As mentioned in Army Chief’s thread, I have here a Vietnam war flight helmet I thought I would try to find the original owner of, or perhaps a family member that might appreciate it. I bought it at a gunshow in Vally Forge, PA back around 1983 when I was about 14. Man were those the golden days of gunshows. Not really in a hurry to get rid of it by any means, but it seems like the right thing to try to do.
Anyway, as you can see it belonged to serviceman Ross, who was apparently either a pilot or gunner. The number in the wings appears to be 184 on one side and possibly 180 on the other. Also says “Hunter Killer” on the back. A little marked up but exactly as it was when purchased. Pictures aren’t great with the flash glare I know, may replace them but you get the idea.
From what I could find the 184th was recon and the 180th assault support, so I’m guessing it must be the latter unit.
Does anyone here know a viable way to possibly help me find it’s owner or a deserving family member?
I thought that since AC is back up and running he might want to take a shot at solving this mystery. After referencing the Ross above I sent a couple emails to the organization that listed his name but heard nothing back.
Chief, if by chance you wander through this thread might you have any suggestions? By no means am I looking to get rid of it, but since it’s personalized a voice tells me it may be better served elsewhere with the more deserving.
Edit: Replacing that one terrible shot of the back tomorrow for clarity. A kindergartner could take a better picture.
If you dont find a suitable owner, I’d like to buy it from you.
My wife’s grandpa’s brother was killed in Vietnam. His helicopter was shot down during aerial recon. The official story until recently was that it crashed due to an accident, but her grandpa couldnt let it go and ended up tracking down his brother’s CO and meeting with him cross country. His CO said that it was from enemy fire, which got her Gpa investigating even more. He eventually found duty logs and flight records, and was able to prove that Tom was killed by enemy fire. In Dec of 2012, the Dept. of the Army sent him Tom’s finalized Purple Heart, and honored Tom’s death by acknowledging that it was in fact enemy fire.
If I can’t find either the owner or a family member this time around we’ll talk for sure. Meantime I’ll at least replace the awful pictures. They do it little justice.
All I can tell you is that green version of that Gentex helmet was an Army helmet, not Navy or USMC version. The single visor and visor cover and mounts are missing, looks like maybe the helmet was parted out.
Brother, I barely recognize my own flight helmet these days. ;).
Honestly, because of the way these things are issued, and the sheer number of aircrews that were involved in that conflict, I can’t really offer any better input than MM has already provided. I’d guess an enlisted man/gunner/crew chief just from the style (pilots were more apt to pay for professional paint jobs), but it is really impossible to tell for certain.
One thing I do know is that these helmets never became personal property (they were issued by the organization and signed back in when crew duties were no longer going to be performed), so this one was obviously pilfered away in someone’s kit bag for the long ride home. If it subsequently found it’s way to a gun show in the '80s, that suggests to me that either the original owner no longer wanted it, or perhaps he had passed on.
It’s the strangest thing to see and I only recently began to understand. The personal items of my Grandfather (especially those related to his military service) and the things from my father (especially firearm related) are basically priceless to me. But ironically my Grandfather never placed a huge value on them. He kept his wings, decorations and some papers and that was about it. He discarded his uniform, flight jacket and tons of things I would have given anything to own.
Basically in his mind he did his job and he was fortunate enough to make it home. He put a few things in a box and concerned himself with his family and starting a refrigeration business. My Grandmother is also partially to blame because she discouraged any talk about his wartime experience. My uncle once commented to me that I knew more about some of his stories than anyone else because when they were growing up he was never allowed to talk about it.
Some of my fondest memories are watching the PBS documentary The World at War during the late 70s and early 80s with my grandfather. I was the only one allowed to remain in the room when the show was on because I was the only one who could “shut up while the show was on.” And every now and then an episode would be related to his experience and he’d lean over and tell me some specific information about the way the planes flew in formation or the significance of a particular mission.
The saddest thing is for me to see some old timer selling all the stuff they kept “from the war” for decades simply because they don’t have anyone to leave it to or they don’t have anyone who values it to leave it to. I’m also constantly sickened by those who are given these things when their parents or grandparents pass and they simply cash them in (Pawn Stars shows this constantly) for a few bucks.
Back in junior high (early 70’s), I found a pilot’s helmet in our garage. Apparently it had belonged to the father of one of my eldest brother’s old girlfriends. Anyway, I thought it was pretty cool and appropriated it, carting it around for years amongst my other personal flotsam and jetsam.
Fast forward 25 years, I occasioned to run into the old girlfriend’s brother and returned the helmet. He was quite surprised to learn it had survived and very appreciative to recover that momento of his father, who had died some years before.
In short, safetyhit, it’s worth making the effort. Even if the original “owner” of the helmet let it go, there may be family members who would attach some very real sentimental value to such an item.
Very interesting first-hand perspective to say the least. Come to think of it a gunner could be even problematic to track down, but like you say one can’t be sure I guess.
Also I agree that it would seem as though odds are it was parted with intentionally, however I can’t help but suspect that maybe if our friend Ross was still with us then he may have had a slight change of heart by now. And of course like Dave and Steyr said any number of relatives might treasure it, although at this point it seems like a first-hand witness who can recall the helmet itself may be the only way to verify who it ever belonged to.
Will probably give it up soon but for now the door is still open for a little miracle.
*I replaced a couple pictures with some slightly better. Trust me I tried to wipe that residue crap off but it’s so old it has solidified. Should have done it in '83 damn it.
My father retired from the Marines in 1974, after 21 years and change. He died two years later from MI. I was but a wee lad when he retired but I recall him tossing just about everything. The things I have of his are priceless to me, too, but would garner little at any army-navy store. I am, however, thinking about donating some of his stuff to the Marine Corps Museum in Quantico so that his legacy will continue.
