WWII FDNY Edwin H Sheppard Asst Fire Marshal OCD Helmet Later Chief Marshal For Sale

Offered is an outstanding original U.S. Government Office of Civilian Defense helmet identified to Edwin H. Sheppard of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY).

The exterior is painted red with a white center stripe and is hand-lettered:

“ASST FIRE MARSHAL”

The interior bears FDNY identification and the name Edwin H. Sheppard. The underside of the helmet is embossed:

“U.S. GOVT PROPERTY O.C.D.”

The O.C.D. marking identifies the helmet as U.S. Office of Civilian Defense equipment of the WWII era.

Historical significance: Edwin H. Sheppard later rose through the FDNY Bureau of Fire Investigation and became Deputy Chief Fire Marshal. In 1971 he succeeded Vincent M. Canty as Chief Fire Marshal of the New York City Fire Department after Canty became Fire Commissioner.

Sheppard is subsequently documented as FDNY Chief Fire Marshal during major New York City fire investigations of the early 1970s. Federal Congressional records also identify Edwin Sheppard as “Chief Fire Marshal, City of New York Fire Department” in connection with 1973 hearings concerning the Staten Island LNG disaster.

This makes the helmet particularly interesting as a named FDNY Fire Marshal artifact associated with an individual who later became the department\'s Chief Fire Marshal.

The helmet retains its period interior suspension, liner and chin strap. It remains in as-found condition and has not been restored by the current owner.

There is considerable age and service wear including scratches, paint loss, discoloration, staining, fraying and deterioration of portions of the suspension. This wear has intentionally been left untouched in order to preserve the helmet\'s originality and markings.

Please examine all photographs carefully. They are an important part of the description.

Sold as a historical collectible/display piece only. It is not intended or represented as suitable for protective use.

By 1972, Sheppard is repeatedly documented as Chief Fire Marshal Edwin H. Sheppard, directing FDNY Bureau of Fire Investigation personnel at major fires.

There is especially strong federal documentation from 1973. A Congressional record concerning the Staten Island LNG disaster identifies one of the witnesses as Edwin Sheppard, Chief Fire Marshal, City of New York Fire Department.

In 1974, FDNY organizational information still lists Edwin H. Sheppard as Chief Fire Marshal and head of the fire-investigation organization