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Attempts to
create a steel flight helmet (Fliegerstahlhelm) for Luftwaffe air
crews officially began in 1943. Luftwaffe medical personnel
tested and prototyped a steel protective helmet that would provide
defense against aerial debris and shrapnel generated from both ground
and air attack. In the winter of 1944 the first model (Type II
or M1944) helmet manufactured in steel was introduced to bomber crews
in limited numbers. The interior of the Type II helmet consisted
of a leather insert and a chinstrap made of woven cord. The
bottom portion of the chinstrap was similar to that found on German
paratrooper helmets including the buckle and the snaps. Due to
the late introduction of the Type II helmet not many saw service.
As a result the Type II helmet is consider very scarce and
exceptionally rare.
Even before the Type II helmet was
introduced, many German bomber crews felt it necessary to create their
own protective helmets. In most cases, flight crews simply wore
standard M1935 or M1940 helmets over their cloth or leather flight
caps. However, the shape of the steel helmet did not allow for a
comfortable fit in regards to the radio devices on the sides of the
flight helmet. In an effort to rectify this situation, some
M1940 steel helmets were field modified by pounding out the sides with
a hammer so that enough space was created to allow a comfortable fit
when wearing the regular flight helmet. These helmets have come
to be known as Type I steel flight helmets as a result of their early
introduction.
As a result of
this customization, most original Type I helmets bear repainted
surfaces. Many original helmets also exhibit the application of
unit flight insignia including the Luftwaffe second pattern eagle
decal. The interior of the Type I helmet was void of the
standard M1931 liner which was removed in favor of a series of thick
wool felt pads that allowed for protection when the cloth or leather
flight cap was worn.
The Type I field
modified protective flight helmet saw very little use1
and as a result is considered very scarce.
Notes:
1
Collectors should note that many Type I helmets currently on the market
are in fact high quality reproductions. It has been established that
several European sources modified and repainted M1940 helmets to make them
appear as authentic originals. These helmets have since been sold in
both the US and the UK as "originals" despite the fact that they are
clearly counterfeits.
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