Vintage Flying Helmets
Aviation, Military & Historical Items for Discerning Collectors
PRICE REDUCED !!!
(click on pictures to enlarge)
AAF Type A-6 cold-weather / high-altitude flying goggles.
Original A-6 and A-7 flying goggles are extremely rare. These were made for high altitude and cold weather use in exposed crew positions and featured either B-6 or B-7 frames with an enlarged cushion designed to integrate with the A-6 leather oxygen / face mask. These A-6 goggles utilized the exact same frames as the B-6 but with the wide cushion. The original rubber cushions were thin and fragile and did not survive well. This pair of original goggles has been professionally retrofitted with an excellent reproduction cushion made from thin, tan coloured rubber lined with soft chamois. Excellent for display or re-enactment.
NOW $200
Extremely RARE original WWII poster in the "Careless Talk..." series.
One of the most prevalent and successful propaganda campaigns of the war was the "Careless Talk Costs Lives" campaign launched by the British Government. It featured the work of several prominent artists and different designs were targeted at all branches of the service, as well as war workers and civilians. This one, titled "Keep Mum – She's Not So Dumb!" depicts a soldier of the British Army and will have been posted on Army bases and training facilities, urging soldiers not to inadvertently mention anything about their location, postings, training etc. to girlfriends, family members, even if they are well-trusted. Poster is original, measures 10" x 15" (25cm x 38cm) printed on war grade paper so quite fragile. It retains its full bright colour, but has been folded in half and has some edge nicks and tears, folds and creases with a couple of small pieces gone at the edge (see picture). A classic and very rare original which would look fantastic in a period frame as part of a display.
NOW $100
RAF Officers' mess silver plated sugar tongs.
Another outstanding accessory for any RAF station officers' mess display. These silver plated sugar tongs are in outstanding condition and feature the more unusual earlier design of the RAF pilot wing instead of the RAF crest. Superb condition. 4.5" in length.​
NOW $60
RNZAF production/issue
Mk IIIA flying goggles.
Like the RNZAF helmet listed above, these Mk IIIA goggles are for more scarce than the British made type and very rarely encountered. A lovely pair of New Zealand made goggles, almost identical to the Air Ministry pattern, with clear acetate lenses showing minimal surface scratches, metal spring elastic and leather straps in excellent condition, with all springs secure. There is a small separation in the dark green velvet cushion. Goggles retain both air vent "trumpets" and stoppers and are in overall very good condition. Rear leather strap is marked P.J.K. over M and Mk IIIA. Shown with RNZAF B helmet available separately.​
NOW $595
WWII issue Service Dress tunic to a Warrant Officer pilot.
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WWII issue Service Dress tunic to a Warrant Officer pilot. Officer quality tailoring from fine barathea wool, yet this is an issue uniform rather than privately tailored. While officers were generally expected to provide their own uniforms from private tailors, other ranks and NCOs, being less well paid, were supplied from RAF stores. Since Warrant Officers were senior NCOs who wore officers' uniforms, they were provided with officer quality materials. These were not common and don't turn up on the collector market all that often. Though not named, this Warrant Officer's SD tunic is a beautiful example of an issue "officer grade" uniform, and includes a lovely well-padded pilot wing brevet.
NOW $175
Luftwaffe LKpS101 summer flying helmet complete with all communications equipment.
Standard issue for all Luftwaffe crews, both fighters and bombers, during the Battle of France and Battle of Britain. The cotton shell is lined with satin and has formed, hard leather housings for telephone receivers, plus built-in throat microphones in an integral neck strap. Shows light use but no damage and is in overall very good condition. Shown with 10-67 oxygen mask for display only – mask is not included and no longer for sale. These helmets are becoming increasingly difficult to source. ​​
NOW $465
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RAF 2-piece battledress button escape compass.
Escape & evasion compass disguised as two metal buttons as sewn to the suits, aircrew or war service dress (battledress) blouse or trousers. Made from magnetized steel and painted black, one has a sharp point (fulcrum) attached to the centre while the other has a small indent that sits on the point and two dots that point north. Some loss of paint and oxidation, but still functions. Very hard to find these days.​
NOW $95
USAAF Type A-11 flying helmet in excellent, unissued condition, with receivers fitted. Size large.
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Absolutely superb A-11 flying helmet, size large, by Fox Chase Knitting Mills, I. Miller Parachute Division – quite a scarce label. Lovely condition, unworn and presumably unissued, though it is fitted with correct ANB-H-1 telephone receivers. Superb soft leather and clean chamois lining, 3 press studs (snaps) each side, plus one more on the left jaw for securing the A-14 mask properly. Nice clear AAF decal on the left side of the helmet and great woven label inside. This example would be very difficult to upgrade.
