WW2 M1C Paratrooper Helmet

This M1C paratrooper helmet is an earlier version of the M1C, as evidenced by the front seam and the khaki colored chinstraps.  The liner is a Westinghouse factory made paratrooper liner.

This helmet is part of a larger grouping that was purchased directly from the Veteran’s family, by one of my friends, after the Veteran passed away.  The family did not know much about his service during WWII, but from the documents, paperwork, insignia, and uniform items in the grouping, it appears that he was a member of the 101st Airborne Division and probably joined the Division late in the War.  I am still researching this group, when I learn more about the wartime service of this paratrooper, I will post the rest of the grouping.

Although the 101st Airborne Division often painted their helmets and liners with markings indicating the unit on the sides, period photos indicate that sometimes they did not paint their helmets.  I have another 101st helmet, a D Bale with liner that was purchased directly from a 506 PIR Veteran, that is also not painted with any 101st unit marks.