Original Item: Only One Available. Commercial football helmets were very popular with the Army for a variety of functions, through the 1950’s and early 1960’s. The airborne paratroopers used them in jump training and the Armored School used them for tank training as well. A wide variety of brand name helmets were widely used by active duty armor units due to the delays in testing and approving the T56-6 combat vehicle crewman’s helmet. The T56-6 would not be fielded until 1961 so throughout the 50’s the Army needed something to augment the dwindling stores of the WWII Rawlings Pattern tank helmet.
This helmet features deep green paint over what appear to be stripes (football), a major’s rank insignia decal to the front, Ridell marked plastic chinstrap with chin cup, padded leather liner and was manufactured by Riddell, a well-known helmet manufacturer, who still makes football helmets to this day. Offered in excellent condition.
A very interesting post WWII helmet, ready to research and display!