Original Item: Only One Available. This is a great example of a genuine mid WWII Issue U.S. Army M1 Helmet, with a correct WWII Issue Firestone liner. It has been painted blue overall, with large S P letters on the front, indicating issued to the "Shore Patrol", which is somewhat equivalent to the U.S. Army Military Police. They are service members who are provided to aid in security for the United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, and United States Marine Corps while on shore. They are often temporarily assigned personnel who receive limited training in law enforcement and are commonly armed with a baton. Their primary function is to make certain that Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen on liberty do not become too rowdy.

The helmet shows some wear, chipping, and degradation, so this is definitely a helmet that saw service after being issued to the Short Patrol, and it would make an excellent part of any collection.

The U.S. WWII M-1 helmet was only produced from 1941 to 1945. The first production batch resulted with over 323,510 M-1 helmets before the start of the American involvement in the war. This helmet is heat-lot stamped 502, which indicates the approximate manufacture date of June - July 1943. This was before the "official" changeover to swivel bales, so it may have been left over in the factory, or possibly had the bales replaced after the originals broke off, however we see no evidence of replaced bales.

The Ordnance Department selected McCord Radiator and Manufacturing Company of Detroit Michigan to produce the steel M1 helmet bodies. These bodies were made from a single piece of Hadfield Manganese steel that was produced by the Carnegie-Illinois & Sharon Steel Corporations. Each completed raw M-1 helmet shell weighed 2.25 lbs each. The total production of M-1 helmet shells during the war reached 22,000,000. Of these about 20,000,000 were produced by the main contractor McCord Radiator and Manufacturing Company of Detroit.

The early M-1 helmet shells had a set of fixed (static) chinstrap loops called "bales" and a stainless steel rim. These rims were both rust resistant and had "non-magnetic qualities" that reduced the chance of error readings when placed around certain sensitive equipment (such as a compass). In October 1943, issues with the fixed bales breaking off resulted in a change to the "swivel bales" that this helmet has. The shell's heat lot was stamped before the change, however the helmet for some reason stayed at McCord until the swivel bale period.

This helmet is a fine example and still retains all of its original WWII parts and the shell has all original "corked" grain paint, which was overpainted with Navy Blue, and had the large white S P letters added in front. It shows wear through the corked areas, as was common. It features a correct front seam and swivel bails. The chin strap on this helmet is missing, but it may have been removed on purpose for shore patrol use.

The liner is correct “high pressure” WWII issue and stamped with an F logo over 38 for the FIRESTONE TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY Manufactured in Akron, Ohio this “high pressure” manufactured M-1 helmet liner is identified by an embossed “F” in the crown. Firestone Tire and Rubber Company started M-1 helmet liner delivery to the US Army in September 1942. They produced approximately 7,500,000 M-1 helmet liners and discontinued production around August 17 1945 when the war ended.

This true US WWII M-1 helmet liner be identified through the frontal eyelet hole. Other correct WWII features include OD Green #3 cotton herringbone twill (HBT) cloth suspension liner, with the webbing quite worn. It has torn in one area, and is now tied together in the middle. This HBT suspension is held tightly within the M-1 helmet liner by rivets and a series of triangular "A" washers.  The sweatband is still present, however it shows use and degradation of the leather, so this is a helmet that was used. The liner chinstrap is missing, which is relatively common.

An genuine service worn WWII issue helmet used by the Short Patrol. Ready to display!