British Manufactured “Commando Helmet Net” 1942 - August 1945

Big Red here with some “collector jargon” for all you M-1 helmet lovers out there.

So, TAKE FIVE!

“Kelley's Heroes Helmet Net”

If you find yourself in a discussion about M-1 helmets with collectors from “back in the day,” it is possible you will hear them refer to a net as a “Kelley's Heroes” net. 

So, what is a Kelley's Heroes net and where does the term come from?

The actual designation for this type of net was the Commando Helmet Net. It was a British-made net designed specifically for use with the M-1 helmet. It was made from cotton woven to form a ¾ x ½ inch rectangular pattern that was dyed a dark olive drab green.

The net had a drawstring interwoven along one side, which, when placed to the front of an M-1 helmet and cinched up, drew the opposite end of the net in tight against the back of the helmet. When properly tightened, the net pulled simultaneously from front to back, causing the sides to bunch up into rosettes just above the helmet's chin straps. The net fanned out from these rosettes to the front and back of the helmet, giving it a distinctive pinwheel pattern.

Nets were issued in bundles of 25 with an instruction for use tag.

Once installed, being secured from the rear only, the net could be worn sandwiched both front and back between the steel helmet body and the liner, or the front could be left free to form a veil over the face. 

The Commando Helmet Net saw limited use with GIs during WWII, the majority of period photographic evidence indicating that it saw most of its service with American soldiers in the Pacific Theater.

Although the Commando Helmet Net was not a common feature for the M-1 during the war, they were relatively common in WWII movies filmed during the 1960s in countries that received a significant amount of leftover Allied surplus. Yugoslavia was one of these countries and just happened to be the location chosen for a 1970s war film starring Clint Eastwood, called Kelley’s Heroes.

The success of this film, which features an all-star cast wearing M-1 helmets that prominently display the Commando Helmet Net, is why many collectors refer to this net as a “Kelley’s Heroes” net.

Collector tip:_______________________________________________________________________

The Commando Helmet Net quickly fades, especially in direct sunlight, from its original olive drab green to a pink salmon color. If you choose to display this net on a helmet and want to minimize the color change, be careful where you place it and potentially keep a cover over it that can be quickly and easily removed when you want to show it off.

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