the so called "normandie" camo

[lexiconmori]

Hello all,


I need to know,I have encountered some so called normandie heavy textured camoed helmets, but these helmets scare me to the white of my flesh, how can one seriously recognize a genuine camo normandie helmet?(because let's be honest to my opinion they always seem fake these helmets)..please you can also pm me on this one but it is important for me to know..because I now refuse to buy any helmet with camo on it....,
thanks in advance ,
take care,


Alco

[Perry Floyd]

The Normandie camo I assume you mean that style..
Are you able to post some good close-ups of the helmet in question?

[Edelweiss]

Alco, I suppose that in fact, with the abusive term "camo normandie helmet", you intended to mean the three tone camo helmet style, with tan, red-brown and green colors (sometimes more colors or even less, sawdusted or not), the kind of camo pattern where green and red-brown are generally painted in wide melted bands on a tan overall basis, and that were sometimes encountered on the Normandie battlefield, but not only on this one, and even more often elsewhere, am I right ?

If you have a couple of hours free, you'll find some interesting examples here :
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...threadid=24770

About your question, the best is to have in hands as much good examples as possible, and to be patient. But IMO, there's ONLY ONE way to find a REAL Normandie camo helmet : it's to prospect farms in Normandy (be careful, the limits with "Bretagne" are not always obvoius), and afterwards to torture the farmer to be sure he says the truth about the presence of the helmet since 1944 (not later than August, or with a special derogation then). It also works well with his wife, or better with the children, if he has some ; I don't recommend the grand'parents, I've never got good results with them. I agree it's not always a pleasant thing to do (well, sometimes it is), but it's unfortunately essential, as only the less strict collectors generally accept and validate this method regarding the term "Normandie camo helmet".

[lexiconmori]

thank you for the info

[John Hodgin]

As we discussed before, the only camo paint pattern that can really be attributed to Normandie is the sawdust, green with tan-brown paint on Fj jump helmets from Rgt.6.

The camo pattern that Edelweiss describes, (tan, green and red-brown) is often referred to as the "armor" pattern because these are the same colors that were used to paint panzers. As Edelweiss said, helmets painted in this manner were worn in all areas of combat from 1943 on, perhaps earlier in Russia. This camo style was first encountered by US veterans in Italy, a year before Normandie, and this pattern was used extensively in Italy.

To call this "armor" pattern a Normandie camo, though some were worn in Normandie, is just plain ignorant. Which I guess is what Perry has been trying to get many to understand for over a year now.......

[Perry Floyd]

My whole intent was to keep the phrase "Normandie camo" from becoming like "Vet purchase" is today. This overuse is never good to a actual Vet purchase or a actual Normandie camo...

[Edelweiss]

And... here's a "Normandy camo" Tiger II !

The best way to illustrate the term "armor" pattern would be more adequate, for sure. But well, the habit is now taken, don't die trying to climb this mountain, Perry : it's a molehill...

[Perry Floyd]

I don't understand what your trying to say?

[Edelweiss]

Ben, bah, c'est pas grave...

Don't worry Perry, forget it. John, 10,000 % agreed about the eastern front :

[Edelweiss]

And here's one of my favourite pics ; no doubt the same colors were used on armored vehicles and on helmets, whatever the period :

[John Hodgin]

Hi Edelweiss

Ich verstehe. I hope to see that Tiger in person someday, very handsome and fearsome. I like that period photo as well, and agree, while spraying the vehicles, spray the helmets too.

Here is a genuine Normandie.
very best,
john

[John Hodgin]

problems...

The photo didn't post. One more try.......

[Ty Smith]

Chris - where is that Tiger? Belgium or France??
I need to see that one in person one day.

[Edelweiss]

Ty, John & al, this Königstiger is in the Munster Panzer Museum, with other interesting and rare Pzs :

[Edelweiss]

The Munster Panzer Museum site doesn't seem to work properly today. If ever you were frustrated, here's the link to the Saumur Panzer Museum in France :
http://www.musee-des-blindes.asso.fr/
This site is not what it could be, but be sure the museum is really one of the best ones in Europe, at least. Armoured vehicles from all period (from the origins till today) and nationality are present. Almost every WW2 armoured vehicle too (well, I think), and even the one and only working Tiger II ; if you choose the date & time of your visit properly, you will see it in action : impressive !