Para Helmets

[canny lad]

Hi Guys
trying to find some information on Para helmets, from ww11 to modern day,
type, model numbers

Many Thanks
Brian Chapman

[engr9266]

Give the Airbourne museum in Aldershot a call. I am sure they could help you.

[Arnhemjim]

Hello Brian,
The following is a very brief summary (to the best of my knowledge) of helmets issued to the Parachute Regiment from its inception in 1940. It’s a good recommendation to try and contact the staff at the Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces Museum, however I believe they have moved from their long time location in Aldershot. My best understanding is that the museum closed in December 2007. In partnership with the Imperial War Museum, a new museum of The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces will open at Duxford in late autumn 2008. More information is available at http://www2.army.mod.uk/para/af_museum/index.htm. Hope this is of some assistance. Personally I would also be curious as to any further information on the subject other members of the forum may have.
Regards,
Jim
Arizona Territory
The Colonies

British Parachutist Helmets (1940 – Present)

Training Helmets (Unfortunately not that well chronicled)
• Black Leather Aviator’s Helmet Issued 1940 (1935 Pattern Air Ministry Type ‘B’ Flying Helmet)
• Bare ‘Sorbo’ Training Helmet (Prototype) Issued late 1940/41 No Ear Grommets
• Canvas covered ‘Sorbo’ or ‘Bungey’ Training Helmet (First Pattern) 2 Ear Grommets
• Canvas covered ‘Sorbo’ or ‘Bungey’ Training Helmet (Second Pattern) 2 Ear Grommets, modified Suspension
• Canvas covered ‘Sorbo’ or ‘Bungey’ Training Helmet (Third Pattern) 2 Ear Grommets, further modified Suspension

Tactical Helmets
• Steel Helmet with Hard Rubber Rim (Prototype) Flat 1” Hard Rubber Rim with Rear Flap Issued 1941-1942 (Used in Bruneval Raid)
• Manganese Steel Helmet with Hard Rubber or Composition Fiber Rim (First Pattern) Manufactured and Issued 1942
• Manganese Steel Helmet with Rolled Steel Rim and Leather Chin Harness (Second Pattern) Manufactured and Issued 1942-1943
• Manganese Steel Helmet with Rolled Steel Rim and Web Chin Harness (Third Pattern) Manufactured and Issued 1943 (Switch to web due to leather becoming scarce)
• Manganese Steel Helmet with Rolled Steel Rim and Modified Web Chin Harness (Fourth Pattern) 1943 (Used Operation 'Musketeer', Suez 1956, even saw limited use in the Falklands 1982)
• Light-weight Fiber (Not Kevlar) Helmet (Prototype) Falklands 1982 (Contemporary photographs show some of 2 and 3PARA with what appears to be a leather vice web chin harness) Can now confirm, used both in the Falklands and with 'P' Company in the same time frame. NATO Stock No. 8415-99-132-4582 (last 2 numbers vary to denote size) See attached images
•Helmet, Shell, Parachutists, Pattern 1980, Light-weight Ballistic Fiber ‘Kevlar’ with Web Chin Harness (Current Issue) NATO Stock No. 8415-99-132-4578 (last 2 numbers vary to denote sizes)

[canny lad]

Thanks for the info Guys, very informative Jim, just what i was looking for mate, i'll contact the museum for further info
cheers and all the best
Brian

[Luc]

Originally Posted by Arnhemjim

• Steel Helmet with Hard Rubber Rim (Prototype) Flat 1” Hard Rubber Rim with Rear Flap Issued 1941-1942 (Used in Bruneval Raid)

There are 2 slightly different patterns of the Bruneval helmet, with leather chinstraps and with cloth chinstraps (as found on the Tommy helmet).