Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice Korean War / Vietnam issue McCord M1 helmet shell, with a Mine Safety Appliance Paratrooper liner. It does however have some very interesting aspects, which make it a prime candidate for further research.

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.

This M1 shell has correct late war swivel chinstrap loops, called "bales," and a stainless steel rim with a rear seam. 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". Then in October 1944, the rims were changed to non magnetic manganese steel, due to issues with the paint wearing off the rim. Shortly after this in November 1944 the specification was changed to have the rim seam in the rear of the helmet.

McCord restarted production during the postwar years for the Korean Conflict, and there were also WWII helmets which were refitted during the war. This helmet shell definitely appears to have undergone something like that, as this helmet really doesn't fit into the standard production format. It does look to be a WWII production shell, and we think we can see faded heat lot stamp "?83?" in a worn area on the helmet, which is difficult to make out. This would indicate production late 1944 or early 1945. However, while it has the correct late war swivel bales and a front seam rim.

The helmet shell does show minor wear, and definitely had water sitting on the inside for some period. The paint is retained very well with virtually all corked grain paint still present and visible.

The liner is a correct "high pressure" style M-1 Helmet liner, which was manufactured by Mine Safety Appliances of Evans City, Pennsylvania. This is identified by an embossed stylized MSA logo in the crown. It is also marked with mold number 26. Mine Safety Appliance started M-1 helmet liner delivery to the US Army in September 1942. They produced approximately between 2,000,000 – 4,000,000 M-1 helmet liners and discontinued production around August 17 1945 when the war ended. MSA still exists today, marketing a wide variety of safety equipment.

This true almost excellent condition US WWII / Korean War M-1 helmet liner can be identified through the frontal eyelet hole. Other correct WW2 features include cotton herringbone twill (HBT) cloth suspension. This HBT suspension is held tightly within the M-1 helmet liner by rivets and a series of triangular "A" washers. The Sweatband is completely missing. The three upper suspension bands are joined together with an OD green tie string. This way the wearer could adjust the fit. The liner chin strap is present and still in solid condition. The paratrooper “A” yokes are still solid with a great leather chin cup still attached and in fantastic condition.

Both sides of the liner has a lovely 101st Airborne Division insignia decal, retained very well. There is some staining and minor discoloration present, but still lovely nonetheless!

The paratrooper chin strap extensions are both complete with their steel buckles, and are in the correct OD Green #7, which matches the aged color of the rigging perfectly.

A Korean War Issued M1 helmet with a very interesting history! Ready to research and display!

The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) ("Screaming Eagles") is a light infantry division of the United States Army that specializes in air assault operations. It can plan, coordinate, and execute multiple battalion-size air assault operations to seize terrain. These operations can be conducted by mobile teams covering large distances, fighting behind enemy lines, and working in austere environments with limited or degraded infrastructure. Its unique battlefield mobility and high level of training have kept it in the vanguard of U.S. land combat forces in recent conflicts: for example, foreign internal defense and counterterrorism operations in Iraq, in Afghanistan in 2015–2016, and in Syria, as part of Operation Inherent Resolve in 2018–2021.

Established in 1918, the 101st Division was first constituted as an airborne unit in 1942. During World War II, it gained renown for its role in Operation Overlord (the D-Day landings and airborne landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France); Operation Market Garden; the liberation of the Netherlands; and its action during the Battle of the Bulge around the city of Bastogne, Belgium. During the Vietnam War, the 101st Airborne Division fought in several major campaigns and battles, including the Battle of Hamburger Hill in May 1969. In mid-1968, the division was reorganized and redesignated as an airmobile division; in 1974, as an air assault division. The titles reflect the division's shift from airplanes to helicopters as the primary method of delivering troops into combat.

At the height of the War on Terror, the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) had over 200 aircraft. This shrank to just over 100 aircraft with the inactivation of the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade in 2015, making it no different in configuration from the Army's other light infantry divisions. In 2019, media reports suggested the Army was working to restore the 101st's aviation capabilities so it can return to lifting an entire brigade in one air assault operation.

Division headquarters is at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Many current members of the 101st are graduates of the U.S. Army Air Assault School, which is co-located with the division. The school is known as one of the Army's most difficult courses; only about half of those who begin it graduate.

The Screaming Eagles was referred to as "the tip of the spear" by former U.S. Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, and the most potent and tactically mobile of the U.S. Army's divisions by General Edward C. Meyer, then Chief of Staff of the Army.