The M1 Helmet in Normandy: Easter Eggs
Date Written: Winter 2009
Author: Chris Guska - 90th IDPG
Research Assistance: Charles McFarlane - 90th LHG, www.90thlhg.tk
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Source Photographs used in the Study
Easter Eggs:
Every so often you come across one of those photos that just make you scratch your head and say WTF!?
I found a few instances of them, or otherwise noteworthy photos included in the study that should be called out individually for attention:
Photo 28: Hawley, double helmet nets and a “cop moustache”
Ok, I know all of you are thinking “OMG, What a TURBOFARB!” as its so improbable and lands so squarely on dumb reenactorisms that it cant be real! Well check it out, not only is he wearing 2 helmet nets, of different sizes, with the top one not even tucked in all the way – but he also has the dreaded and much maligned “cop moustache” The only way this could get more stereotypically reenactor, would be for the guy to have his 45 in a shoulder holster or be carrying a revolver... Blows your mind eh?
Photo 3, 7 and 59: Helmet chinstrap up and back UNDER helmet net
Check out the details in this bad boy: A medic without red crosses painted on his helmet... SACRILIGE!! Helmet chinstrap UNDER the net? Craziness! Brassard simply pinned to the helmet net and presumably brassards on both arms. The medic to his right has his m41 jacket inside out, presumably for camouflage. His pistol belt with shovel and assumed canteens is UNDER his jacket... once again, craziness! What's up with the rifleman on the left? Is he really a reenactor with his pregnant beer belly? NO, he simply has his belt on tight enough so that he can store grenades and extra junk down the front of his jacket. Not only that, he's not wearing M36 suspenders... what a farb. Not only is his M43 E-tool handle cut down, but his leggings also appear to be cut down or he has bloused the hell out of them.
Regarding the dead kraut, notice that he was a rifle grenadier. He still has a rifle grenade sticking out of his pants pocket on the left. Notice how his belt was undone, so the GI's could get to his breadbag and search it for "material of interest". Notice that he too, is also a turbofarb for not wearing gamaschen, but simply having his pant legs tucked into his boots. Assuming the helmet on the ground is his, it would be very interesting to note the large open weave net and scrim being used - but I am unsure if that is a German or American helmet.
This one isnt quite as interesting as the last one - but it still provides some points of interest. Helmet net/chinstrap combo as above. MORE "Medics" without red crosses... holy shit batman! You mean that not everybody who wore a red cross had to have it painted on their helmet? Two guys, assumedly from the same clearing company or Medical BN wearing different uniforms... naa, cant be. Guy on the left just has HBT's on over a crew neck undershirt, while the guy on the right is wearing a 41 jacket and presumably wool shirt. This kinda stuff happened, but is by no means an excuse to be a HBT commando.
Ok, so there's a bit more going on in this one. Same helmet chinstrap under the net on the right issue as before. Guy on the left is wearing his a bit more traditionally. I'm not even going to get into his rifle stock... Of note, is the fact that he's wearing a 1928 pack that has been cut apart into suspenders.
Photo 14: M3 SMG, M1917a1 Water Cooled, Scrimmed helmet and Plain Helmet
Ok, so I personally love this photo as a Heavy Weapons geek. Guy on the right is your stereotypical Willie & Joe type, no helmet net, a week's worth of facial hair and looks asleep at the wheel.
Eagle eye on the left, has the medium size netting, scrim, chinstrap up and back, probably a week's growth on his face, is only wearing a wool shirt, and has a M3 Grease Gun. He does have an interesting assortment of stuff in his shirt pockets,cant quite tell what it is, appears to be paper on the left and a carbine magazine or en block on the right. The highlighting and amount of wear on the M3 is astounding for only a couple of months of potential wear.
Photo 10: Camouflage Parachute Silk Cover
There's a lot going on in this photo so I'll keep my commentary brief. This appears to be a 82nd Div forward aid station - where wounded are being loaded on a captured truck for transport to the Battalion Aid Station. Of note, in the center background of the photo is one soldier wearing a helmet cover made of parachute silk. There are several other instances documented of parachute silk helmet covers being worn. Notably those instances are of the 90th Division and 5th Ranger Battalion and some FJR photos. I know of four or five published photos where this is apparent. I'll save this for another article - but simply put, this kind of stuff happened - not just in parachute infantry battalions, but it was a rarity. Think twice before you call someone not in M42 jumpsuit a farb for wearing a helmet cover made out of parachute silk.
Photo 61: Helmet chinstrap tucked between the helmet shell and liner
I'd love to know the back story on this one and how the photo came to take place - as it very well could be live action, with the photographer shooting from behind cover - but it also could be 100% contrived. Note the horizontal and vertical recognition stripes on the helmets. The Sgt is missing his canteen and seems to have a pretty light combat load with his Handy-Talkie. Additionally he has his helmet chinstrap apparently tucked up between the helmet shell and liner. This is a representative example of the "less is more" idea - as neither of these guys are covered in gear, weapons or ammo. Not everybody was John Rambo... or Sgt Rock.
Author's Conclusions & Commentary:
These images, while entertaining, prove that all kinds of stuff did happen during the war.
ALL of the above images may occasionally be encountered but imagine if many reenactors based an anomoly off of one, single picture - we'd all look like shit. I'm sure any of you can go find oddball photos to prove just about any point that you want, but that was not the point or intent of this study. Just because a photo, or small set of photos exist does not nessecarily give us the right to reproduce them - and thats a good thing.
(The Penis Machinist courtesy of P.W. Browning)
What this comes down to is looking at overall trends when unit specific documentation and photographs are not availble. When unit specifics are available of sufficient QUALITY in QUANTITY, then by all means focus in on what your unit did. If you dont have access to, or cant get quality primary source documentation for your unit in quantity, this "Readers Digest" version of things should be a starting point for you to begin asking questions.
As always - we as reenactors tend to "over do it" when it comes to may things - whether its having too many accessories, too many 45's, too many revolvers, too many m36 suspenders, too many carbine mag pouches, too many leather liner chinstraps, too many air... well, you get the point.
Less is more.
