The sad truth is this helmet could have happened this way in WW2, but with the level of fakery that's been hoisted upon helmets it's impossible to know fact from fiction. I've never claimed to be a helmet guru, but the rust on the inside being so heavy and flaky (going so far as to stain the paper lable without the label falling off) with no wear on the outside creeps me out. I agree the the top of the helmet is the best way to set one down, and I would say nobody wore helmets all day long in a coastal artillery unit.