Original Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent hard to find USAAF WWII issue M4A2 Flak Helmet in almost unissued condition. World War Two American bomber crews in the skies over Europe needed something more than their leather flying helmets to provide them with shrapnel injuries, however it took a surprisingly long time for a new helmet to be developed and deployed to meet that need. Not until December of 1943 did the M3 reach the ETO, it was the first of three versions of the American flak helmet. The M4 followed in June 1944, and in January 1945, the M5 was introduced.

Like the previous model, the M4 is a three-piece steel helmet comprising a skull and deep hinged ear-flaps. However, to combat issues with the cold, the M4 has the steel components wrapped in fabric. This also allows the helmet to be worn directly on the head or hood of the flight suit, so there is no separate liner. The M1-style front brim was removed, and the chin strap was now made of leather with a chamois interior, like a winter flight helmet.

This particular helmet features an interesting period addition of foam padding to the interior and earflaps, which is undoubtedly contemporary to the helmets use during WWII. The agent used to fasten the foam to the body of the helmet has, unfortunately, obfuscated most of the interior label. Chinstrap is complete despite how it looks in the images which is obscured by a white manikin. Overall, an excellent example of a WWII Army Air Forces Flak Helmet, with a unique period modification.