Description
Product Description: A rare World War II US Army M2 D-Bale Paratrooper Helmet very recently consigned with us! The helmet retains almost all of its original olive drab factory finish, cork texture, and correct nickel snap khaki paratrooper chinstraps. The only paint loss is exhibited around the stainless steel rim, as is common with most surviving examples of the D-Bale Paratrooper Helmet. Both D-bales remain intact with slight bending and the chinstraps remain intact with slight fraying toward the bales. The helmet is complete with its paratrooper helmet liner helmet liner that is marked “W” on the crown for The Westinghouse Electric Corporation. The helmet liner is as expected for an example by Westinghouse, as it features OD3 shade Y yokes with thick cast iron buckles and an early leather chin cup. The liner is pleasing, as it exhibits blemishes from wear while remaining intact. The leather sweatband is mostly complete with scattered scuffs and surface cracking that is expected from a worn liner. The rest of the khaki webbing remains intact and sturdy. The leather chin cup was tucked under the khaki hardware long ago in order to prevent it from being separated. The leather chinstrap is unbroken and complete with its adjustable green buckle. Interestingly, helmet shell and liner were both pierced long ago at the center of the front seam, and are secured together by a piece of white string. Due to the fragility of the chinstrap and the string, the liner was unable to be separated from the helmet shell in order to verify that there are blackened rivets which were typical of factory produced Westinghouse paratrooper liners. A light was shined around the edges and at the bales in order to confirm any airborne markings but none were immediately noticed. The heat stamp could also not be confirmed due to the interesting set up of the pierced shell and liner. Despite these obstructions, this M2 D-Bale Paratrooper Helmet presents extremely well and displays as excellent condition. Helmets like this M2 D-Bale Paratrooper Helmet are quite scarce in any condition due to limited production numbers, their design flaw, having to endure a war, and most were destroyed in 1945.
Historical Description: During World War II, McCord Radiator & Manufacturing Company produced roughly 20 million steel helmet shells for all branches of the United States armed forces. It is believed that of those 20 million, just 392,000 were manufactured as the paratrooper M2 version, with some estimates placing the production total at a much lower number of 118,000. These helmets had a significant design flaw to the component that was supposed to be more convenient to paratroopers, the larger D-bales which enabled easier mobility for the chinstraps. If considerable pressure was put on the bales, they would often snap at the welds. Due to this inconvenience, the more commonly encountered M-1C helmet that featured sturdier swivel bales was adopted at the end of the war. Although a large number that totals to over 100,000 M2 D-Bale Paratrooper Helmets were produced during the war, most were turned-in and destroyed or re-cycled in 1945. Therefore, very few examples survived the war, thus making the M2 helmet quite scarce today. The paratrooper liners are not as scarce, but are also desirable, especially when paired with their original helmet. Westinghouse Electric Corporation manufactured helmet liners in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Their “high pressure” helmet liners are identified by an embossed “W” in the crown and this symbol can be encountered on Westinghouse products to this day. Westinghouse was the largest M-1 helmet liner producer and had two production divisions; Micarta and Bryant Electric. The Micarta Division produced about 13,000,000 M-1 helmet liners and the Bryant Electric Division about 10,000,000. Westinghouse Electric Company started M-1 helmet liner delivery in May 1942. Westinghouse did have a contract to produce airborne liners and converted an unknown amount to airborne configuration. Westinghouse discontinued production around August 17, 1945 when the war ended.
With nearly 30 years of expertise handling, collecting, and studying some of the finest and scarcest military collectibles, Empires Past offers the best prices for your collectibles.
We purchase German, American, and Japanese Military Artifacts.
FROM SINGLE ITEMS TO ENTIRE COLLECTIONS…
WE ARE ALWAYS BUYING!!!
