How to preserve a helmet?

[smokycity]

I'd say it's the same crash. Holy Smokes Batman. I will have to tell my dad about this one. Where did you find those pictures? I'd like to see the one of the GI w/the parachute. Dad had a parachute at one time.

[smokycity]

Willi, I spoke to my father today and you are correct, the plane was shot down by anti aircraft artillery/guns. Dad said that the Germans would occasionally send a plane over the American lines and either strafe or bomb them. This plane happened to fly over the AAA batteries that day and was shot down. Dad said the AAA wasn't too far away from where he was. He also said that this was mid December just before Christmas. The Americans were on one side of a river and the Germans on the other. The Americans did not have enough troops to go on the offensive, because they had been ordered to send troops to the Bulge. Dad also seemed to recognize "Operation Stosser". Based on that, I have no doubt you have pictures of the same crash. Please post the picture of the GI with the parachute, I am curious to see if it might be my dad, he thinks this might be where he picked up the one he had.

[Willi Z.]

Glad your dad was able to remember some more about his service in the Bulge. My dad, a Luftwaffe Ju88 pilot, was also involved in the Bulge. After his airfield was bombed in Italy in the fall of 1944, he was sent back to Germany and it appeared he was going become one of those late-war FJs (who would have probably fought at the Bulge as well). His unit received new aircraft and he ended up on the coast of the North Sea until they surrendered in May to the Brits.

Anyhow, I do not recall how I obtained these 3 photos. Here is the one with the chute.

[Willi Z.]

The reverse.

[Willi Z.]

Another view of a shot down Ju52.

[Willi Z.]

...

[smokycity]

Thanks Willi.