Original Item: Only One Available. This is a hard-to-find original U.S. WWII USAAF M4A2 armored flak helmet manufactured by Industrial Canvas Products Corp., offered in fair service-worn condition with its original cloth covering, hinged armored ear protection, and clearly legible manufacturer’s label. Developed specifically for bomber and aircrew protection against flying fragments and antiaircraft shrapnel, the M4A2 represented one of the final wartime developments in American specialized aircrew head armor.

Like the previous model, the M4 is a three-piece steel helmet comprising a skull and deep hinged ear-flaps. However, to combat issues with the cold, the M4 has the steel components wrapped in fabric. This also allows the helmet to be worn directly on the head or hood of the flight suit, so there is no separate liner. The M1-style front brim was removed, and the chin strap was now made of leather with a suede interior, like a winter flight helmet. This example appears to have been an M4 originally, being updated to M4A2 later.

The interior has a clear manufacturer's label that reads:

HELMET, M4A2 
Drawing 20-24-39
Industrial Canvas Prod. Corp.
W-11-022-ORD-1369
LOT    DATE

This example is offered in overall fair condition but the leather chinstrap is entirely absent, torn away long ago. There is also some minor tearing along the edges of the cloth covering, mostly on the ear covers. Please advise the fragility of the material.

The combination of the Industrial Canvas Products Corp. manufacture, M4A2 designation, Drawing 20-24-39 marking, W-11-022-ORD-1369 contract number, surviving cloth-covered armor, and original hinged ear protection makes this a strong representative example of late-WWII USAAF protective equipment. The missing chinstrap, edge tears, and fragile textile covering are the principal condition issues, while the clearly preserved manufacturer’s label provides excellent documentation of the helmet’s original wartime configuration.