These are pictures of a Dutch Model 53 Troepenhelm. This helmet shell is made by Verblifa: see https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verblifa The inscription shows VB 1954 VB = Verblifa 1954 year of production.
I think this helmet has still the first paint it ever received.
In the back of the helmet you can see several cracks In 1954 the company Verblifa had problems to produce these helmets, most of the cracked helmets were removed from service and recycled.
In 1954 the company Verblifa had problems to produce these helmets, most of the cracked helmets were removed from service and recycled. These news paper articles write about the helmet affaire.
This is a more recent Dutch Model 53 Troepenhelm lot 04/91 U's The lot code is 04 The production year is 1991 The manufacturer is U's = Ulbrichts Witwe Ulbrichts Witwe GmbH Kaufing 34 4690 Schwanenstadt Österreich http://www.ulbrichts.com/
The Netherlands beret "Korps Inlichtingen & Veiligheid Prinses Alexia"
The Korps Inlichtingen & Veiligheid Prinses Alexia (Intelligence & Security Corps Princess Alexia) is a corps within the Royal Netherlands Army that specializes in the gathering and processing of intelligence. The corps, together with the Korps Communicatie & Engagement Prinses Ariane (Corps of Communication and Engagement Princess Ariane), constitutes the Arm of Information Manoeuver and was established on 20 November 2020.[1] History[edit] The first formalized intelligence unit of the Dutch army dates back to 1914 with the establishment of the General Staff Section III (GS III). In fact, this unit is the forerunner of all modern Dutch intelligence organizations. The history of the Intelligence and Security Corps goes back to 1954, to the founding of 101 Military Intelligence Service Company (101 MIDcie).[2] This unit is the immediate precursor of which the Corps is now continuing the tradition. The establishment of the corps and the associated tradition system provides the intelligence personnel with a recognizable, unified identity. The naming of the corps after Princess Alexia also perpetuates the link between the army and the royal family.
Motto: In Tenebris Lucens ('Bringing light to Darkness')
Belgian beret 11 Linie 11 Linie = Infantry Regiment
Motto: 'VAAR NOCH VREES'
A.B.L. = Armée Belge / Belgisch Leger = Army Belgium
The 11th Line Regiment was an infantry regiment of the Belgian army. It was founded at the independence of Belgium in 1830 as a continuation of the 11th Division of the Dutch army. It had Hasselt as its home base from 1830 until its dissolution in 1956. It stayed partly in the Herkenrode barracks and partly in the Witte-Nonnen barracks. In 1874-1875 a new barracks for the 11th Line Regiment was built on the then Wapenplaats. This place was given the name Martelaarsplein in 1919 in memory of the 20 war victims who were executed in the courtyard of the barracks. In 1922 the square was renamed Kolonel Dusartplein. The barracks was named after Charles Dusart, commander of the 11th Line Regiment from 1913. He was the first senior officer of the Belgian army who was killed during the First World War during a confrontation with German grenadiers at Rhées (near Herstal). Another 169 men of the regiment, including a captain, are buried with him (see photo). The line regiment was disbanded on January 31, 1956. His band gave musical brilliance to ceremonies in the city and met the soldiers when they returned from a march. On Thursday evening she gave well-attended concerts at the now-disappeared kiosk on Leopoldplein. Every day there was a parade on the then Wapenplein. Soldiers helped the population in case of fire or flood.
Made by COFABEBA: Mutsfabriek van Cofabeba from Mouscron Manufacture Belge de Bérets Basques (COFABEBA) rue de Dixmude 24 in 1995 Toujours en activité in 2007 Démolition, habitat en partie
Year 1963 MITIN is the product used to protect against moths.
Made by COFABEBA: Mutsfabriek van Cofabeba from Mouscron Manufacture Belge de Bérets Basques (COFABEBA) rue de Dixmude 24 in 1995 Toujours en activité in 2007 Démolition, habitat en partie
Year 1964 MITIN is the product used to protect against moths.
The OSCE's origins date back to the early 1970s, to the Helsinki Final Act (1975) and the creation of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE), which during the Cold War served as an important multilateral forum for dialogue and negotiations between East and West.
