Painted Helmets

U.S. helicopter pilots in Vietnam War don't decorate their flight coats like World War II pilots did because jackets had been too hot for the tropics, so they really painted their particular helmets. Collectors Weekly talked with John Conway, a military aviation enthusiast just who runs The Legacy of Valor web site the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association Museum, towards coated helmets.

Collectors Weekly: we noticed some helmets had comfort signs, cannabis symbols, or psychedelic lettering. Had been many of these guys part of the ’60s childhood tradition before they left?

Conway: Yeah, many of them had been. But the signs didn’t always indicate precisely what they appeared to be at first glance. With regards to the peace indication, in some instances, it was meant as personal discourse on the irony associated with scenario they certainly were in. These were painting the peace icon on the helmets, and then taking off and shooting at individuals everyday.

Read the other countries in the interview, which include much more about helicopters in Vietnam.