5th Ranger Battalion
Easy Company
Orange Diamond
After the Fabius exercise, the Rangers began to paint orange diamonds on the back of their helmets. The orange diamond was typically the size of a ranger diamond patch with a black 5 in the center.
Private Helmets
Taken in the Mayenne Sector of France on August 17th 1944
note the stenciled font of the 5.
5th Rangers loading aboard LCAs in preparation for the Invasion in Weymouth, England.
Rangers Marching Past German POWs in June 1944 during the Normandy Campaign
The two fonts most commonly seen used on Ranger Helmets. A stenciled style on the left and more standard on the right
NCO Helmets
NCO Helmets (T/5 thru 1st Sgt) were painted with the standard horizontal white stripe with the orange diamond either slightly overlapping the top of the stripe or just above it. On rare occasions you would see the orange diamond directly over the center of the white NCO stripe.
Taken during a training climb on Hive beach up the Burton Cliffs prior to D-Day
Taken during the Normandy Campaign. exact details unknown.
Seen during embarkation in Weymouth England in preparation for D-Day
Seen during embarkation in Weymouth England in preparation for D-Day
Taken a few days after D-Day possibly near Isigny-sur-Mer France.
Officer Helmets
Officer helmets are varied and unique, especially during D-Day and the Normandy Campaign. They almost need to be examined on an individual basis. They all however feature the standard vertical white stripe and orange diamond. It varies greatly on which is on top and which in underneath. Size and position all vary. sometimes the diamond or diamond and officer bar are outlined with black or dark paint. The font of the 5 varies greatly from Officer to Officer being everything from intricate to sloppy. On the front of their helmets it appears the most kept their rank insignia painted, at least throughout the Normandy Campaign. Size and style of the rank insignia vary as well with some appearing to be painted black or dark subdued.
These photos are from an award ceremony near Fournay, France on 24 June 1944. The officer with no Number is possibly from the 2nd Ranger Battalion.
Two Officers outside Buchenwald Concentration Camp in 1945 around the end of the war. It is hard to tell but the 5 on the back is possibly the stencil version.
This is possibly the back of Lieutenant Colonel Richard Sullivan's Helmet. This photo was taken during the Brest Campaign.
This is from the same award ceremony near Fournay, France on 24 June 1944. This shows the officer insignia still on the front of the helmets.
Taken in the Mayenne Sector of France on August 17th 1944. This officer appears the have the stenciled 5 font.
Medic Helmets in the 2nd Ranger Battalion did not have the Red Cross painted on them. Medics in the 5th Battalion did paint a single red cross enclosed in a white circle on the front of their helmets. This is seen in both embarkation footage and during the award ceremony at the end of June. Ranger medics still painted the Orange Diamond on the back of the helmet.
Photo from embarkation in Weymouth England prior to D-Day.
This is from the same award ceremony near Fournay, France on 24 June 1944.