A very surprising Indonesian m1 camo helmet

[garde]

Lately i purchased this surprising m1 helmet in my hometown antique market:






Number (possibly the soldier id number) on each side of the camo:



Reverse side




Sewing pattern




Camo label


At first i thought i buy an 1980's tni helmet. In particularly the DPM camouflage adopted in 1984.
(from http://camopedia.org/index.php?title=Indonesia )


But after i check it, there's another camo cover inside the DPM!













Reverse side & Rear seam m1


Camo cover fastener




Sewing pattern



Remain of glued paper on front of the helmet


(Number "0" ? )
Maybe for training / ceremonial purpose?



Rust everywhere! And already affecting the inner cover color





And for the truth is, i never meet a rusted in and out helmet like this.

After i check on the camopedia again, i believe the inner cover is the 1960's indonesian camo. "locally-made copies of the original (American) M1942 camouflage"


I recheck on the helmet again. On the inner crown shell there's a stenciled emblem. An anchor and number "2".

After i check the history of the using of the camo and from judging the photos of the TRIKORA operation in 1961-62. Beside used by the PGT (Pasukan Gerak Tjepat - paratrooper) and RPKAD (indonesian army special forces), this camo also used by the KKO (Korps Komando - marine). So based from the stenciled emblem, i conclude this helmet was once belong to a marine. The emblem is similar with the 2nd marine infantry battalion


Some of the photo of camo using during the TRIKORA operation





The liner







Green paint. Original liner color?


Unmarked maker


Liner strap ... not in good condition. But still some interesting feature remain in this hardhat









Field repair?




Nape buttons


Button maker mark: YMSP?


Liner chinstrap. Broad and have a special buckle and strap








The liner strap is similar with the spanish marine euro clone m1 helmet model 65 http://www.cascoscoleccion.com/espana/es65.htm


All in all, for approximately US $10. I have a very interesting helmet. I guess this helmet will be my m1 fave helmet.



And this is for the first time i collect a cloth based militaria collection...


So what do you think about this helmet?

[peter monahan]

So what do you think about this helmet?

In the picture taken in Merauke in 1962 - the jeep driver - is he playing a joke, with the cover over his eyes, or is it meant to be a mask hiding his face? If it is a mask, does it have eye holes? A very odd picture!

[garde]

Well .... he's taken prisoner.
Too bad we'll never know his i.d., was he a paratrooper, a special forces member or even a marine ...

Do you ever see a 2 in 1 camo cover like this?

[Valter Gorenc]

A really interesting helmet with lots of caracter. You also did quite a research, thanks for interesting and informative post!

Maybe someone put another (newer) cover over it b/c the first was worn and faded? It's alot of rust, but this is probably common in hot and humid places like your country.

[garde]

Your welcome. I never realize i would got this magnificent helmet (Because this is outside of my collection zone, i'm concentrating in the pre world war 2 until 1950). Especially a helmet related with a military operation famous for the indonesian. I guess my next target will be the helmet worn during the invasion of east timor.

But i still wondering. Is this double camo was against regulation or not? Could it be the 1980's soldier viewed specially the 1960's camo so he doesn't discard the old camo? Or is the unit ordered every soldier to not discard the 1960's camo when the new camo came? Or maybe the 1960's soldier still in service when the 1980's camo arrived? I guess this double camo gonna be an unsolved mystery for now.
About rust, could it be the combination between high temperature, bright sun light and sea water further deteriorating the rust? Because this is the first time i see a rust helmet like this. I never saw this before, even my stahlhelms is in better condition compared to this.