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Operation Dragoon Paratrooper helmet.

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    #31
    Thanks again for the compliments everybody. I didnt think the story would arouse so much interest. Maybe it can encourage others to try to do similar searches. There was an article in my local paper about the helmet, after which a lady gave me an other US helmet with a serial number in it. Thanks to a forum member, and this very forum, I was on the phone with the guy the very same day. He was also still alive. I sent him a letter with pics of the helmet, but he didnt write back. His daughter told me he is ill...

    Simon, the Fort Marvin was brought to was not St Roch, but you are right, St Roch fort is just beside Sospel. But there are dozens of forts in that area. There was static fighting in the whole Sospel area for several months, so indeed, you can find lots of scrapnell there.

    Allan, indeed, this is a rare helmet, and it makes the story that much more unique. A rare helmet with a rare story. What more could a collector ask for? To bad its not more often possible to know the original owners of our pieces.

    JL

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      #32
      F
      Last edited by Jean-Loup; 03-26-2009, 10:31 AM.

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        #33
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        Last edited by Jean-Loup; 03-26-2009, 10:32 AM.

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          #34
          Villeneuve-Loubet, c'est l'endroit où le casque à été trouvé ou bien c'est l'endroit où tu demeures ?

          En passant, ton histoire est très intéressante !

          Comment

            #35
            Its where I live when not in Croatia.

            JL

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              #36
              Posted in the wrong thread

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                #37
                Aloha Jean-Loup
                Great work!! Great helmet!!!, I really like the story and pictures of the veteran and him revisiting your country. My uncle served with the 442nd RCT during WW2 in France and someday I hope to get some stories from him and maybe a picture or two. Makes me appreciate all so much more what the veterans of WW2 did for us.
                Mahalo,
                Rodney

                Comment

                  #38
                  US Helmet

                  Hi Jean Loup

                  Nice story and a nice helmet. As you have proven in photo's, airborne troops wore standard M-1 bodies. This was not uncommon throughout the US airborne not just in Southern France. I take it this helmet has no liner? You usually see the standard infantry M-1 body with the converted "Parachutist" liner. The so-called M-2 body ( which actually never existed ) was a tentative design, the M-2 designation has been mistaken by many authors of helmet books as an actual wartime designation. This is not so. The move to the Model was proposed and turned down. It remained a tentative design. I am surprised no US experts ever picked up on this. The drawings labelled M-2 were made and a month or so later it was decided to keep it a tentative design and call it M-1C, this only makes sense right?? M-1 to M1-C. Otherwise it would have been M-1, M-2, M-1C.???

                  Anyway the US airborne had shortages of bodies and liners. In fact when the 1stATF was dissolved, it is stated in documents that by that time the situation regarding the supply of helmets for airborne troops was crucial. All the helmets in the hands of 1ATF were desparately needed for operations planned up north. I have an interesting document to Col. Walker of the Force asking him to send his supply of helmets to the guys in the UK.

                  So, its a cool helmet, nice camo and as they did it, sprayed over the net. And an interesting chin modification. Great find and great story. Sorry to hear the vet is not well.

                  Ken



                  [QUOTE=Jean-Loup]Posted in the wrong thread[/QUOTE

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                    #39
                    Thanks for the compliments Rodney

                    Ken, actualy, this helmet does have its original liner. You can see the leather chinstrap hanging down in the pictures. It is a regular liner, which is logical since in this case, the steal helmet already has a forked chinstrap. Having two forked chinstraps would have been a bit of a hastle I suspect, and if there was a shortage of steal para helmets, there was probably also a shortage para helmet liners. (sorry, all the M-2, M-1C, etc names are still a mystery to me). In the case of the 517prct, it is different from the when the other para units wore regular M-1's for combat for two reasons. First because all the helmets had a modified chinstrap, and second because these helmets were worn for a combat jump.
                    Marvin Moles, the vet who owned this helmet is fine, it is George Ciarrocchi the vet who had the helmet I talk about in this thread http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ghlight=helmet who was in the hospital last time I had news from him.

                    Could you maybe post that document asking Col Walker for his helmets in this thread, it would be an interesting addition.
                    The "repos" of 517 helmets are already out:
                    Attached Files
                    Last edited by Jean-Loup; 06-10-2005, 08:56 AM.

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                      #40
                      Here is the inside. As often in helmets with nice paint, the leather is very dry. The liner is 100% normal, with no engraving or anything.
                      Attached Files

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                        #41
                        j<!-- / message --><!-- attachments -->
                        Last edited by Jean-Loup; 01-12-2007, 08:43 AM.

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                          #42
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                          Last edited by Jean-Loup; 03-26-2009, 10:35 AM.

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                            #43
                            k
                            Last edited by Jean-Loup; 03-26-2009, 10:36 AM.

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                              #44
                              o
                              Last edited by Jean-Loup; 03-26-2009, 10:37 AM.

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                                #45
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                                Last edited by Jean-Loup; 03-26-2009, 10:37 AM.

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