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SALES February 2023

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AAF T-30-S throat microphone with "M" clip.

Standard issue to all AAF aircrews throughout WWII. T-30 throat microphone complete with elastic strap and metal "M" clip (for a tighter fit and therefore better transmission). Excellent condition, most likely unissued or at least unused, strap still has full elasticity. This is the model T-30-S  indicating it was made by Universal (each contractor was given a different suffix code letter).

SOLD

 

Extremely RARE RAF / SOE collar stud escape compass.

One of Clayton Hutton's ingenius designs for a concealed compass for downed airmen and agents to use for evasion and possible escape. The early rotary compass was concealed inside the flat button section of  a simple collar stud, used to attach the collar to the shirt as worn by all ranks. Originally the glass cover would have been covered with white paint for concealment, easily removed with a blade or even a fingernail to reveal the compass. Compass is in very good working condition. Extremely rare item these days.

SOLD

RAF aircrew escape map, early example printed on silk. J3 and J4, Italy.

Scarce early Bartholomew escape map for RAF crews, printed 2-sides on silk and featuring northern Italy one one side, southern Italy on the reverse and including the islands of Sardinia and Sicily. These early maps were reproduced from old, vintage Bartholomew maps and included infinite detail. Excellent condition, folded but apparently unused with crisp, bright colours.  

SOLD

RARE WWII RAAF silk escape map Halmahera, New Guinea.

RAAF flying equipment is very hard to source and Australian escape items are extremely rare. This is a beautiful real silk escape map of Halmahera, western New Guinea in the Polynesian islands of the South Pacific. Very good condition with a couple of very small holes (look like old cigarette burns) but otherwise very clean and in excellent condition.

SOLD

Scarce named South African made RAF officer's side cap.

A standard RAF officer's sode cap with a label indicating it was tailored in Johannesburg, South Africa and named to S.R.W. or S. Williams. Very high quality tailoring and an usual badge with the eagle and crown in one piece instead of separate (there is a small hole and fading inside the cap showing separate components were origibally fitted). Shows very light wear and two very tiny moth nips in the folds o top, otherwise a perfect and unusual example.

SOLD

Unissued Luftwaffe grey leather unlined fighter pilot's flying gloves.

Perfect condition! rare pair of Luftwaffe grey leather fighter pilots gloves, unlined, as preferred by fighter pilots for a better "feel" of the controls. Short gauntlet with a strap across the wrist and well marked inside. Grey leather flying kit is rarely encountered – it was reserved for the aces and those selected to fly in the first jet squadrons. This pair would be virtually impossible to upgrade.

SOLD

AAF Type F-1 electrically-heated "blue bunny" suit by General Electric.

Now one of the hardest items of US flying clothing to find. An original Type F-1 electrically-heated inner flying suit, popularly known as the "blue bunny" suit. This example is in very good condition overall, with a few areas of mothing but nothing too serious or damaging. The worst area is the knitted cuff on the left wrist, and there are some slight wear areas on the blue wool on the back and on the sleeves. All plugs and contacts are present and all zips are in good working order. While not in mint condition, this is a great displayable example

SOLD

RAF Mk VIII flying goggles

RAF Mk VIII flying goggles which I would guess to be early postwar production. Well used and quite grubby, but intact and fine for display. Blue-grey painted brass frames have wear to paint and age patina to exposed brass. Leather pads are dirty with one very small tear to rear (in the bridge area). Very good lenses are clear and no signs of delamination, and original strap retains some elasticity. A few stitches are missing but they are holding together well.

SOLD

AAF AN6530 flying goggles by Chas Fischer Spring.

Superb and original set of AN6530 flying goggles by Chas Fischer Spring, in outstanding condition. Fitted with original one -piece rubber cushion (not one of the later reproductions). Frames are clean and without any dings or dents. Grey elastic strap (typically US Navy / Marine Corps issue but not exclusively). These are the later pattern with the streamlined vents.

SOLD

Royal New Zealand Air Force Type B flying helmet.

 

RNZAF Type B flying helmet in extremely good condition. Perhaps the most scarce of the Commonwealth variants of the ubiquitous B helmet, and also the closest in design to the RAF pattern, although the back looks more like a1930 pattern helmet, with its elasticated gusset rather than an opening and a strap. Helmet is made from heavy, high quality black leather and lined with suede o chamois, with a cream velvet brow pad. The receiver housings are characteristic of the NZ type, with the zips positioned closer to the rear rather than central. It has small central holes for the wires or Gosport tubes and contains rubber telephone holders like the RAF version (this is the first of this type I have encountered with the rubber holders). The chin strap fastens with a typical Bennett's friction  buckle that is maker marked. The helmet has a label in the crown and though faint, the printing of RNZAF can be seen.  Helmet shows only light use and is in great condition.

