Vintage Flying Helmets
Aviation, military and historical items for discerning collectors
Flying Clothing
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Stunning WWII US Navy winter flying boots Type M-380B.
The Navy equivalent of the AAF A-6 boots, made from heavy shearling with a polyacrylate coating, reinforced with leather and a rubber shoe / galosh section. These boots show only very light wear to the heel of the rubber soles but are in quite remarkable condition. They have double zip fasteners (one goes up, one goes down) and laces at the back to ensure a tight and secure fit but yet easy to put on and take off. Leather, shearling and rubber all super pliable. One of the zips on the right boot is stuck closed and I don't want to force it, with the bottom 2 or 3 teeth slightly separated, but this doesn't affect the appearance or functionality of the boots (the secod zip is fine) Manufactured by Hood and size Ex-large.
$300 / £240 / €280
Scarce RAF brogue waders and boots for flying boat crews.
One of the more scarce and unusual items of flying/aircrew clothing I have ever come across! A lovely set of Air Ministry marked Brogue Waders and boots. First used in the 1920s with early flying boats, but still issued in WWII to the aircrews and handling crews of Sunderlands and Catalinas and other flying boats and seaplanes. These were also used when the RAF began competing in the Schneider Trophy races with seaplanes and the pilot had to be carried to and from his aircraft so he didn't get wet. Comprises a very sturdy pair of rubberized canvas and leather boots, size 11 and well marked, with metal studs for gripping the seabed. These were worn over thigh-length waders or bib-stype overalls made of the same rubberized canvas fabric. This pair includes thigh-high waders which are also faintly marked but less discernable. One wader is missing its strap and buckle, one has a few small holes in the foot area, but the canvas remains overall supple and flexible. The set appears unissued with just storage wear and some oxidation to the metal studs in the sole. Quite a rarity and a wonderful display item for any flying boat or Schneider Trophy competition exhibit.
$750 / £595 / €695
RAF Type D flying gloves, non-matching pair.
Excellent non-matching pair of Type D flying gloves. Near perfect match in the colour of the leather, but one is marked as a size 9-1/2 while the other is marked a size 10. However they seem to be a very close match in size and it's hard to tell when wearing them or placing them together. One has a broad arrow marked label and the other has a nice A-crown-M label. These and other gloves were often issued non-matching and I have no doubt these were always together this way (although they appear unissued).
$120 / £95 / €112
RAF Beadon Survival Flying Suit.
Very good example of the late war RAF Lightweight Flying Suit, popularly known as the Beadon suit, after the pilot who inspired its design and development, primarily for use by aircrews flying over the jungles in the Far East. The suit had numerous built-in pockets and flaps, each intended to hold a specific item of survival or escape/evasion equipment. One of the items included was a back pack into which all the items could be transferred after landing for ease of portability and access. The suit was made of lightweight grey cotton and had concealed knitted cuffs and a knitted collar to keep mosquitoes out. This example is in very good condition - far better than most. All zips are in good working order as are the press studs, though one of two press stud covers have detached. There are some very small snags under the left arm which do not show when on display or if worn and the collar has a few moth nips but nothing serious. The knit cuffs are perfect. Integral belt is included. Suit is overall clean and displays well.
$375 / £295 / €345
RAF Type D electrically-heated waistcoat.
Type D electrically-heated waistcoat issued to heavy bomber crews from 1942-43 throughout the war. Brown cotton jacket with press-stud/snap connectors to carry current to gloves and bootees (via wired tapes from the waist down the legs). Well marked with Air Ministry label and Windak manufacturer's tag inside the neck. Lovely complete example - often the snap fasteners are missing or torn - this one is intact with no tears or damage and makes an excellent display.
$400 / £320 / €370
Rare Japanese Army Air Force flying gloves.
Fantastic pair of extremely rare Japanese Army Air Force flying gloves, made of soft brown suede, with knit wool linings and trimmed with rabbit fur. Each glove is well marked with nice crisp stamping and has a leather thing tightening strap. These show very light wear, and there is a tiny split on the left hand index finger, and a very small seam separation on the middle finger. Very hard to find and a more beautiful example.
$450 / £355 / €415
RAF 1933 Pattern Flying Gloves showing lots of use.
Well worn pair of RAF 1933 Pattern Flying Gloves, the so-called "straight zip" type worn by Battle of Britain fighter pilots. This pair has definitely seen some use, but could, with patience and loving care, be restored – or indeed displayed "as is." The leather is worn but not dry rotted. It has a few seams which have separated, but none of the leather is missing. Both zips work perfectly and the linings show nice clear markings and AID stamps. If only they could talk...
$190 / £150 / €172
USAF HAU-6P Flying Gloves.
