Vintage Flying Helmets
Aviation, Military & Historical Items for Discerning Collectors
Flying Helmets and Headgear
(click on pictures to enlarge)
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.
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$375 / £285 / €330
 USAAF Type A-11 flying helmet in excellent, unissued condition, with receivers fitted. Size large. |  USAAF Type A-11 flying helmet in excellent, unissued condition, with receivers fitted. Size large. |
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 USAAF Type A-11 flying helmet in excellent, unissued condition, with receivers fitted. Size large. |  USAAF Type A-11 flying helmet in excellent, unissued condition, with receivers fitted. Size large. |
 USAAF Type A-11 flying helmet in excellent, unissued condition, with receivers fitted. Size large. |  USAAF Type A-11 flying helmet in excellent, unissued condition, with receivers fitted. Size large. |
 USAAF Type A-11 flying helmet in excellent, unissued condition, with receivers fitted. Size large. |  USAAF Type A-11 flying helmet in excellent, unissued condition, with receivers fitted. Size large. |
French aviator's Airaile Type 11 hard-shell helmet by Gueneau, 1939-40.
Like the proverbial London bus! These helmets don't come along very often, then two turn up within a couple of weeks!
This is the Airaile Type 11 flying helmet by Guéneau; the standard pattern flying helmet worn by French Armée de l'Air pilots and crews pre-war and during the early months of WWII. Very good condition inside and out and marked as a size 59. Paper label long since detached. Version without the clips or snaps for fitting an oxygen mask, but has contoured ear flaps for housing receivers or Gosport tubes and snap-down leather tabs for securing the goggles. Chin strap appears to have been reattached during its working life.
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$400 / £295 / €345
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 French aviator's hard-shell helmet by Gueneau, 1939-40 |  French aviator's hard-shell helmet by Gueneau, 1939-40 |
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 French aviator's hard-shell helmet by Gueneau, 1939-40 |  French aviator's hard-shell helmet by Gueneau, 1939-40 |
 French aviator's hard-shell helmet by Gueneau, 1939-40 |  French aviator's hard-shell helmet by Gueneau, 1939-40 |
 French aviator's hard-shell helmet by Gueneau, 1939-40 |  French aviator's hard-shell helmet by Gueneau, 1939-40 |
 French aviator's hard-shell helmet by Gueneau, 1939-40 |
RAF Mk 1A jet helmet with Type G inner helmet and Type A-13A oxygen mask - lovely complete set.
Absolutely superb front line RAF mid-late 1960s jet fighter pilot helmet ensemble. This complete set comprises a beautiful Mk 1A "bone dome" hard shell helmet, together with its Type G blue cloth flying helmet and Type A-13A pressure demand oxygen mask. All items are in excellent condition. The "bone dome" has a superb soft leather lining with several different names written in from reissue. Both the outer helmet and Type G are large size 3 and show light use but no damage. Visor is clean and comes with its velvet lined protective cover. G helmet is fully wired with correct receivers and both plugs. Mask is in excellent condition, fully pliable and no perishing. Perfect set up to depict a Hunter, Javelin or Lightning fighter pilot. These helmets are becoming extremely difficult to source, especially complete and in such fine condition.
