Captured DAK pith helmets

[NickG]

Thought this would be an interesting topic to post.

First off is a DAK obtained pith helmet adorned with US insignia, from an old collection straight from the vet...
It got pretty beat up in the duffle bag when it came home as a war souvenir.
Still interesting!
Shown militarypithhelmets.com (source).

[NickG]

Next up is a pith helmet that Bob Hritz posted way back in 2007...
but the thread had no commentary so repeating it here.

Another DAK helmet converted for Allied (Commonwealth) use ....
Artillery unit flashes?

Very interesting!

[NickG]

Any more examples or period pictures? Of course DAK troopers with captured (recycled) British tropical kit is much more prevalent!
and they had a far greater need to borrow from the enemy...

[Tim O'Keefe]

Hi Nick

Interesting thread. Nice American used tropenhelms. Have seen one other tropenhelm with the "US" pinned to it on the front.

Here is the best i can come up with. A GI signed tropenhelm. What makes it unusual are the GI's names and Campaigns which are written on the dome and rear brim. France Africa, Algiers, Sicily, Salerno, & Cassino, which may imply the 45th Inf Div. The first photo shows the sun fading & the darker ghost under the band around the brim.

Thanks for posting the photos Nick

,

[Tim O'Keefe]

Couple more, the GI's names and the maker stamp on the sweatband. The helmet was found in an antique shop in Montana in 1985.

[NickG]

Nice unit members and campaign marked souvenir DAK pith...

[RonR]

This one has a couple of GI additions..........


............

[RonR]

23

[RonR]

45

[RonR]

ooo

[clestuff]

Cool thread. I've always liked altered pith's. Here is one I picked up. I know the 2nd Rangers were not in Africa but I'm sure these were floating around France.

[clestuff]

smashed "duffle bag" survivor...