The Marine Infantry Division (DIVMAR) will be relaunched in 2021. The Marine Infantry has a long tradition within the Navy and also within its reserve. For decades, the security and defense of the Marine installations, together with the provision of the necessary platoons for the Military Defense of the Territory (MVG), have been among the main tasks of the Marine Infantry. Today there are new challenges, especially within the maritime domain. Hence, the DIVMAR will once again focus on the military security and defense of the Navy's maritime installations and ships. In addition, she will also be deployed on new, important tasks in support of our operational capacity. In particular, the DIVMAR will also provide support during the military training of personnel and provide armed support to the expeditionary Harbor Protection module and the boarding capacity of our Navy. Young, sporty profiles with a sense of responsibility and a sense of initiative are sought. Our people have a sense of action and adventure, can handle weapons responsibly and like to work within a strong Corps spirit in which operating in small, close-knit teams is at the core of the Division. The coveted “black beret” is the externalization of this.
There is also a number in the front, at the inside B 17 B = SMV Smalteria e Metallurgia Veneta s.p.a. di Bassano del Grappa https://bbcc.ibc.regione.emilia-romagna.it/pater/loadcard.do?id_card=228441 1925/ 1976 , active in Bassano del Grappa enamelling Biographical notes Smalteria Metallurgica Veneta was founded in 1925 by a company whose capital, of three million lire, was subscribed by a group of Italian, Austrian and German lenders led by the Hungarian brothers Augusto and Adolfo Westen, already owners at the time of numerous plants for the production of enamelled tableware in several Central and Eastern European countries. The management of the Bassano Smalteria was followed by Augusto who moved permanently to Italy. After his death in 1960, the presidency of the company will pass to his nephew Karl Hermann, son of Peter, and in 1973 to his sons, Carlo and Peter jr. The first signs of the crisis began in the 1960s, due to a backward and deteriorated production system, with non-renewed production, and to competition that was becoming increasingly fierce. In 1973 the rise in the price of oil and the bank credit block slowed down the expansion projects of the Smalterie, the increase in labor costs, the progressive reduction of the workforce, the redundancy fund led to the bankruptcy of the company in June 1976.
This picture shows the 57 stamped in the liner. The helmets were made in three sizes: (III) small 55/56, (II) medium 57/58, (I) large 59/61 You can clearly see that the liner is painted in a different color then the shell, this means the helmet is actually in its original pre war condition. After the ware the liner was placed within the shell before painting so it would have the same color as the shell.
This ABL liner from 1952 manufactured by the company X.B. Xavier Buisset from Vilvoorde. AB = Armee Belge (French) BL = Belgisch Leger (Dutch) both mean Belgian Armee
MAR = Marine PRETA = 1999 = Year of production Beret made by preta in the year 1999. PRETA according to Google still exists as manufacturer of professional clothing. "Pre"vost-"Ta"vernier BVBA; Oude Tieltstraat 118 A Meulebeke .
A lot of information can be found in the book: "The Dutch Steel Helmet 1916-1946" written by Kevin de Joode. He writes the Netherlands army started the design of a helmet in 1916, based on the french Adrian helmet. However the were not completely satisfied with the french helmet and the came up with their own design.
note the small hole in the high side of the helmet, intended for air circulation. Present only in the M16A
This picture shows the helmet has 3 strap slots
See the name scratched into the paint: "VEEN", possible the name of the owner.
The Boonie Hat is a classic military hat with loop straps for attaching additional camouflage material.
This boonie has the Belgian style camouflage patern Some information about NATO Stock Number I have learned something about NSN, some more information: NATO Supply Classification Groups NSN 8415-13-116-7299 8415 = Clothing, Special Purpose 13 = Belgium
1XWH30 year 2001 Techn. Spec. 4.05.241
s.a. Wilford Industry n.v. Adres: SEYNTEXLAAN, 1, 8700 Tielt
Link to https://www.usamm.com/blogs/news/the-history-of-boonie-hats-in-the-u-s-milit History of Boonie Hats During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military introduced “boonie hats” to its troops as a way to provide a cool, yet functional uniform hat to replace the baseball cap-like field hat that had been used since the 1940s. The southeast Asian jungles were intensely hot and military personnel needed protection from the sun. Boonie hats kept the sun off the faces and necks of soldiers and also kept their temperatures cooler than the traditional field cap. Initially, it was U.S. Army Special Forces personnel who were the first to wear boonie hats. The hats not only were operationally more functional, but they provided opportunity for camouflage. The tiger stripes and leopard spots, two popular patterns available to forces at that time, blended in well with the jungle foliage especially when shrubbery was added to the hat. They were instantly popular. Early boonie hats were made of cotton and included an insect net. Cotton was a better material than the synthetics being created at the time. Cotton proved to be more breathable and lightweight because it was a natural product, but because it was natural it was prone to fading, shrinkage and it wasn't as durable. Prior to the 1960s, boonie hats were not in the U.S. military uniform inventory, but the U.S. military had taken notice that their allies were rocking some smart headgear in