SOLD

Superb personalized early model internally-wired Type C helmet.

Lovely early internally wired Type C helmet, first issued late in 1943 as an upgrade to the externally wired types. Used but in very good condition, with no damage or wear, but plenty of residual Brylcreem to the interior chamois! Leather is excellent and rubber earcups also superb. Chin strap has plenty of elasticity. Wiring loom and Type 32 receivers are perfect, as is the bell plug which has been characteristically wrapped in white friction tape for a better grip. Owner had incised or carved his name "Eddy" along the brow panel of the helmet. While I have seen helmets painted with the owner's name, this is the first of this type I have come across. Guessing it's possibly a size 3 (large) because of the way it fits a display head. Great example of a customized helmet.

SOLD

USN AN6540 flying helmet with receivers, cord etc.

Issued under US Navy contract NXSA 36914, the same pattern helmet was available to both the USN and the AAF and given the joint services prefix AN and number 6540, though the AAF appear to have declined its issue in favour of the A-11, accepting only the shearling version as the AN-H-16. This goatskin helmet is in excellent condition and appears unused. The ANB-H-1 receivers were retrofitted, causing minor tears to the interior chamois over the receivers, but overall an excellent example. Marked size Medium, it first more like a large or even x-large. Fitted with the additional buckles for attaching the Navy oxygen mask.

 

ON HOLD

 

RAF small oil dispenser for instruments etc. used in flight and by ground crews.

 

Small, banjo-style brass oil can/applicator most probably for oiling instruments and other small items both in flight and on the ground. May be have been carried on aircraft for use with navigation instruments or by flight engineers. Beautiful item, made from solid brass with long narrow spout (total length 9" / 23cm, with diameter of circular reservoir 3.5" / 9cm). Engraved Air Ministry crown , maker's mark and date of 1931.  Owner has scratched name "Sampson". Superb quality piece. 

SOLD

RARE RAF / MI9 tobacco pouch with concealed tissue paper map.

 

One of the earliest and now rarest of all the escape items conceived and produced for MI9 under the guidance and direction of Clayton Hutton. During WWII, almost everyone in the services smoked, and many, especially in the RAF smoked pipes. Almost everyone carried a tobacco pouch in their pocket, so it it was felt that a common, inexpensive pouch full of pipe tobacco would not draw any unwanted attention if captured, and made an excellent hiding place for a tissue paper map. The map was folded up and then sewn inside the oilcloth lining of the pouch. Very few are known to have survived (after all, they were useful long after the war was over). Offered is a superb original example, still containing its tissue escape map of Germany. The map is darkened from the tobacco and the pouch has the unmistakable scent of old tobacco. 

SOLD

RAF Mk IVB flying goggles with sun screen.

Now quite difficult to find, the RAF MK IVB goggles are typical of RAF issue during the Battle of Britain and until the Mk VII was introduced over a year later. The Mk IV series (IV, IVA and IVB) were all announced at the same time - July 1940 - and of the three versions, the IVB was considered the more robust and therefore issued in greater numbers than the IV or IVA. This pair is in very good condition, with no damage or dings to the frames, excellent leather fittings with a clearly marked strap, large loops, clear lenses showing very minor signs of delamination and featuring the flip down sun screen with light surface scratches. This is perhaps the least common type of mechanism for the screen, featuring a large, exposed spring. The screen can be tilted to any angle and is held in position by tension of the spring. The spring tension is soft but still works fine and holds the screen/visor in place. Rubber pads to the back of the frames have hardened, as is the case with 99% of these goggles, but they are far better than most with only a small amount of loss to one pad, and does not detract from this lovely pair of goggles

SOLD

Japanese  flying goggles.

Excellent example of the standard issue goggles for both Army and Navy pilots and crews, featuring the so-called "cat's-eye" shaped lenses. Brown lacquered aluminium frames, brown velvet pads and reddish brown elastic strap (the colour scheme is most commonly associated with Naval aviation, but was also used by the Army Air Force). No maker markings on frame. Clear acetate lenses suggesting late war. Minor dings to frame but overall very good, clean condition and strap retains elasticity. 

SOLD

Luftwaffe model 295 flying goggles by Otto Wagner, in an aluminium case by Auer.