NOW $275
AAF aircraft reflector gunsight Type N-6A.
A very good, clean example of the N-6A reflector gunsight, as used in gun turrets of aircraft including the B-24 nose and tail turrets, B-17 chin turret and on the remote control sighting station of the P-61 night fighter. Complete with its working flip-up green sun filter. Good spec. plate. Makes a great display for any 8th Air Force enthusiast.​
​NOW $150
Flying log book and flying clothing/kit lists to a US Marine Corps aviator.
Log books to US Marine Corps aircrew are scarce, which makes this paperwork grouping such an interesting find. Named to Lt (MC) V.H. Witten. It appears that Witten accrued many hours as a passenger in numerous aircraft types, including N2S1, N3N1, SNJ4, SNB-1, SNB-2, OS2U-3, PBY-5, PBM-3, R4D-5, SNB-26, PBJ-1, JM-1, SBD-5, SB2C, J2F and more. What makes this even more interesting - especially to collectors of flying kit - are the additional documents contained in an envelope in the back of the book. These are actually receipts for the personal flying clothing and equipment he was issued. These four sheets list, in great detail, his helmets, masks, goggles, jackets etc. Altogether, this is quite a rare and highly useful resource, comprising a scarce USMC flight log book and valuable information about flying clothing issued from 1943 to 1945. Lt. Witten is definitely worthy of research.
NOW $95​
AAF dinghy survival Fishing Kit, 100% complete.
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The best and only 100% complete example of this rare fishing kit I have ever seen. HBT cotton case unrolls to show its complete contents of hooks, gaffs, weights, lures, lines etc. and the original instruction sheet on water resistant parchment paper. It looks like it has never been unpacked so I am reluctant to pull items out (they are a tight fit), especially as there are many sharp hooks and I don't want to risk tearing the case. This example would be very difficutl to upgrade.
NOW $95
RAF A-13A pressure breathing oxygen mask for early jets.
Interesting early example of the RAF issue
A-13A pressure demand oxygen mask which is actually a modified US made mask (later examples were made in the UK under licence from MSA). After trials with the Type J and M masks, the RAF decided the US made masks were superior and used them as interim while the P and Q masks were under development. Condition is very good indeed; the rubber facemask is superb, tube is excellent and all fittings and hardware are present. As is often the case, some of the plastic edging to the microphone switch assembly has chipped away but this doesn't affect the function in any way. A very good example.
Please note: the US mask helmet clip seen in some of the photos is NOT included! It got caught up in the strap by accident while photographing the mask!
​NOW $135​
USAAF chest type parachute harness, an excellent reproduction by Rigger Depot using original parts.
Made by The Rigger Depot, this is their top-of-the-line reproduction parachute harness, made using original WWII hardware and surplus webbing. Includes an excellent OD cotton back pad. Well marked to look exactly like the original. ​​
NOW $300
Royal Navy officer's working dress blouse
The Royal Navy equivalent of "battledress" – introduced in 1944 after much petitioning, primarily by members of the Fleet Air Arm, who found wearing their double-breasted dress uniforms impractical for flying duties – hence this is effectively a FAA aircrew uniform item (ordinary seamen aviators had a different version without the guilt buttons). This example is in excellent condition and appears unissued and unworn. Dark blue wool serge with gilt buttons and patch pockets. There are a couple of tiny moth nips which are mostly to the back of the shoulders or under the arm and not seen when displayed or worn. ​
​NOW $220
RARE USAAF 452nd BG, 8th Air Force Pictorial Unit History.
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Not the biggest in terms of page count (40pages plus hard cardboard cover), but one of the best of these immediate post-war unit histories I have seen. The 452nd BG was stationed at Deopham Green in England and comprised the 728th, 729th, 730th and 731st Bomber Squadrons and each of their colourful unit patches are depicted in full colour on the back cover. This book is almost 100% photographs and shows a wide range of historical images, including
A-2 jacket art, nose art, mission photos, flying kit and a lot more. Great period artwork, as well.
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ON HOLD
RAF Gyro Gunsight Camera Recorder Mk2.
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Used on later Marks of Spitfire, as well as Mustangs, Hurricanes, Corsairs, Thunderbolts, Typhoons, Tempests, Mosquitoes and numerous other aircraft, both during and after the war. It also saw use in early jets such as the Meteor, Vampire, P-80, F-86 and F-100. the Mk 2 Gyro Gunsight was considered an improvement over the Reflector gunsight used in the Battle of Britain. This is the film recording unit which plugs in to the Gyro Gun Sight Mk 2 and still has a film cartridge installed (no guarantees if it has been used or if the images would be any good!). Nonetheless a great piece for display with a Gyro Gun Sight and in very good condition, well marked.
​NOW $75