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$780 / £575 / €685
 RAF Mk 1A jet helmet with Type G inner helmet and Type A-13A oxygen mask - lovely complete set |  RAF Mk 1A jet helmet with Type G inner helmet and Type A-13A oxygen mask - lovely complete set |
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 RAF Mk 1A jet helmet with Type G inner helmet and Type A-13A oxygen mask - lovely complete set |  RAF Mk 1A jet helmet with Type G inner helmet and Type A-13A oxygen mask - lovely complete set |
 RAF Mk 1A jet helmet with Type G inner helmet and Type A-13A oxygen mask - lovely complete set |  RAF Mk 1A jet helmet with Type G inner helmet and Type A-13A oxygen mask - lovely complete set |
 RAF Mk 1A jet helmet with Type G inner helmet and Type A-13A oxygen mask - lovely complete set |  RAF Mk 1A jet helmet with Type G inner helmet and Type A-13A oxygen mask - lovely complete set |
 RAF Mk 1A jet helmet with Type G inner helmet and Type A-13A oxygen mask - lovely complete set |  RAF Mk 1A jet helmet with Type G inner helmet and Type A-13A oxygen mask - lovely complete set |
 RAF Mk 1A jet helmet with Type G inner helmet and Type A-13A oxygen mask - lovely complete set |  RAF Mk 1A jet helmet with Type G inner helmet and Type A-13A oxygen mask - lovely complete set |
 RAF Mk 1A jet helmet with Type G inner helmet and Type A-13A oxygen mask - lovely complete set |  RAF Mk 1A jet helmet with Type G inner helmet and Type A-13A oxygen mask - lovely complete set |
 RAF Mk 1A jet helmet with Type G inner helmet and Type A-13A oxygen mask - lovely complete set |  RAF Mk 1A jet helmet with Type G inner helmet and Type A-13A oxygen mask - lovely complete set |
 RAF Mk 1A jet helmet with Type G inner helmet and Type A-13A oxygen mask - lovely complete set |  RAF Mk 1A jet helmet with Type G inner helmet and Type A-13A oxygen mask - lovely complete set |
AAF AN-H-15 flying helmet - perfect for restoration.
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A great project helmet at a reasonable price. This AN-H-15 shows use but there is no damage to the cotton shell or the rubber ear cups. Strap is good and all leather tabs are intact. the chamois covered "donut" pads have been removed which does not affact display and they could be replaced. It shows white paint splatter (perhaps it was "borrowed" by a ground crewman for working on painting invasion stripes?), but otherwise in good shape, and a good candidate for restoration. Best f all, it's a size Large. Bargain priced!
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$50 / £38 / €45
 AAF AN-H-15 flying helmet |  AAF AN-H-15 flying helmet |
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 AAF AN-H-15 flying helmet |  AAF AN-H-15 flying helmet |
 AAF AN-H-15 flying helmet |  AAF AN-H-15 flying helmet |
 AAF AN-H-15 flying helmet |
Scarce early RAF Type F flying helmet.
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The Type F flying helmet was first developed and tested in 1950 as a successor to the ubiquitous Type C, because a new helmet was needed that would A) house new telephone receivers with larger noise attenuating pads and B) fit underneath a crash helmet (or "bone dome") when needed. The Type C remained in service for many years. The Type F, finally introduced into RAF service in 1954, was in service for less than a year, quickly superseded by the Type G which featured additional mask fittings for the new P/Q series and a more comfortable, integral nape strap. Made from blue-grey Airtex fabric. This example has some storage stains on one side with a small tear (about 3/4" long) in left crown area, and one or two pinhead sized holes in the Airtex, and a couple of the snap fasteners have pulled through the fabric. It includes the hard-to-find large leather/rubber ear pads in good condition a nice ink stamp with sizing information (size 2, medium). A very scarce helmet that is still quite reasonable for display (especially under a Mk I bone dome) and priced accordingly.
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$65 / £48 / €60
 RAF Type F flying helmet with original large ear pads |  RAF Type F flying helmet with original large ear pads |
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 RAF Type F flying helmet with original large ear pads |  RAF Type F flying helmet with original large ear pads |
 RAF Type F flying helmet with original large ear pads |  RAF Type F flying helmet with original large ear pads |
 RAF Type F flying helmet with original large ear pads |  RAF Type F flying helmet with original large ear padsDSCN3874 |
 RAF Type F flying helmet with original large ear pads |
AAF AN-H-15 summer flying helmet, unissued condition.
Lovely, unissued example of the AAF AN-H-15 summer flying helmet introduced in 1944 for use in hot climates. Clean inside and out, never had receivers installed but rubber holders are pliable with no edge cracks or damage, Size medium but actually quite a generous size. This is the early version with 3 snaps/press stud fasteners on each side for attaching an oxygen mask. This one would be very difficult to upgrade.
