Virtual Museum Helmets

PAUL SHAYOCK USN HELMET

(32A-2577, Not For Sale)

Paul Shayock’s M-1 helmet is a classic example of a personalized WW2 helmet. He obviously was in the U.S. Navy and traveled extensively. The M-1 shell is an early front seam with fixed bail marked 56D, the steel heat lot. These heat lot numbers were stamped into the steel disc prior to forming the helmet in a press. This early lot number was likely from 1941. The helmet was camouflage painted in blue, brown and green paint. The words “U S / NAVY / PAUL SHAYOCK” were scratched into the paint and have aged to a pleasing black. The early Hawley helmet liner records his travels including: Tulagi, Guadalcanal, Soloman Isles and nine others. My guess is that Paul was on some type of landing craft or there would be no thought of applying camouflage paint to a navy helmet.