Excellent pair of Model 295 flying goggles manufactured by Otto Wagner (marked OW on both frames) contained in a 1937 dated aluminium case by Auer Geselschäft of Berlin (original contractor for this model). The goggles are in amazing condition, the brown rubber cushion is soft and pliable, frames retain 95% of their original feldgrau paint and the strap stretches like new. The case is dented but solid, though the small oval contained for holding spare lenses has been removed. Overall a lovely pair of Luftwaffe goggles, typical of the type worn by bomber crews in the Battle of Britain.

SOLD

Pre-WWII RAF flying suit squadron badge for 207 Squadron.

 

Lovely used example of a RAF squadron badge for use on the flying suit, and most commonly seen on the white or black prestige suits. These were worn with pride in the glory days of the 1930s at air pageants etc. and many continued to wear them into WWII until late 1940 when specific orders were issued by the Air Ministry to remove all identifying emblems from aircraft and personal clothing in the event of capture by the enemy. This badge represents 207 squadron which flew Fairey Battles in early 1940 before converting via Ansons to Manchesters—later flying Lancasters.

Since many were discarded after being removed, wartime badges do not surface very often.

SOLD

WWII RAF issue trouser braces.

Standard issue trouser braces as issued to all other ranks through the forces. Off-white cotton webbing straps with leather fastenings for the trouser buttons. Unissued condition.

SOLD

RAF AP129 1940 edition, reprinted for the RCAF.

AP129 in the Flying Training Manual issued by the Air Ministry and updated every year or so. This is the 1940 edition, reprinted in Canada for the RCAF in 1942. AP129 is one of the more desirable Air Publications because in addition to the flight training information, it contains diagrams and illustrations of early RAF issue headgear, inclduing B helmets and oxygen masks and equipment, including the Type B and D masks and how they should be worn and attached. 1.5" thick and in very good condition.

SOLD

RAF issue Mk II Brodie helmet, attributed to a WAAF and wife a Battle of Britain pilot.

Dated September, 1939, this Brodie helmet has been overpainted grey on the outside and is named on the rim "Innes" - the chin strap is also named to Mrs A. Innes, 11 Eltringham Gdns. This is from an old collection and although there is no provenance, the seller believes it originally came from the family of Robert Alexander Innes, Battle of Britain pilot. A  lovely story—and quite plausibe—but the price is based on the artifact, not the story! A very good example with some scuffing to surface but no damage.

SOLD

RAF Type G oxygen mask in very good condition.

A very good example of the Type G oxygen mask issued from May 1943 throughout the war. The rubber has mellowed nicely to an overall green colour but remains supple and pliable, with no stiffness or sticky areas. There are the usual minor surface stress-cracks around the nosewire lugs, but the lugs remain strong and the wire is held tightly in place. A bonus these days, the nosewire is not bent and distorted as so many are, and thus maintains the mask in beautiful shape for displaying. The harness retains full elasticity and all 3 yellow rubber bands remain in place on the strapping. A nice clean Type 48 microphone, with Air Ministry markings and fitted with anti-mosture gauze wire, completes the mask. Overall an excellent example and getting harder to find all the time.

SOLD

AAF Type A-10A oxygen mask.

Excellent example of the A-10A oxygen mask, the last version of the A-10 series which as issued just before the A-14 went into production and was quickly superseded by it. Mask is in great condition, appears to be unissued and is completely pliable with nothing more than minor rust stains to the webbing straps to show its age. 

SOLD

Named RAF Type B helmet by rare maker in a scarce large size 3.

Lovely 1940 dated Type B helmet manufactured by Compton Sons & Webb, who appear to have only been contracted for one year of production - 1940. High quality helmet which is in very good condition; great leather, light wear and a small nick in the edge of the left cheek area but nothing major (see pictures). Slightly grubby chamois but no damage. Retains both Bennett buckles with full leather covering, metal tip on chin strap, good working zips with both leather pullers, one rubber and one bakelite telephone holder, and still fitted with face defenders for D mask attachment.  Named inside both ears to J. Marrow with service number and characteristic CS&W offset square label inside. A lovely example of the iconic Battle of Britain flying helmet from one of the rarest makers in a large size 3.

SOLD

WWII US Navy leather flying gauntlets for a pilot.

Very good used pair of cold weather gauntlets worn by plots and aircrews of the US Navy in the European theatre. High quality black leather with a blanket lining. USN and 29 are stencilled on both gauntlets in marine blue aircraft paint (the US is faint on one). Show wear but no damage. Good working zips with some verdigris present. These don't come along very often.

