Vintage Flying Helmets
Aviation, Military & Historical Items for Discerning Collectors
LATEST ITEMS
(click on pictures to enlarge)
Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Type C flying helmet, first pattern (unwired).
Very good example of the rather scarce first pattern Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Type C flying helmet. Made for Navy use only, and produced in much smaller quantities than the RAF version, it followed the pattern of the RAF Type C, with B Type zipped receiver housings that incorporated Gosport tube fittings as well as electronic receivers, for inter-crew communications. Leather is in excellent condition, with a lovely crisp Admiralty crown and anchor stamp on the chin flap. Chamois interior is quite clean with the owner's name printed in block capitals as was the Navy style. Leather chin strap and Bennett buckle, fore-and-aft goggles strap tabs. Marked as size 2 (medium) but actually quite a generous fitting. These are becoming very difficult to source.
​ON HOLD
RAF Mk VIII flying goggles, wartime production, in box of issue with accessories.
​
Excellent pair of Mk VIII goggles, wartime production with a crisp A-crown-M stamp in the leather at the centre of the bridge, still in their original box with an extra set of tinted lenses and demisting cleaning cloth in its tin. Goggles show very light wear, strap still fully elastic, lenses clear and leather/paint are excellent. not as easy to find in this complete state as they used to be!
​
​ON HOLD
RAF Mk VIII flying goggles, wartime production, maker marked to Lever Optical.
​
Very good, gently worn pair of wartime production Mk VIII goggles. Wartime production with crisp A-crown-M stamp in the leather at the centre of the bridge. Coggles show very light wear, have clear lenses, good leather and only minor rubbing to paint on frames. Good strap still with elasticity. Buckle on the strap is marked to Lever Optical.
​
$285 / £215 / €245
Superb RAF Type D oxygen mask with Type E microphone assembly, cord, plug and rare Type C receivers.
One of the most difficult masks to find, the type worn by RAF pilots during the Battles of France and Britain – and it is in fantastic condition, with only the slightest signs of wear: 2 or 3 extremely small worn spots, no mothing and no damage. It is complete with a Type C microphone (Type E microphone assembly with Q cord, plug and rare Type C receivers). Please study the pictures. It would be hard to find a nicer example. Mask is named and may be researchable.
​
​ON HOLD
US Army Air Corps / AAF Type A-10 Revised oxygen mask in original box with accessories, unissued condition.
​
Fantastic US Army Air Corps / AAF A-10 Revised oxygen mask, dated 1-43 and in superb, unissued and unworn condition, still in its box with all its correct accessories and instruction booklet. The rubber is supple and has no issues (some overspill of the original glue/cement with attached the front piece to the mask body is evident). Straps present. Accessories include the extremely rare snap fittings that enable the mask to be attached to a flying helmet (A-8, A-9, B-5 or B-6, though they were also used with A-11 and Type C helmets). This is the mask issued to all of the first 8th AF crews sent to Europe. These just don't turn up any more, much less in this condition.
​
​ON HOLD
Early RAF Emergency Rations Mk II issued with K dinghy and other survival kits, complete with all contents.
​
While examples of the tin do turn up from time to time, tins complete with contents are seldom seen. This example has all its contents intact and packed inside. Horlicks (malted milk) tablets, barley sugars, chewing gum and energy tablets. Tin is labeled with instructions and has the A-crown-M marked to the front indicating pre-1943 production. It is dated to the bottom 6-42 making this a very early and very rare example. Some minor oxidation but no dents or dings and overall very good condition.
​
​ON HOLD
RAF fishing kit issued with survival kits, aids boxes and Beadon suit.
Rare two part fishing kit for issue to RAF crews in jungle surroundings. Kit comprises a small tin full of hooks and weights, together with a folded instruction sheet, plus a good length of fishing line. This was issued in the jungle survival backpack, escape aids box and later with the Beadon suit. A rare accessory.
​ON HOLD
USN Survival Kit folding machete by Camilus in fantastic condition.
​
Folding machete, 11" folded, opening up to 16.5" long. This was carried by all USN aircrew personnel flying anywhere near jungle territory, sometimes tucked in the belt but also included in the M-585 survival kit backpack. This examle is the classic Camilus production and is in superb condition, and appears to have perhaps never been issued. Blade is perfect and still has its protective sheath. Lovely example.
$175 / £130 / €150