one for sale on eBay. Great time for buyers. Horrible time for sellers I have seen.
August 27, 20223 yr Author #7 5 hours ago, Paddyd00 said: Love it Nick and I love the Lineup too. Great Early Navy’s. The USN M1 + Hawley combo can’t be beat. Something “real” about them. it’s a bummer when you can’t find the guy. I have a few lids like that but doesn’t take away from this great set. You will just have to wonder about it is all. Nice pickup! Z I saw this one for sale on eBay. Great time for buyers. Horrible time for sellers I have seen. I figured this one would be right up your alley. I'm very much a sucker for a Navy lid with Hawley liner. Just something special about the fact the Hawley's are fragile but managed to survive all this time even with the exposure to moisture and corrosion. This one's easily one of my favorites now. The etching and hash marks are a really nice insight into the story of the men who used it.
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