Rare genuine WWII USAAF Type M4 armor helmet, introduced in 1943 for 8th Air Force bomber crews -- to a lesser extent, it seems that the present version also saw service with some RAF flying personnel.
The helmet itself was made of five manganese-treated steel strips placed between two layers of cloth and covered with leather. Generally considered less protective than the previous and bulky Type M3, this model was better suited to confined spaces such as the top turret or tail turret.
Although a batch of 19,000 helmets was ordered from British company Wilkinson Sword in September 1943, the manufacturing process was to slow and the American military authorities relocated most of the production in the USA. The later Type M4A2, adopted in 1944, was based on this helmet.
Good, worn condition; chinstrap is missing.
Quite interestingly, a half sheet of paper taken from some notebook is still present inside; the following mention has been written on it in French: casque de parachutiste Anglais [sic] trouvé le 3 juin 1944 ("English paratrooper helmet found on June 3, 1944").
The historical artifacts for sale at PARATROOPER’s are intended for collectors, history enthusiasts, historians and museum curators. These items do not glorify or promote any of the political, ideological or racial opinions related to the global conflicts that bathed the 20th century in blood.
Besides, we remind you that Article R.645-1 of the French Penal Code establishes fines applicable to fifth class contraventions (except in the specific cases of a filming, show or exhibition which refer to historical events) for any individual who wears a uniform, insignia or symbol reminiscent of those worn by members of the various organizations declared criminal in application of Article 9 of the Charter of the International Military Tribunal annexed to the London Agreement of August 8, 1945 – SS, SD, Gestapo, Nazi leaders (the Führer, the Reichsleitung, the Gauleiters and their main collaborators, the Ortsgruppenleiter, the Zellenleiter and the Blockleiter), or reminiscent of those worn by any person found guilty, by a French or International Jurisdiction, of one or several crimes against humanity established by Articles 211-1 to 212-3 or mentioned in Law No. 64-1326 of December 26, 1964.
The Code provides additional penalties, including the confiscation of the items used or intended for committing the offence.