Unissued pair of USAF HAU-6P Flying Gloves. Unlined black leather with elasticized wrist, still with nomenclature tags intact. Marked as size 3 but Im not sure how this modern sizing works - they fit me quite snugly - so I would guess they equate to approximately a size 9 in WWII terms. Nice, high quality gloves.
$65 / £48 / €55
Complete panel of an early wartime silk parachute / scarf.
Hard to tell if this is from a US or British made parachute, but it is silk, not rayon or nylon, and the only marking is the panel number 15. Measures about 12' (365cm) long by about 3' ( 92cm) at it's widest end, going down to 6" (15cm) at the thin end. Clean, excellent condition and would make several great scarves or could be used to wrap the packing on an actual parachute.
$125 / £100 / €115
Replacement full length zip fastener for the AAF Type A-2 flying jacket (modern reproduction).
One of the first generation of copies of the 24" full length Talon brand zip / slide fastener which works perfectly for the A-2, B-3 and other USAAF flying jackets. Steel hardware on a cotton or synthetic tape which is sealed with plastic at the bottom end. Same eaxact design as wartime Talon zip and would work as a replacement, but originally made for the reproduction jackets. Unused and in brand new and fully functional condition.
$35 / £30 / €33
AAF and USN AN6550-M-40 summer flight suit.
Very good example of the less commonly seen later war AN6550-M-40 summer flight suit in lightweight cotton intended for wear in jungle warfare. As the AN spec designation suggests, it was intended for wear by both AAF and USN aviators. It was a simpler pattern than earlier models, having only one zip fastener (at the front). the sleeves were wide, without zips, and the trousers buttoned with a strap for a tighter fit to keep mosquitoes out. This example is in great condition, no fading and shows very little wear. One small period repair on the back and a couple of tiny snags, plus some minor stains from age and storage. Good size (40) and retains its belt.
$125 / £100 / €120
Original replacement knit waistband for an A-2 flying jacket.
Original knit waistband for the A-2 flying jacket. New, old stock medium brown wool knit waistband, unused and in perfect condition, with no moth nips or snags. If you have a A-2 jacket with a tatty waistband (as many are) this will bring your jacket back like new.
ONE LEFT IN STOCK.
$75 / £60 / €70
US Navy Air Gunner's mittens
Absolutely superb pair of US Navy Air Gunner's mittens with separate "trigger" finger in outstanding condition. High quality black leather with beautiful gold foiled USN tp both gauntlets and tab indicating size 9. Leather lined gauntlet and fleece lined mitten. They show very little wear. Superb quality.
$135 / £110 / €125
WWII era USAAF Flight jacket liner / waistcoat / vest.
Featured in Combat Flying Clothing by Glenn Sweeting (page 65). Late war heavy cotton OD cotton waistcoat / vest lined with alpaca type fur as found in the B-9, B-10 and B-11 jackets. No label but stencilled on the back is F-1977 and handwritten F-0604. Clearly this is NOT anything from 1977 and has a wartime Talon zip (in good working order). I have seen these in use in photographs in addition to Sweeting's reference. A scarce item.
$195 / £155 / €180
Rare RAF chamois glove liners size 9-1/2.
Apparently unissued chamois glove liners which were issued with both the 1933 and 1941 Pattern Gauntlets, for wear over the silk glove liners and under the leather outer glove. In many cases, the silk or chamois gloves were worn alone to provide comfort bit still allow "feel" for the controls or instruments. This pair is in immaculate condition; very clean and well-marked inside with stores ref. information and a broad arrow property mark. One of the rarest accessories to find. I have been lucky to pick up a few pairs n the past year, but this is the last - and a good large size!
ON HOLD
AAF Type A-12 Arctic weather / High-Altitude flight mittens.
Very good used pair of AAF high-altitude, extreme cold (Arctic) mittens for wear over other gloves for flight and ground crews. Olive drab green cotton mittens with leather palms and heavy alpaca lining in the hand section, with a friction tightening strap at the wrist. These would typically be worn withe the B-9 or B-11 Parka. Both still have their tags attached and are dated 1944.
$75 / £62 / €70
Excellent pair of cold weather flying or motorcycling gloves.
Lovely pair of leather flying or motorcycling gloves with a wrist tightening strap and wide gauntlet, fully lined and trimmed with soft rabbit fur. These might be WWI era as late as the 1930s/40s. What's interesting is that they are virtually identical to the standard WWII Luftwaffe bomber crew issue with the addition of the fur lining and trim. The stitching pattern on the leather is interesting; reinforcement stitching in parallel rows, back and front containing stiff, finger-shaped pads around the gauntlet section. There are markings on the snap/press stud fasteners which read LANE M'FG. CO. so the metal parts do appear to be US made. These might be motorcycle gloves or flying gloves but they are definitely vintage and of excellent quality.