SOLD

Imperial Japanese Navy rank badge for a Petty Officer with paper construction pin attached.

Japanese Navy insignia for a Petty Officer, but missing the sakura which denotes his duties. In its place is an unofficial paper flag pin which translates as "construction." Perhaps he was a Naval construction engineer who used the paper flag by choice, or it could have been brought home by a GI as a souvenir item. The patch is authentic and in great condition, embroidered on fine cotton with a heavy cotton backing.

SOLD

US Navy Type TH-37 receivers for flying helmet

Scarce TH-37 receivers for the early wartime US Navy / Marine Corps flying helmet types NAF1092 and M-450. The small leather "wedding cake" shaped holders were fitted to these receivers and sewn to the helmet. Also used in headsets. Made by Telephonics Corporation  from black bakelite. A little dusty but excellent condition.

SOLD

 

Unissued RAF Type 28 Microphone Assembly, comprising Type Q external wiring cord with maroon braided covering, Type 27 carbon microphone and "bell" plug.

Early cords for the externally wired flying helmets are becoming extremely difficult to source, and this is an outstanding example. Unissued, unused and in perfect condition. The hemispherical Type 27 carbon microphone is considerably less common than the Type 25 electromagnetic type. When wired with the Q cord, it is classifed as a Type 28 microphone assembly. This is further fitted with the early brown bakelite bell plug, all in superb, unissued condition and would be very difficult to upgrade. A rare accessory these days.

 

SOLD

Japanese Army Air Force summer flying helmet for a fighter pilot.

 

First Japanese flying helmet I have been able to offer for a long time! This is the Army Air Force pattern, cotton lined for summer use and with the goggles strap tabs to the rear of the hard leather earcups denoting use by a fighter pilot. The more unusual dark brown leather with hard, pressed leather earcups in oxblood, and a light brown star to the front. Well marked inside both earcups and also with its size marking punched into the left hand lower cheek indicating a size large, though to be honest it is a snug fit on a standard styrofoam display head. A nice helmet in very good condition.

SOLD

Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm first pattern (unwired) Type C flying helmet.

 

Lovely used example of a rare first pattern (unwired) Type C flying helmet made to Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm specs, having the zip ear pockets for installing both Gosport and electronic receivers. This helmet is fitted with a pair of Air Ministry marked Gosport receivers. The rubber retainers for the receivers have hardened but are still present. Helmet is grubby inside with lots of hair oil residue, but the chamois is otherwise in great shape and the leather is excellent. Leather chin strap and Bennett buckle, plus fore-and-aft goggle strap tabs. Excellent anchor stamp/emboss to the chin protector. Overall very good condition and lots of character. These are getting more and more difficult to find.

SOLD

US Navy / Marine Corps M-450 flying helmet with artwork.

 

Unusual personalized M-450 US Navy/Marine Corps flying helmet, painted with what appears to be RAF roundels on both sides, and "TR3A Hunt 399 40 1515" painted on the front in aqua paint (I am certain this is aircraft paint and is the colour used to paint the underside of US Navy aircraft in the pacific).  My best guess is it probably belonged to a flight deck aircraft handler since no receiver pockets have ever been fitted. No chin cup and one of the buckles is broken, otherwise in very good used condition. Worth researching to find out more - an interesting helmet with original artwork!

SOLD

Extremely rare Fleet Air Arm Type C helmet, converted from a standard RAF Type C by adding Type B telephone holders.

 

The illusive first type Royal Navy Type C, which was actually converted by Fleet Air Arm riggers from RAF issue by removing the rubber ear cups and replacing them with the zip compartments from earlier B helmets in order to accommodate Gosport receivers as well as electronic receivers (vital for maintaining radio silence on ops from aircraft carriers). In 30 years of collecting I have only ever seen 2 or 3 of these modified helmets! Helmet is well used and fairly "salty" but the leather and chamois are in good condition and it displays well. Standard Bakelite holders are present inside the ear cups, which have been hand-sewn in place. Bennett buckle retains its leather covering. This is one of those "if only it could talk" flying helmets. Rarity cannot be overstated.

SOLD

RAF stole / bladder for the 1941 pattern life vest / Mae West.

