US M1 Combat Helmet. The M-1 helmet was developed as a replacement for the M-1917 helmet that had seen use since WW1. The M-1 helmet was approved for production in June of 1941. Early models had solid loops (fixed bale) for the chin straps but they broke off to often and were replaced with a moveable hinged loop. This is a helmet with the fixed bale loops and front seam stainless steel rim. The helmet is complete with its original chinstrap. The helmet comes with its original liner, the leather chinstrap is missing. The helmet liner is marked by 'Westinghouse'. The liner is in heavily used and worn condition showing some damages and staining, see photos. The outside of the inner helmet is showing pasted on paper type logos of the US '750th Tank Battalion' which was typical for armoured units. The Seven-Five-Zero Tank Battalion, as it came to be called, spent over 180 days in combat in Europe during World War II. The 750th was attached to the 104th (Timberwolf) Infantry Division. The unit participated in operations at the Siegfried Line, the Battle of the Bulge, the Drive for Cologne, the Encirclement of the Ruhr Pocket and finally into Germany towards Torgau. The chinstrap on the outer shell is showing a soldier's service number 'C-9861', named to 'Dominick J. Colavito', a soldier who according to records was a member within the 7th armored division, to which the 750th was assigned after the attachment to the 104th Division ended. Rare and interesting original M1 helmet in good used condition!

This helmet originates from the collection of the recently closed Eyewitness Museum!