WWII 82nd Airborne 504th PIR M-1 D-Bale Front Seam Helmet 1942..This item is an extraordinary rare WWII 82nd Airborne, 504th PIR M-1 D-bale front seam helmet that was bought from a Museum.This helmet is among the very best we\'ve ever encountered. This item is a original artifact of the United States (1939-1945). Genuine WWII Airborne helmets are tough to find, extremely desirable and very rare and therefor almost impossible to find. The shell dates from 1942 and the heat stamp is not visible or never had one. This helmet retains most of the original paint that has gone dark from age. There are some paint loss from field use and rust pitting. There is confirmed battle damaged the helmet sustained on the rear from impact, and a thin crack on the rear that occurred from use which adds to the originality, age and character of the helmet. This helmet is a early front seam helmet with the rare Airborne D-bales that is all correct. The helmet has the early aluminum rim around the helmet which is also correct to Airborne helmets of the day. The helmet retains very rare painted insignia markings on the shell of a Military Police \"MP\" helmet.It features the 82nd shoulder patch insignia painted on the front along with MP letters \"Military Police\" and the classic WWII yellow military police stripe and the horizontal white stripe on the back indicating the rank of the paratrooper who wore the helmet. This is one of the first helmets we have ever encountered that also has the 504th PIR (Parachute Infantry Regiment) insignia painted on either side of the helmet from the 2nd Battalion, indicated with the color of the skull and cross bones in \'yellow\' over a black round backing.After thorough inspection, it is possible that the helmet was painted white at one point, white washed for camouflage in the winter of 1944 in the Ardennes that was not uncommon at the time and the helmet may have been refurbished during WWII, used by another paratrooper or the same paratrooper was relieved of his duties as an MP and joined the fighting with the 504th PIR which may explain why the helmet was camouflaged and the insignia painted on the sides with a lasting vehicle paint. This may explain why the helmet looks the way it does after laying out in the field in the snow and rain after I had bought this helmet as an original with the story that it was a field pickup right after WWII in the kate 1940s, the water based washable white paint might have been washed off and revealed the paint underneath but retaining the insignia on either side as they would have used vehicle paint to paint the insignia, but this is only a possibility as it would not be incorrect to see on a 504th PIR MP helmet as personal preference also played a key role in how the soldiers were allowed to decorate their headgear.These soldiers also jumped and fought as paratroopers in the Airborne on the front with specific assigned duties if required as did all the rest as in formed platoons and units. This helmet may have been used in the Market-Garden drop and previous to that, used in Italy with the 504th PIR. MP\'s were very important, as they were the police in field keeping order and discipline amongst the troops and being assigned to different duties they were qualified for in basic training or assigned to, and learning on the job. They were also placed in strategic points such as cross roads, road blocks in the towns or out in the countryside. These MP\'s were often targeted by the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge, their uniforms and headgear used to mimic the Americans to create an ambush where American vehicles were lead into traps, sent off by the false German MP\'s to their annihilation into the wrong direction where the Germans waited for them or killed on sight at the fake road blocks, also often shot up only yards from their position with waiting machine gun nests, which after they would take the supplies from the Americans to the German front, destroying the vehicles and taking the American bodies and hiding them in frozen forest usually in ditches and being naturally covered with snow, hidden from view.This helmet may have ended up being discarded by a German soldier in the forest, who knows. The helmet has no liner present but the chinstrap is present.This helmet does not come with provinance as to verifying every detail, but has been examined and determined to be correct and a WWII period helmet and it was bought as an original and could not be proven incorrect. This is a lovely piece I am selling as is, what you see is what you get and I stick to what I belive and try to research each and every single item as best as I am capable of and selling at a fraction of the price with price.I am a open minded collector, and take the human error factor in regard very seriously. People made mistakes in factories all the time and every helmet is unique in it\'s own way. After 30,000 helmets as a small number have been produced in the factories all over the States, how many had flaws and defects. During and after WWII there was so much military material and documentation destroyed, burned, melted down that whatever was left after the War was but a small fraction of what still exists today.. after 78 years how many more materials were thrown away, lost or discarded.I don\'t judge other collectors or their collectables, I make sure I keep my opinions to myself and stay professional to whom I am and if I find something, buy something as a original and I open up my books and read up all about the item if needed, after some studying, feeling the object, checking it\'s every details, age and condition.. and I am happy with what I got with my extensive professional knowledge as a professional dealer and a 50+ year long collector.. then to me and only me, the item is 100% original and I love it and enjoy the item for what it is!But if someone else comes to me with their knowledge, their expertise, their assumptions and own personal opinions about a certain object, no matter what evidence they have or what they suggest.. there is a certain niceties to be held, to show respect to a mutual collector and to keep those options to themselves. Ultimately, if someone likes an item I have and I only have one of these.I have been collecting for over 50 years now and I have a huge WWII Museum collection and some items are a one of a kind. Some items are unusual and totally unique and I have had collectors and so called experts walk into my large museum and look at some of the finest items, especially German headgear where they would be rude and actually try scratch the decals off a helmet and tell me that it is a fake and every time I proved them wrong in the end haha. So in my experience..Do not allow anyone else to tell you what an item is or weather it is correct or not! Weather the item is a 100% or possibly altered or down right fake, whatever it may be.. become your own professional! Buy books, study, read, take the human error factor in account and decided for yourself! And if you want to buy something you like and want, and enjoy, then it is up to you weather the amount of money makes it worth buying and displaying. This hobby is an appreciation for history, a passion we all share.So here you have it, a lovely WWII D-Bale Airborne Helmet, the only one of its kind I had ever come across, a very nice looking piece starting at a low starting offer.Thank you.Shipping: DHL Express or FedEx International Air Mail (2-3 Days Door Delivery on signature) ..or.. Standard Air Mail (17 days minimum estimate time to arrival) Tracking Number will be provided.

---