These are becoming like gold dust! Very hard to find inflatable stole (or bladder) for the "Life vest, stole-inflated pattern" more commonly (if incorrectly) referred to as the 1941 pattern Mae West. This is a eceptionally nice example, dating from the mid-war period, probably 1942-43. it is made from cream coloured rubberized fabric which remains totally pliable, including the oral inflation tube. It is stamped with the Air Ministry crown  property mark and patent number, and tested. To the rear, it has been hand inked and signed as tested in Feb 1945 so undoubtedly saw use in a life vest during the war. The tube is completely flexible and the valve works perfectly. I have not inflated it (nor would I recommend doing so as this would put moisture inside the chamber which could cause damage). An excellent example.

SOLD

RAF fighter pilot log book, RAF Polish in exile log book 219 sq. Beaufighters.

RAF log book to a Polish nightfighter pilot who flew Beaufighters with 219 squadron based at Tangmere, Acklington and Scorton. Sgt. Marian Idec (service number 784766) was born in Krakow 7.12.1915 died 6.2.1972 in Blackpool, UK. Log book starts April 1941, checked out by Polish instructors at No 1 PFTS then time on the Isle of Man No 5 Bombing and Gunnery School. Oct 41posted to 54 OTU where he obtained an "Above Average” assessment.  Joined 219 at Tangmere in Jan 1942. From then to April 43 he logs 17 ops. Notation of 2 crashes, an endorsement and loss of 2 of his Navigators. Then Briefly with 307 Polish night fighter squadron on Mosquitoes, then  target towing and  experimental glider towing in a Beaufighter. Impressive list of aircraft from Henley, Oxford, Hurricane, Spitfire, Dominie, Auster. Log finishes Feb 46 with 1,166hrs logged. The "squadrons served" page is missing from the back of the book, but that doesn’t really matter as the history can be seen in the pages. Fighter pilot log books do not often come up for sale, and one to a Polish pilot in exile is extremely rare.

SOLD

Super rare 1st issue model of the RAF Type E oxygen mask.

NOTE:  Please read the description and study the photos - and feel free ask questions - this item is in poor condition, but extremely rare. The mask body has solidified and is absolutely rock hard. That said, it is intact, complete and can most definitely be displayed, preferably in a case alongside other flying kit. The hose is still totally flexible, though has the expected surface cracks between the corrugations. Despite having hardened completely, the mask more or less retains its shape, which is what makes it suitable for a "static" display. The rivets holding the leather handles have stretched out their holes (one one side) but remain in place. The leather handles and straps are in perfect condition, and the mask is well marked. Fitted with the housing of a Type 27 microphone (no guts). This is an extremely rare, first issue model.  Few were produced and very few  survive.

SOLD

AAF T-44 microphone assembly/wiring loom for A-10A and A-14 oxygen mask.

 

Excellent example of the US made T-44 microphone assembly, produced to integrate US flying headgear for use in RAF aircraft. The loom features a MC-1 microphone attached to a braided wiring loom with a jack for the HS-38 headset (ANB-H-1 receivers) culminating in a RAF style "bell" plug. The MC-1 mic. could be installed in any of the AAF oxygen masks but was most commonly used with the A-10A and A-14. Unissued condition, with one slightly faded area on the braided covering.

SOLD

WWII US Army Type C-3 HBT field cap.

 

Excellent US Army issue HBT (herringbone twill) field cap, which appears to be in unissued condition. Size 7-1/4 and retaining its QM label, made by Mound City Cap.Mfg. Co. with contract date of January 1943. 

SOLD

Bancroft-Polaroid Sun-Cap-ade cap, c.1940.

 

Commercially manufactured by two of the largest contractors of military /aviation kit on WWII - Bancroft, who made lightweight uniform crusher caps for the AAF and Polaroid who made goggles and lenses for military aviators. The cap is tan cotton, adjustable for size and has a hinged Polaroid plastic lens attached to the underside of the peak. 3/4 leather sweatband, with leatherette at the rear on the adjustment strap. Great printed label inside. These were made for comfort and were popular with both military and commercial aviators during and after the war.  A very good example showing light wear.

SOLD

Korean War USAF Type A-1 / E-1 series flight suit shirt and trousers made of 100% wool. 

 

4-pocket A-1B flight suit "shirt, mens, coat style" in sage wool, size medium and matching E-1B "trousers, flying, inner" size 34 waist with knit cuffs. Jacket has some moth trails (visible in photographs) but no holes except at the edge of the left shirt cuff. Trousers seem to be pretty much moth free, so overall the suit is very good and quite displayable condition. Like a lot of flying clothing from this era, these suits were produced in OD, blue and sage, this being the later version in sage green dating to circa 1953. Generally worn under heavier outer flying clothing such as the B-15 jacket. A nice set.

 

SOLD

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