$65 / £55 / €62
WWII US Navy flying gauntlets for an air gunner.
Very good used pair of flying gauntlets as issued to US Navy air gunners in the European theatre. Dark brown leather with fleece lining, designed as mittens with a separate trigger finger. One small nick (1 cm / 0.5") in the right hand thumb. USN in a box stamped on the back of both hands. Curiously, like RAF gloves, not quite a perfect matching pair, but very close, with a very slight colour variation. Both are marked Medium size. Zips in good working order. Super high quality leather and quite a scarce item.
$135 / £110 / €125
Luftwaffe 2-piece winter weight Channel Suit for wear over water.
By contrast to the white "Bulgarian suit, this blue-grey shearling/sheepskin heavyweight "Channel" suit is a true combat veteran! Blue grey was designated for flight over water and this suit saw plenty of action, though remains in fair to good condition, the jacket showing the most wear. The main zip has been replaced (period) but has a break in the tape. It can be closed carefully. Sleeve zips are stiff but working though the pullers are broken. Waistband has been replaced (again, this appears to be period and new waistband shows plenty of use). Collar is worn and has a tear but could be repaired. With care, this jacket could most certainly be restored. The trousers are in better condition, with original functioning zips and all pockets complete with loops, tabs and flaps for storing survival kit. The leg/flag pocket is missing part of the snap fastener and there are a couple of very neat repairs (and one not so neat which could be field repair) but are otherwise in very good condition. Zips are an unusual maker, marked DePe and Czechoslovakia. The label inside the trousers is also unusual and has an open ended early date (193_). It's possible the suit was made in Czechoslovakia, which is an interesting variation. Overall it's a perfectly displayable example of a used suit, priced according to its condition.
$1,500 / £1,335 / €1,540
RAF Mosquito Boots dated 1944.
Well above average, very good clean pair of RAF Mosquito boots in brown suede with drawstring ties to keep out mosquitoes and other pests. These boots were originally intended for ground crews in desert conditions, but were quickly seized by pilots and aircrews, notably fighter pilots, who recognized their immense value. The boots were produced in both green and brown suede; this pair is brown, which seems to be the less common. They are well marked, size 8 UK (9 US) with Air Ministry crown and broad arrow. They are also marked inside the foot (impossible to get a photo but very clearly visible) with the maker's name: John White, and a date of 1944. Original soles and heels all in excellent condition and very light wear overall. As nice a pair as you will find.
$575 / £480 / €545
USAF leather flying gloves, HAU-6/P unissued and unworn.
Modern era jet aircrew flying gloves in unlined brown leather, model HAU-6/P (I believe from the 1980s or 90s). Still sewn together - never worn. Lovely quality gloves, both with labels and marked size 5 but they fit me perfectly (like a glove!) and I would wear a size 9 RAF wartime glove. Very similar looking to the WWII B-3A but better quality finishing.
$45 / £35 / €43
RAF Mk 14 Flying Suit/overalls named to a Hawk pilot with pilot wings and squadron patch attached.
Dating from 1992-1994, this flying suit was worn by a pilot of 234 squadron, No. 4 (Advanced) Flying School at RAF Valley in North Wales flying British Aerospace Hawk. Unusual in that the suit still has the owner's named pilot wing patch, Hawk shoulder patch and 234 Squadron patch attached. In excellent condition - and still has the handwritten pre-flight checklist and flight data inside the thigh pockets. All zips in good working order, no wear or damage. A great modern era flying suit.
$175 / £135 / €160
WWI era heavy mittens, possibly RNAS flying use.
Heavy, fleece-lined leather mittens with short gauntlets in very dark brown/black leather. Tightening strap to wrist fastens with a UCFC press stud (United Carr Fastener Co.). Being black they may have been used by the RNAS which preferred black leather for their flying kit to the RFC's brown. Since most clothing used for flying was privately purchased anyway, it is impossible to say if these were used for flying or driving - but they are very warm and quite suitable for either. Some wear/damage to the leather on one gauntlet, but not significant and they display well.
$60 / £43 / €50
AAF / USAF Type N-2 Aircrew Mittens.
Issued for extreme cold weather flying, and no doubt intended for wearing over other warm gloves. Gloves are in superb condition, appear unissued and made from unlined brown leather with moccasin style stitching. Well marked inside with what appears to be a 1949 contract order date. US Air Force white ink stamp on back of both hands. First pair of these I have ever encountered. Interesting item of flying clothing from between WWII and the Korean War, when the AAF was transitioning into the USAF and still using brown leather for a lot of flying kit.
$40/ £30 / €35 email to secure this item