AN-H-15 AAF HELMET

[Anonymous]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Vtg-WWII-A ... 309wt_1399 Do not know much about these, looks in decent shape.

 

[dmar836]

Perhaps the easiest cap to find(along with the A-11). Interesting variant though with those sewn-on snap strips. Typically, those are leather reinforced, not fabric.

Dave

 

[unclegrumpy]

Perhaps the easiest cap to find(along with the A-11). Interesting variant though with those sewn-on snap strips. Typically, those are leather reinforced, not fabric.

The fabric strips on this helmet are out of a late war oxygen mask parts kit, and were added after the helmet was made. The leather reinforced snaps on most of these two types of helmets are typically factory applied, but not always....the parachute shops left us some "fun" modifications to discover.

 

[dmar836]

And that's what makes it cool! You do have to wonder why they made that mod on a helmet that appears to have so little wear.
Sorry, "variation" was a poorly applied word on my part. I think I have a few of these but if it was cheaper I'd get it just for the field mod.
The AN-H-15 just doesn't bring much lately.
Dave

 

[Anonymous]

Where can you buy the fabric strips with the snap tabs.

 

[unclegrumpy]

You do have to wonder why they made that mod on a helmet that appears to have so little wear.

It was done to up grade the helmet to late war or into the early postwar period through the Korean War standards. I suspect it was done for use by aircrew rather than pilots, navigators, or bombardiers. The lower level guys often got the hand me down or near obsolete gear. It probably got modified and put into inventory, but then never issued.

As far as finding the snap strips, if you watch on eBay sometimes you will see oxygen masks that still have their storage boxes. Often those will have the parts kits too....and those contain the strips with the snaps, the two snap brass attachment clips for the mask straps, and some other odd and ends.

Somewhere I might have an extra set of the snap strips, but I will have to stumble on them, because I no idea where or if I still have them.

Here is a link to a boxed mask....the accessory pack contains the snap strips....the boxed A-14 masks come with the same accessory pack...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/WWII-1944-US-AA ... 1c3144319c

 

[Anonymous]

Wow nice set in great shape, if I had the bucks to toss I grab that, and I'm not a cap, helmet collector.

 

[dmar836]

Lol. Tread lightly. It's a slippery slope!

 

[unclegrumpy]

Lol. Tread lightly. It's a slippery slope!