SPH-2 series helmets
Message 3621, Jul 28, 2001
Hi Maggot, Yep, it's early 60s time-frame (contract date is 1962). Milehigh has it nailed
most succinctly. The SPH-1 was originally one of the many one-off types that sprang from
the Bill Jack and CalMil designs (D-10 precursor) and used in the mid-to-late 50s. The
SPH-2 was essentially a somewhat modified SPH-1 with this articulated visor (different
edgeroll, etc.). I have a set of instructions, thanks to one of our forum members, that
spells out the process for mounting this visor on the SPH-1, although the SPH-rarely is
seen with the visor added retroactively. The SPH-2 was the new designation for the early
(Bill Jack/Cal-Mil) design with this visor added, issued and used in the early 60s for the
most part (ILC manufactured it under license).
It was intended for use as a rotary-wing helmet, as Milehigh pointed out, although the
snaps on the shell seem to have enabled it to be used with an 02 mask. The liner is
missing from this particular example, but it was a fabric or nylon covered sponge rubber
circumferential inner line that could be removed to accommodate different sizes. I believe
the helmet shell was issued solely in large and small sizes only, with a wide head size
range being accommodated with those two shells through use of different sized inner sponge
liners. Regrettably, this liner is frequently deteriorated completely, or missing
altogether, since the helmet shell was not issued together with the liner (that was
selected for the head the shell was to be used with, by a rigger). This is the same type
liner found in the USAF HGU-9/P helmet used in the B-58 Hustler. Once again, it must be
recalled that many different helmets were spun off from the basic original designs by Bill
Jack. CalMil carried on the type, when they took over the Bill Jack operation. The
HGU-16/P, HGU-9/P, and several other helmets used in both services are all related in this
common ancestry.
The liners can still be found in separate, issue boxes (sometimes in excellent shape, but
more frequently in poor shape, or with the foam completely rotted away to dust). A chin
cup-mounted mic was used first with both helmets (as Milehigh noted), but a side-mounted
mic was later in use. There are some excellent photographs of the SPH-1 & SPH-2
helmets in the JAFH book on pages 94 & 95.
To the best of my knowledge, this helmet was NEVER used in fixed-wing, fast jet type
aircraft operations (strictly in rotary-wing). Finally, the visor lens, once dropped into
position, was configured to meet the bridge of the wearer's nose fairly closely to exclude
wind effects. There was little or no room to accommodate a mask nose section easily and
the angle of the frontal curvilinear plane of the visor was also wrong for mating with a
mask properly. This visor was not multi-positional, but rather had to be worn either full
up or full down. It is one of the "must have" helmets in anyone's US Navy helmet
collection, in my opinion, but hopefully one may be found with a liner (the one on eBay
lacks the liner, unfortunately). Essentially, Milehigh pegged this one completely with his
remarks.
Cheers, DocBoink
Message 3620, Jul 27, 2001
The eBay nomenclature is correct - issued as a helo helmet, although I've seen several
displayed with MS22001 masks (which even though it looks cool, and I did it on mine for
awhile, isn't really correct). Mid-1950s time frame, I think.
Concur, Doc?
Maggot
-----Original Message-----
Can anyone ID this helmet correctly? I've never seen this before.
Darkside
>Title of item: Navy Flight Helmet SPH-2 Size Large White NR
This auction features a Navy Helmet. Info on the sticker on back is:
CAL-MIL Plastic Products, Inc; Solana Beach, California; Helmet Assembly;
62A136D4-6; SPH-2 Large; 22557; U.S.N. I believe this is a helicopter
pilot's helmet, but I'm not sure.