hot climates. For example, Australian forces wore pre-cursors to boonie hats that later were modified and became affectionately known as “giggle hats” because they had a comical appearance. British forces had a bush hat that influenced the design of U.S. boonie hats and those were used during World War II and through the 1960s. Both the Aussie and British hot climate headgear certainly influenced the development of American boonie hats. American military leaders took notes and started developing their own style of hot weather headgear. What are Boonie Hats? Simply put, boonie hats (the most common spelling) or “booney” hats are a military hat with a wide brim used by military forces in hot climates. They tend to replace the standard patrol cap in most cases because of the protection they offer the wearer in the elements. In particular, boonie hats tend to do a really great job shielding the wearer from the sun. The current occupational camouflage pattern (OCP) boonie hats are made of 50 percent nylon and 50 percent cotton, so they are durable, but lightweight and breathable, and they have adjustable chin straps with brass vent screens to keep the person wearing it cool. The best part? They are machine washable, so after a rigorous outing, just drop the boonie hats in the wash and they are good to go. Boonie hats are distinguishable by their very wide brim which goes around the entire hat and provides shade to the wearer's face and neck and protects their eyes from the sun as well. The crowns of boonie hats have metal or brass (brass is preferred because it does not rust) vents or grates to help keep individuals cool. Those vents allow heat and moisture to leave the top of a person's head. Around the base of the crown, boonie hats have branch loops to allow the wearers to add local vegetation as camouflage. Although boonie hats do a great job breaking up a person's head shape in foliage, adding branches and grasses assists tremendously for those serving as snipers or on recon.
Boonie hats got their fun name, legend has it, from a Tagalog word “bundok,” which means mountain. The term “boondocks” started getting used by U.S. service personnel during the Philippine American War which started in 1899 when Filipinos rose up to fight for their independence rather than be ruled by another colonial leader. Boondocks was used as military slang for Filipinos from the mountains. The term evolved to mean anything associated with the jungle or remote wilderness. Over the years it became “boonie” for short. During the three-years long conflict in the Philippines, U.S. military personnel wore a hat that was a cross between a fedora and a cowboy hat. The hat had a wide brim, but was formed in such a way that the backside of the brim was curved upward over the neck, and the front brim was formed downward to protect the face and eyes from the sun. The hat was very flexible, pliable and it could be that this campaign saw a precursor to what would become boonie hats. Boonie Hats Today The design of boonie hats has changed very little since they were first introduced and boonie hats have been used in many of the U.S. military's most recent conflicts including, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Desert Storm, Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa and other operations. In most cases, boonie hats were issued as part of the packing list for deployment and many personnel kept their boonie hats upon their return. Boonie hats have been issued in a multitude of camouflage patterns including the tiger stripe jungle fatigues, the woodland battle dress uniform, the Desert Camouflage Uniform (DCU/chocolate chips), the newer DCUs of the early 2000s, the various digitized uniforms of every branch, the multi-cam occupational camouflage pattern, the airman battle uniform, and others. The wearers' ranks are ordinarily pinned or sewn onto the front of the boonie hats. Most boonie hats today include ripstop reinforcement. They are made of a NyCo blend (nylon/cotton) in most cases. Boonie hats, like boots, are one of the few things U.S. military personnel are allowed to keep upon return from deployment. Since they are considered a personal item and can't really be reused, military personnel keep them and they are a source of pride because of what military personnel endure during deployments. Many U.S. military personnel get very attached to their boonie hats for a variety of reasons. Operators, for example, might get attached to them because of the number of or nature of the operations they have been on while wearing their boonie hats. A supply soldier might be attached to their boonie hat because of the number of miles logged in bad guy country; their boonie hats in tow in their cargo pocket while they are on convoy. Others might get attached to them because it is a physical reminder of something they survived and how they were a part of something greater. Whatever the reason for the attachment, boonie hats usually become highly regarded memorabilia for war veterans. Then again, boonie hats can also find post-military function as fishing hats or to ward off the sun while cutting the grass. Their durability and flexibility make them ideal for whatever a person does.
These days, most boonie hats are reserved for deployment to hot weather locations. It was not uncommon to see boonie hats worn in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Africa or other hot weather locations. They are also used in hot weather training environments. Mostly, boonie hats are popular because of their comfort and functionality, but they are also popular because they are a part of a significant life event in the lives of just about every Marine, Sailor, Soldier, Guardian, and Airman who has deployed or trained to fight.
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