M1917 US AEF Camouflage Helmet

M-1917 Helmet

The American Army entered Europe with no helmet or design they could call their own. Many American soldiers were isued the British Model 1915 Mark I helmet or the "Brodie" helmet. Some 400.000 British Mark I helmets were issued to American troops already in Europe. The American M1917 helmet was a direct copy of the Britisch Mark I. These helmets were made under contract by American firms in the fall of 1917. By the fall of 1918 some two million helmets were made in US factories. The M1917 helmet had its own characteristics, making it unique from the British model. The M1917 helmet was painted olive drab, sawdust was then applied, and the helmet was once again painted with olive drab. The sawdust was to cut down on helmet glare.

Did Doughboys Wear Camouflage Helmets at the Front?

It’s a well-known fact that thousands of American Doughboys brought back souvenir helmets, many of which were decorated with camouflage paint schemes that were painted after the singing of the Armistice took place on November 11, 1918. But did any of the two million plus Doughboys who served with the AEF in France actually wear camouflage painted helmets at the front or in combat? This question has been debated by collectors and historians for decades. The overwhelming consensus has been that camouflage helmets were never worn at the front.