Sounds like the resuscitation tube.

 

Sounds like you have a M17A1. THey were phased out sometime in the mid-1980's. There should be a small circular disk on the side with a two digit date code in the center. The M17A2 was phased out sometime in 2004. One more thing, if there is a hole punched in one of the forehead (top) straps, then it was designated for training use only.

 

AFAIK there is no physical difference between the M17A1 and M17A2. Date code on the mask is 84'.

No hole in any of the straps or anywhere on the mask.

I know the origin of the masks. They came from a Marine Corps Atry Battalion, my uncle served as Motor T on a Five Ton towing an M198 with Delta Battery, 2nd Battalion, 10th Marines and Golf Battery, 2nd Battalion, 10th Marines.

 

A mask with a 1984 date code should have been removed from service somewhere around 1994. Most masks are kept in use for about 10 years.

 

I think that is how he came about them, his last year in the Corps was 95'.

 

The corrugated tube inside was meant for better use during a resusitation attempt on a casuality.Most times if you were trying to give mask to mouth resusitation and you didn't have the internal tube if the casuality had any obstructions or resistance in their breathing passage the air you were trying to exhale into them would simply break the seal on your mask and escape around the facepiece.
It was a nobel gesture to think to add them in the M17A1's but if common sense were used and you were in a chemically contaminated(military chemical weapons) environment odds are 99.9% you are going to be a fatality.
Removing them made it much easier to use the drinking tube and most times M17A1's that were still being used when the M17a2's came into use the tube was simply taken out and upon quick glance you might mistake a A1 for an A2.
As far as yellowing thats no big deal to the function of the mask so long as the rubber is not cracking.They came with clear,amber and green LPL(laser protective lens) outserts for use on the M17 series.I happened to stumble upon (too many if thats possibly..lol)several cases of the green LPL's,a few black rubber resusitation tubes ,(sealed) green ring NBC filters and M17 series hoods years ago and couldn't turn down the price....lol =)
I'd love to part with some hoods if anyone needs some new still in the wrapper @$2+shipping M17's are a good mask just bad to change out filters but don't get rid of them because of that.Just keep your eyes open for a newer MCU or M40/42 or M65's.Silicone seals easier and filter changes are a snap! =D
Poison~~~~~~>

 

IIRC, the internal tube was required for mask to mouth resuscitation and had to be in place during that procedure. M17 series mask having amber and green outserts? That is news to me, actually I don't even recall seeing them listed in the M17 tech orders.

 

He's a link "Chilli" if you have an old M17 manual i'm sure it's not in there but possibly in the newer A2 manual...it wasn't till later that the military became worried about possible laser use against troops to blind them and made them for masks along with ones for the "Sun/wind/dust goggles" I have sereral cases of all of them. It wasn't till i looked up a link for you to see them that i saw how much the green lpl's are selling for! $49.95 it was an odd item when i found them so i bought every case the guy had he wanted to get rid of them so for $5 a case i guess i got a deal =D

http://www.armygasmasks.com/U-S-M-17-Laser-and-Ballistic-Protection-Lenses-p/aaagas-200.htm

 

Wow $50, I've got just 2 pair lying around. Never assumed something as simple and seemingly useless as the LPL for an M17 would be worth $50.

 

Interesting. I taught that mask for about 10 years and never saw those. Our T.O.'s were the lastest published too, 1995. But by that time the USAF was phasing out the M17 series for the all troops, though truck loads were still on hand. Those outserts look very 1960's/70's cold war.

 

You know the LPL's are also polarized for glare as were the green ballistic lens for the goggles. I'll have to look at the dates on the cases i have but i'm almost positive they're marked in the mid to late 90's.I know they aren't from the 70's.
Years ago when I had more disaposible money I couldn't turn down a good deal especially on odd items you didn't see for the M17 series masks. A friend of mine used to cut me all kinds of deals on stuff like that that he could never move... chemical hoods,valves and disks,outserts,resuscitation tubes,winterization kits,M13A2 filters I used to buy up all that nickle and dime stuff figuring someone would want it or use it for trades... =D

 

I'm not sure why the military would put a lot of money into green outserts for a mask that was not in general use.

BTW, the entire M17 series masks have been removed from military invetories for issue and use.

 

Not in general use by active service! A lot of National Guard units especially used the M17 series for longer then you may think.... before going to the M40 & MCU series

 

Both the Guard and Reserves were done with the M17 for general use by the mid 1990's, just after the active duty side. The M17A2 was still in use by US Forces in overseas areas for NEO. There were some very rare instances of USAF types who could pass the fit test on the M41 and were issued M17A2 extra small. In the 17 years of CBRN with the USAF, I saw a handfull, maybe 15+/- with the M17A2.