they had hearts, spades, circles, different symbols for different regiments and companys .
As Nige said, they had many different symbols, in fact if you'd googled it you'd probably find a more straight forward description thanon here.
The main Symbols (clubs, hearts, diamonds, spades) denoted regiment, others denoted things like artillery units, Recon units 'R' (not so sure whether that one was fictional or not). The ticks round the outside were to show which company the individual came from.
HOWEVER If you are putting symbols on the side of a helmet DO NOT do them the size of the ones on BoB. They were smaller than that, quite a lot smaller.
Someone maybe ableto point you in the direction of a website which has the correct sizes for them.
Show me a man who will jump out of an airplane, and I'll show you a man who will fight!
General James M. Gavin
CRY HAVOC AND LET LOOSE THE DOGS OF WAR
since we're on the subject of helmets, does anybody know what paint spray to use to get the correct ww2 colouring? I know SoF does a spray but I'm betting I could pick one up for half the price.
Dont forget the 82nd had completely different symbols painted on their helmets, lions, leaves ect and some infantry usints also used helmet decals.
if this is for autumn mist, the yanks had almost univerally binned helmet nets by then too.
During the battle of the bulge, both sides looked like riff raff with whatever kit they got their hands on, the germans because they were loosing the war and the us because they were rushed into the frontline without adiquate equipment.
During the battle of the bulge, both sides looked like riff raff with whatever kit they got their hands on, the germans because they were loosing the war and the us because they were rushed into the frontline without adiquate equipment.
You forgot one key element...it was also F-IN COLD! They wore everything they could get their hands on including bed sheets made in to ponchos and potato sack type garments etc
Show me a man who will jump out of an airplane, and I'll show you a man who will fight!
General James M. Gavin
CRY HAVOC AND LET LOOSE THE DOGS OF WAR
Tamiya Olive Drab is a good colour, it will take about 2 pots airbrushed on to paint a helmet over a black under coat. There is a discussion on it in the kit section of US discussion. 
Cheers, I'll have a look around for it.
I must have mist the thread 
Try using a grey undercoat-should cover easier than onto a black undercoat
