American Sun Helmets (1940-1991):
 

  American Sun Helmet

Introduced in 1940 these pressed fiber helmets remained in service for more than sixty years in tropical regions. These helmets were made by the Hawley Products Company and the International Hat Company.

This is an early pattern version, made by Hawley, it features a leather chinstrap, and lacks any grommet at the front of the helmet, suggesting this is the earliest pattern. The original owner used this helmet during a shooting competition in 1939 - predating the official adoption of this helmet, further suggesting that this was a civilian-made pattern acquired by the military during the field test stage.

 
 
 

  American Sun Helmet

An early Hawley variation of the pressed fiber sun helmet. This pattern with three vent holes - two to hold the liner and one to hold the chinstrap - were widely used in South American and in Canada. This suggests that this pattern was meant for export. There is no front hole grommet.

 
 
 

  American Sun Helmet

An American Hawley sun helmet with a pre-WWII officer's cap eagle, suggesting this was an early U.S. Army issue sun helmet.

 
 
 

  American Marine Sun Helmet

This is a Hawley made version, and this helmet features the bronze EGA of the USMC.

 
 

 
American Sun Helmet

This is a version of the pressed fiber sun helmet made by the International Hat Company. It has the same basic shape, but a close inspection shows a greater number of "folds" in the faux puggaree than the Hawley version.

 
 
       
 

 
American Coast Guard Sun Helmet

This World War II era sun helmet features a painted U.S. Coast Guard insignia on the front, making for an interesting period piece of "war art."

 
       
 

 
American Sun Helmet From West Point

A unique pressed fiber sun helmet with a West Point cadet badge mounted to the front. Possibly this was used by the cadet at West Point during World War II before steel helmets were readily available.

 
       
 

 
American Army Sun Helmet

This examples features the lighter canvas covering, and these helmets were used by the US Army from World War II through the Vietnam War. It features the standard American Officer's cap insignia. It features a Hawley makers stamp and is dated to 1948.

 
       
 

  American Sun Helmet

A World War II era pressed fiber sun helmet with the word "Guard" stenciled on the front. These helmets were commonly used by guards at a POW camp.

 
 
 

  American Army Sun Helmet

This is a post-war Hawley made version, and this helmet features the an enlistedman's cap insignia on the front. This helmet comes from the collection of good friend Chris Armold.

 
 

 
American Naval Sun Helmet

The USN used the same pattern of press fiber sun helmets as the USMC and US Army, but the naval versions were typically a darker khaki color, such as this example shown. It features the USN stamp inside the helmet.

 
     
 

  American Civil Defense Sun Helmet

A variation of the pressed fiber helmet, this one features a World War II era Civil Defense decal.

 
 

 
American USN Civil Defense Sun Helmet

A USN pressed fiber helmet used by the Civil Defense. This helmet was painted white, and features the CD decal at the front. The normal grommet hole for a badge at the front has been covered.

 
       
 

 
American Airforce Association Sun Helmet

A World War II era sun helmet likely used post-war by the newly formed Airforce Association.

 
       
 

 
American Army Sun Helmet

A post-Vietnam era pressed fiber helmet. This helmet is interesting in that it has an American Army stamp that indicates that this is a "HELMET, SUN RIGID, FIBRE."

 
       
 

  American Air Force Photographer Sun Helmet

An officially blue-covered sun helmet of the type used by the American Air Force photographers in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

 
 

  American Army Aircorp Stampted Press Fiber Sun Helmet

A World War II era pressed fiber sun helmet with the US Army Aircorp stamp.

 
 

  American Fourth Armored Division Association Reunion Helmet

A surplus World War II sun helmet that was reused by the Fourth Armored Division Association for the First Annual Convention in 1947

 
 

  Pressed Fiber Sun Helmet Variant

A khaki post-World War II variant of the Hawley produced helmet. This example features three holes at the front, likely for a variety of American American badges or rank insignia.

 
 

  Pressed Fiber Sun Helmet Variant

A gray clothed covered version of the pressed fiber helmet, possibly meant for post-WWII naval use. It is unique in that it also features two grommet holes at the front of the helmet. This example appears to have been produced by the Hawley company.

 
 

 
American Pressed Fiber Sun Helmet

A green variation of the pressed fiber sun helmet. This examples seems to have been painted a flat green paint, possibly during or after World War II. The color is similar to that of the American M1 steel helmet, indicating use by the U.S. Army rather than USMC.

 
       
 

 
American Pressed Fiber Sun Helmet

Another painted variation of the pressed fiber sun helmet. This examples seems to have been painted a green color that would appear to match the late WWII era "Ike" jacket, suggesting use by the U.S. Army, possibly in a base in the Southern part of the United States.

 
       
 

  American Sun Helmet

A well-worn pressed fiber helmet. The removed section of the worn cloth cover shows the actual pressed fiber material, which is reminiscent of the early Hawley M1 liner.

 
 

  American Theater Made Sun Helmet

A World War II period private purchase helmet from Malacca. The helmet may have been based ont he American presseed fiber helmets as it features a faux puggaree that is is then wrapped with a real single band of cloth.

 
 

 

The most interesing aspect of the private purchase helmet from Malacca is the maker lable that includes a B-29 bomber!