Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of a genuine WWII Front-Seam Fixed Bale M1 Helmet made by McCord Radiator, with a Firestone liner. 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 623C which indicates the approximate manufacture date of August 1943, just prior to the change to swivel 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.

This M1 shell has correct mid war fixed chinstrap loops, called "bales," and a stainless steel rim with a front 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.

This helmet is a fine example and still retains all of its original WW2 parts and the shell has all original "corked" grain paint, though it definitely has seen use. There is some rusting in areas, as well as dirt and overall patina of age. It has the correct fixed bails and a stainless steel rim, which is missing paint, as is typical. The chin strap is the correct mid war OD Green #3 with a steel buckle.

The front and rear of the shell has the number 17 painted on it in red paint. The 17 indicates the unit marking for the 17th Armored Engineer Battalion, which was assigned to the famed 2nd Armored Division “Hell on Wheels” during WW2.

The helmet comes complete with high pressure WWII issue and stamped with the CAPAC Manufacturing Company logo with frontal eyelet. Manufactured in Capac, Michigan this high pressure manufactured M-1 helmet liner is identified by an embossed cross with the words Capac in the crown. Capac Manufacturing Company 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.

This true US WWII M-1 helmet liner can be identified through the frontal eyelet hole. Other correct WWII features include cotton OD Green #3 herringbone twill (HBT) cloth suspension liner, with the webbing in very good shape. This HBT suspension is held tightly within the M-1 helmet liner by rivets and a series of triangular "A" washers. The three upper suspension bands are joined together with the correct OD green string. This way the wearer could adjust the fit. It shows wear and age from long service. The liner chin strap is unfortunately not present.

The front of the CAPAC liner has a hand painted rank insignia for the rank of First Sergeant, three stripes up, three stripes down with a diamond in the middle. In the United States Army, the rank of First Sergeant (abbreviated 1SG) is above the rank of Sergeant First Class and below the rank of Sergeant Major. It is equal in grade to Master Sergeant, although the two ranks have different responsibilities, with a First Sergeant being senior to a Master Sergeant. First Sergeants handle the leadership and professional development of their soldiers, noncommissioned officer development, manage pay issues, supervise administrative issues, manage the promotable soldiers within the company, and are the first step in disciplinary actions. A first sergeant may place a soldier under arrest in quarters in certain cases, as well as manage all of the daily responsibilities of running the company/unit.

Until September 1942, First Sergeant was a Grade 2 enlisted rank, equivalent to Technical Sergeant; it was then elevated to Grade 1, equivalent to Master Sergeant.

This is an excellent genuine WWII issue helmet perfect for any collection! Ready to display!

17th Armored Engineer Battalion
The 17th Armored Engineer Battalion is part of the 2nd Armored Division "Hell on Wheels". During World War II, they were active in the North African Campaign, and Western Europe Campaign. The 17th Armored Engineer Battalion was founded on 1 October 1933 as part of the US Army. First called the 17th Engineer Battalion (Heavy Ponton), Motorized. It was renamed on 10 July 1940 to 17th Engineer Battalion (Armored) and assigned to the 2d Armored Division. The unit became active and started training 15 July 1940 at Fort Benning, Georgia. Renamed again on 8 January 1942 as the 17th Armored Engineer Battalion. The Battalion is now based at Fort Hood, Texas. Battalion motto is We pave the way.

World War II Training
Training started at Fort Benning, in Columbus, Georgia.
After organizing the new battalion, training in engineering skills started. The battalion average age of the enlisted men was 22 years. Then men had two and a half months of basic training behind. Training included: M1 carbine Rifle marksmanship, mines, minefields, Demining, fixed dry gullies bridge construct, floating Pontoon bridge construct, road repair-making, Military engineering vehicles-DUKW use, and other field combat problems. Training included live fire exercise and live mine exercises, to make the men battle ready. Colonel George S. Patton was in charge of training the new 2nd Armored division.

World War II
The 17th Armored Engineer Battalion moved with the 2nd Armored Division to North Africa, Sicily, England, France, Belgium and Germany, under the command of the First Army.

North Africa
As part of the North African Campaign, and Operation Torch the 17th took part in landing French North Africa's Algeria and Morocco. The major task in North Africa was landing clear and mine removal. The 17th landing was early morning on 8 November 1942. In Morocco the landing was in Safi as part of Operation Blackstone.

Sicily
As part of Operation Husky order of battle in the Sicily Campaign, the 17th Armored Engineer Battalion with the 2nd Armored Division landed in Gela, Sicily in south-central Sicily, on 11 July 1943. Before the landing the 17th used M4 Sherman tanks with Scorpion Mine flail exploder to clear the way. The operation captured Butera and participated in the Battle of Mazzarino, then moving on to Palermo. After Sicily the 17th moved to England to train and prepare for D-Day.

Normandy
On 9 June 1944, D-day plus 3, along with other battalions, the 17th battalion landed on Utah Beach in Normandy as a part of the Normandy landings and Operation Overlord. They cleared lanes for landing craft by destroying the mine-bearing steel structures that the Germans had implanted in the intertidal zone. They bulldozed roads up the narrow draws through the cliffs lining the beaches. The 17th Armored Engineer Battalion were issued new camouflage uniforms for D-Day. These uniforms are the same one used by the US Marine Corps in the Pacific. To clear barricades, mine fields, fill in caters and break through thick hedgerows the 17th used M4 Sherman Tanks mounted with M1 bulldozer. Also used was Caterpillar D7 with armor plates added to the engine and cab. The tank bulldozer broke through the hedgerows in France. Germans learned to wait until the tanks crossed with infantry following on foot then fire on both. To counter, forces started with their main guns loaded with canisters and pointed to the rear and to the flanks. As the tanks crossed they fired parallel to the hedges, inflicting enemy casualties, this became known as "Roosevelt's Butchers,". From Omaha Beach the battalion pushed through the Cherbourg peninsula and built a bridge across the Seine river in France.

The 17th would continue on seeing action throughout France. They destroyed key bridges during the Battle of the Bulge, built bridges over the Seine River, prepared floating bridges for the crossing of the Rhine River and Elbe River.