Hi All, I'm an independent filmmaker, beginning work on a new film set during the Battle of Midway. I want to be as accurate as possible in all aspects of the film, including wardrobe, and I'm having a hell of a time finding specific details on the colors of the helmets worn by seamen during the Battle of Midway. I'll be using two different helmets for the ship's crew - WWI style tin hats and M1 steel pots. If anyone can help me pin down what colors the helmets should be, I'd hugely appreciate it!
Here is a pic of my front seam swivel bail Lt.Cmdr. (X-O) helmet. It is blue under the gray paint. Rich A. in Pa.
Thank you, Rich! Do you happen to know if that's a late-war or early-war paint job over the dark blue?
This is a fascinating photo, CAC. Do you know any details about when and where it was taken? It almost looks like it was shot as they were leaving Pearl. Is that one of the Hawaiian islands in the background?
I typed "colour WW2 midway - battle stations" and a bunch of photos popped up...you can then click on the photo and go to the site... I like the denim jeans...and a nice weapon to take on incoming with!
It may be a early to mid war paint job. The helmet is a early front seam type that had fixed bails. It was converted to a flex bail later. I think I have one of those life jackets somewhere. Rich A. in Pa.
Thank you both for the info and the photos. These are extremely helpful! In fact, CAC, your photo helped to end another rather "spirited" debate we were having about life jacket colors. Thanks again, guys!
The problem with the old kapok is that it being a natural fiber it degraded fairly rapidly. There is a company that is now making repro Kapok's. The one photo shouldn't settle that debate. You will find that period Kapok's come in shades from olive drab (similar to the helmet color in the photo) to gray, to medium blue, dark blue gray and the dark color pictured. The style varied to a certain degree as well, depending on manufacturer and when purchased by the Navy. You have to remember that the military retains things until they become unserviceable. That early in the war, and given the rapid mobilization, you'd see life vests from late WWI, the inter-war years and early WWII production. The US Navy started adding the head support in the 1920's, so a lot of early vests lack it, but there was WWII production without the neck ring/head support and others where it was detachable. You'd also see some of the old cork type, but they'd be rare.