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Post by porkchopbill on Nov 18, 2008 16:53:47 GMT -5
Hello Guys
First post so take it easy on me if it's a dumb question!!
How common were Hessian, sandbag material I guess, covers on helmets. I have seen a couple of pictures of them in use (not including Gregory Peck with his metal ingnia shining away!)
Were there pre constucted covers or was it just a case of fitting on a sandbag as best you could?
Thanks
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Post by John Abshire on Nov 18, 2008 17:27:56 GMT -5
I know that some guys later on the war used them. The 40th Division used them and sewed on Division insigina as well as the ww2 felt stripes...it looks pretty wild.
My suggestion to you is to pick a specific unit for an impression and research that unit, and pick a time frame...you never know what you can find out. Many people go for a "generic" impression and the fact of the matter is there is no such thing, units have different SOPs, different commanders who let some things slide and other things not slide, and it also has to do with supply issues.
The short answer is...yes it was done, but as far as it being common...that depends on the unit and time frame.
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Post by porkchopbill on Nov 25, 2008 16:20:53 GMT -5
Thanks John, I've taken your advice about a specific unit, I'll probably stick with the 3rd Infantry Division as I've got WWII uniform bits and pieces I can use already badged up. For anyone who's interested the 3ID Association has some good photos, including a colour one with Burlap Helmet Covers! at this address: www.warfoto.com/3rdsocietyphotos4.htm |
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Post by btswanfury on Nov 25, 2008 23:51:31 GMT -5
Actually, I think it was quite common. I've seen pics of French troops in Korea with the burlap helmet covers, and I've also seen pics of unidentified Americans in my book on Chinese and NK forces wearing them. So while it may not be SUPER common, it was obviously common enough that you had a wide variety of different troops from different units wearing them.
Hope that helps!
Marc
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Post by Lil Beav on Dec 1, 2008 11:52:41 GMT -5
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Post by porkchopbill on Dec 1, 2008 17:40:50 GMT -5
Thanks Lil Beav!
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Woodard
Global Moderator 
Posts: 379
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Post by Woodard on Dec 1, 2008 22:00:38 GMT -5
I would say to pick a specific time and unit, They don't seem to get common until the trench phase of the war, which makes a lot of sense if you've got burlap sandbags all around your head. If possible, I'd say to narrow down to a specific time and/or unit, a friend of mine collects unit histories from the war (kinda like a high school yearbook of a unit's time in Korea) and a lot of units would have things that they all did (like helmet covers) that the Army at large may or may not have done.
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Post by 40thinfantrydiv on Jan 28, 2010 13:56:15 GMT -5
John
do you have any photo's of the 40th with these bulap covers with insigina sew on?
thanks
jeff
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