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German Air Force
(Luftwaffe) fire fighting personnel assigned to airfields were
equipped with standard black painted civic model firemen's helmets.
These were supplied in the standard models common to all fire fighting
units which included helmets with black leather neck flaps that served
as heat shields to protect the wearer's neck. To differentiate
these helmets from those of the civilian fire fighting organizations (Feuerwehren),
the Luftwaffe regulated that each helmet be given a white painted ring
around the midline or center.
In addition, most
helmets configured in this way1
were given two decals consisting of the standard Luftwaffe second
pattern eagle decal and the National tri-colored shield. Helmets
configured early in the Luftwaffe's history were given gold eagle
decals stated by an order stipulating that technical personnel (as
well as general officers) have this insignia distinction.
However, the majority of these helmets were given white eagle decals
after regulations regarding the use of the gold decal were changed
prior to 1939.
See Photos of An Original
Example
Notes:
1
Collectors should
note that counterfeit examples of this
helmet have been observed for sale at shows or through internet auctions. Generally speaking, the helmet
configuration is easy to replicate since reproduction decals and white
paint can upgrade a standard original civic model fire fighting helmet so
that it appears as a wartime configured Luftwaffe fire fighting helmet.
Luftwaffe Civic Model Fire Fighting Helmet
(left side)
Luftwaffe Civic Model Fire Fighting Helmet
(right side side)
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