US WW2 M2 D-Bale Paratrooper Helmet

In a very nice condition a US WW2 M2 'D-Bale' Paratrooper Helmet.
The helmet comes in a found condition from the belgium Ardennes and contains the M2 Helmet shell together with the original field repaired D-bales and the paratrooper liner in a salty condition.

During WW2 McCord produced about 20 million M1 helmet shells just 392,000 of those were made as the paratrooper M2 version.
These helmets have a typical design flaw any pressure put on the loops, would often cause them to break at the welding points.
This example features an original field repair. both loops have been repaired with period wire on both bale sides.
The helmet shell comes with a stunning flat surface on the outside with only traces of 60% of the original green paint.
Next to the paint is clearly visible that the helmet was stored upside down because of the rust and damae to the shell top.
The rust is hard and helmet can easily placed upside down and no rust shall fall off.
The productionnumber of the M2 helmet shell is clearly visible 191A.
The westinghouser liner comes without the webbing. Lot of helmets found in the Ardennes doesnt have any webbing, this because of the age and the weather circumstances.
The liner has on the outside the original paint and also tinnie red cross markings on all sides.
Probably used by a company medic.
A very nice M2 D-bale helmet that shall look great in a paratrooper display!

Code: 74042