Bugme Posted October 19, 2018 Share #1 Posted October 19, 2018 This is a rare WWII American Field Service helmet(Adrian) belonging to Bertrand Hutchinson. How I came upon this helmet is incredibly amazing but, the short story is that the guy who inherited the Costa Mesa, CA storage unit this came out of, sold it to me. COURTESY OF THE ARCHIVES OF THE AMERICAN FIELD SERVICE: When: WWII Where: France Category of People: WWII Driver Last Name: Hutchinson Given Name(s): Bertrand Decorations: Decorated in WWII(Croix de Guerre) Unit (WWII): FR 40-1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted October 19, 2018 Author Share #2 Posted October 19, 2018 Bertrand Hutchinson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted October 19, 2018 Author Share #3 Posted October 19, 2018 These WWII versions of the AFS helmet are so rare that until I found this one, the only one I'd ever seen was this drawing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted October 20, 2018 Share #4 Posted October 20, 2018 Outstanding lid. I thought they only existed during WW1. Congrats! Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted October 20, 2018 Share #5 Posted October 20, 2018 I did not know they were around in WWII also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pump 150 Posted October 21, 2018 Share #6 Posted October 21, 2018 Always enjoy seeing this one! Great piece of history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted October 22, 2018 Author Share #7 Posted October 22, 2018 Outstanding lid. I thought they only existed during WW1. Congrats! BobThe AFS was not nearly as active in WWII as in WWI. This is why most have never heard of their participation. During World War II, the American Field Services volunteer force was stationed in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, India, and Burma. AFS Drivers served near the front lines alongside Allied soldiers. There were approximately 2,200 AFS Drivers that served by the end of the the 2nd World War. However, even though they were small in number, they collectively carried over 700,000 casualties to safety. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted October 22, 2018 Author Share #8 Posted October 22, 2018 Here is a photo of two AFS volunteers in WWII proudly wearing their Adrian's. Unfortunately, the one on the right is wearing a common infantry badge on his helmet and not the WWII AFS badge. I cannot make out what the guy on the left has on his but, it has the appearance of a WWI AFS badge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Vellocino Posted October 28, 2018 Share #9 Posted October 28, 2018 Wow, beautiful helmet I am starting to really appreciate WWI & II period Adrian helmet, and yours is such scarce helmet with insignia that I will looking to find one someday. Wonder why they were not assigned a M1917A1 US steel helmet available since 1939. Thx for showing it. Vellocino Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted November 13, 2018 Author Share #10 Posted November 13, 2018 Wow, beautiful helmet I am starting to really appreciate WWI & II period Adrian helmet, and yours is such scarce helmet with insignia that I will looking to find one someday. Wonder why they were not assigned a M1917A1 US steel helmet available since 1939. Thx for showing it. Vellocino Technically, the AFS drivers were not considered U.S. soldiers, they were American college volunteers to the French Army so, they received French gear. Thus, the Adrian helmets on American heads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulR Posted November 13, 2018 Share #11 Posted November 13, 2018 This is totally amazing. I thought that this service was WW1. I wonder what happened to him after France fell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanemono Posted November 13, 2018 Share #12 Posted November 13, 2018 Beautiful Helmet. Thanks for sharing it with us! Dick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phineaus Posted February 8, 2019 Share #13 Posted February 8, 2019 I love AFS helmets and always enjoy seeing them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted February 8, 2019 Author Share #14 Posted February 8, 2019 I love AFS helmets and always enjoy seeing them!Thanks Farhaan! Looking forward to seeing you in a few weeks in Louisville. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor996 Posted February 9, 2019 Share #15 Posted February 9, 2019 That's a really neat helmet with a great provenance. Thanks for sharing. Add me to the list of folks who didn't know this unit was post WW1 as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wharfmaster Posted February 9, 2019 Share #16 Posted February 9, 2019 Wow, rare helmet. Nice ! Wharf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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