The American pressed fiber sun helmet still remains very much a mystery at times. Its history hasn’t been well documented and while the research continues it isn’t clear when or even why changes to the patterns were made. What is notable is that the helmet appears to have gone through an evolution.

Now an interesting example has been discovered and it remains the only such one of its type. As seen above it is a camouflage version, which likely dates from the early 1940s. It features three grommet holes on each side, which are used to hold the liner and chinstrap in place. Remnants of the leather chinstrap remain. This helmet lacks the front grommet typically seen in helmets produced expressly for the USMC.

This helmet features the early three grommet placement, which is commonly seen in pre-war and early WWII pressed fiber sun helmets

This helmet lacks any front grommet for a military badge

This helmet appears to have been made by Hawley, but is also the pattern seen in use by Canada and even South American countries. As has been suggested this version may have been designed as an early civilian sun helmet and was adopted for military use – and later was exported.

The camouflage pattern is the USMC “Frogskin,” which was adapted as a civilian – but also military – pattern known as “Duck Hunter.” This particular pattern seems to be World War II “Frogskin,” suggesting this was perhaps a prototype or experimental attempt to produce a camouflage sun helmet.

It features the same green interior that is seen on pre-war and early WWII sun helmets

No other information is known about this helmet at this time.