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$95 / £75 / €90​
 AAF AN-H-15 summer flying helmet, unissued condition |  AAF AN-H-15 summer flying helmet, unissued condition |
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 AAF AN-H-15 summer flying helmet, unissued condition |  AAF AN-H-15 summer flying helmet, unissued condition |
 AAF AN-H-15 summer flying helmet, unissued condition |  AAF AN-H-15 summer flying helmet, unissued condition |
 AAF AN-H-15 summer flying helmet, unissued condition |  AAF AN-H-15 summer flying helmet, unissued condition |
1930s Air Associates commercial flying helmet with Gosport tubes.
Commercial flying helmet by the well known Air Associates brand, mid-1930s. Very similar to the type issued to US Navy aircrews; excellent quality leather with a chamois lining and fitted with blackened copper Gosport receivers for training and internal communication. Shows honest use but no damage or undue wear. Lovely helmet.
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$150 / £120 / €140
 1930s Air Associates commercial flying helmet with Gosport tubes |  1930s Air Associates commercial flying helmet with Gosport tubes |
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 1930s Air Associates commercial flying helmet with Gosport tubes |  1930s Air Associates commercial flying helmet with Gosport tubes |
 1930s Air Associates commercial flying helmet with Gosport tubes |  1930s Air Associates commercial flying helmet with Gosport tubes |
 1930s Air Associates commercial flying helmet with Gosport tubes |  1930s Air Associates commercial flying helmet with Gosport tubes |
AAF Type A-9 flying helmet with snaps fitted for A-14 oxygen mask.
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Excellent example of the early wartime A-9 flight helmet, as issued without ear cups but fitted with snap/stud fasteners for the A-14 mask (2 each side positioned correctly for the strap attachment). In all other respects, the helmet appears to be in unissued and certainly unworn condition. GReen cotton with lambswool fleece pads inside and fleec wrapped leather chin strap. Size medium with a good label inside.
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$70 / £55 / €65
 AAF Type A-9 flying helmet with snaps fitted for A-14 oxygen mask |  AAF Type A-9 flying helmet with snaps fitted for A-14 oxygen mask |
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 AAF Type A-9 flying helmet with snaps fitted for A-14 oxygen mask |  AAF Type A-9 flying helmet with snaps fitted for A-14 oxygen mask |
 AAF Type A-9 flying helmet with snaps fitted for A-14 oxygen mask |  AAF Type A-9 flying helmet with snaps fitted for A-14 oxygen mask |
 AAF Type A-9 flying helmet with snaps fitted for A-14 oxygen mask |
US Army knitted balaclava style head and face protector.
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US Army knitted balaclava style hood issued to all branches of the Army including AAF air and ground crews servng in colder climates. Heavy, ribbed knit pattern in OD wool with facial opening that could be pulled under the chin to accommodate an oxygen mask. Nice 1941 dated printed QM label indicating manufacture by Lion Knitting Mills. Very good condition with no damage.
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$85 / £70 / €80
 DSCN8954 |  DSCN8953 |
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 IMG_0182 |  DSCN8955 |
WWII Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm aircraft carrier deck handler's helmet.
A very scarce accessory - cotton helmet as worn by Royal Navy deck crews while manhandling aircraft on the flight decks of aircraft carriers during WWII. Each colour denoted a specific role or duty and I believe royal blue indicated starboard general duties. Simple unlined cotton helmet with a chin strap and buckle (essential for it not to be blown off in the high winds and propwash). Size 2 (Large) in unissued condition. See last photos for wartime colour photos of helmets being worn on cover and editorial in Illustrated News dated 1943. Note: this helmet is not the same as the US Navy issue deck helmets which were often modified into flying helmets by USN pilots. Very scarce item and the last one of a small batch I obtained a while back.
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$75 / £65 / €75
 DSCN0601 |  DSCN0604 |
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 DSCN0603 |  DSCN0600 |
 DSCN0602 |  DSCN0599 |