Description:

OMAHA BEACH 7TH NAVAL BEACH BATTALION HELMET
A NAVY BEACHMASTER'S HELMET FROM OMAHA BEACH Rare and most desirable helmet from a member of the 7th Naval Beach Battalion, a group numbering 541 men who participated in the June 6, 1944 landings on Omaha Beach. The 7th NBB was assigned to the western section of Omaha Beach and was attached to the Army's 6th Engineer Special Brigade to act as a liaison between the Navy's seaborne forces and the Army's ground forces. Members of the battalion would have come ashore scattered amongst various other units' landing craft. Their tasks were to establish and maintain shore-to-ship communications, guide beach traffic, set up aid stations, evacuate casualties, and demolish beach obstacles. This helmet features characteristics unique to the 7th NBB. The green sand-painted M1 helmet bears a red arch painted on the front above the senciled letters "USN" and the number "7", the battalion number. Sailors were also instructed to paint a band of gray along the bottom of the helmet to further identify themselves as seamen, and such a band is visible here, about 1 3/4" wide and encircling the helmet at the brim. The liner also has the characteristic gray stripe running along the rim with the red bridge and "USN" crudely painted in black letters on the rear of the liner. The liner's straps and its leather components are completely intact, although one strap is frayed, and the chin strap is fine. These "beachmasters" suffered huge losses, yet remained on the scene for about three weeks, after which they returned to the U.S. The battalion was decommissioned in October, 1944. This helmet was purchased from the collection of the late John Coy of Orgeon, IL., prior to his death. Coy, who was a 20-plus year dealer of military memorabilia, then opened the Stuka Military Museum in 1990 to display military uniforms, hats, medals, insignias, helmets and other items from the Civil War to Operation Desert Storm. He has been credited for his contributions to more than twenty reference books.

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August 23, 2016 10:30 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000