AAF AN-H-15 flying helmet with great history including Hollywood connection.

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A well used (with good reason!) AN-H-15 flying helmet which belonged to a well known Hollywood film cameraman with wartime and postwar use. Cliff Shirpser was an aerial film cameraman before the war who joined the AAF in WWII and pioneered use of his own cameras mounted in B-25 aircraft flying with the 10th AF in the CBI. After the war, he continued his work as an aerial photographer, wearing this helmet (and his A-2 jacket) while working on Hollywood blockbusters.  His professional work included just about every well known movie made between 1921 and 1964, including Gone with the Wind, Ben-Hur, Flying Leathernecks, Run Silent, Run Deep, Flying Tigers, Destry Rides Again, Mutiny on the Bounty and dozens more (a full list will be included, as well as photo copies of documents and photos of Shirpser).This helmet was part of a large grouping of items belonging to Shirpser that included another identical helmet all sold long ago; I kept this one purely because of its historical interest and association with the movie industry.  Helmet is a size Large, complete with HS-38 headset. It is grubby and has no chin strap, but no damage. A fantastic piece of AAF CBI / movie history which comes with a lot of research!

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$350 / £285 / €338

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Canned fresh water ration tin for the RAF Lindholme airborne lifeboat, complete with contents.

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Very rare to find any wartime rations complete with contents, and this is the first time I have encountered full cans of water rations. These standard water cans, 4.5" x 3.5" (11cm x 8.75cm) were issued as part of the Lindholme Airborne lifeboat survival kits and no doubt found their way into other survival kits as well. Well marked with instructions and produced by Norfolk Canneries, Ltd. I have a small quantity available. A few dings and minor dents and some surface rust to cans, but no damage or leaks detected. US sales only – cannot ship these overseas.

Price each.

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$55 / £45 / €53

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Wartime RAF map/chart London and South East England.

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Lovely map/chart of London and South East England dated 1941, with a notation in red that the Air information is correct as of November 1939. Ordinance Survey map as used by all the services, though this is marked as for sale (though maps were not offered for sale during the war, except to military personnel). Linen backed and well used with a few worn spots but nothing missing. An excellent display accessory for a RAF pilot or Home Guard. 

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$55 / £45 / €53

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Anti-Dim cloth for gas mask, goggles etc.

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Still contained in its light grey tin container with a threaded lid, the anti-dim cloth was impregnated with a compound supposed to prevent lenses from fogging up while in use. A nice accessory for the gas mask (remember ALL service personnel as well as civilians were required to carry a gas mask, in particular at the beginning of the war). 

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$25 / £20 / €24

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"Fogpruf" Paste and cloth for mask lenses.

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Medium grey tin container with a friction sealed lid containing a cleaning cloth and "Fogpruf" paste for cleaning the lenses of gas masks and prevent fogging. Instead of the cloth being impregnated with the anti-fog compound, it was contained in a small tube rolled up inside the cloth.  A nice accessory for the gas mask (remember ALL service personnel as well as civilians were required to carry a gas mask, in particular at the beginning of the war).  Manufactured by MSA (Mine Safety Appliance Co. of Pittsburgh, PA).

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$25 / £20 / €24

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Named US officer's "Ike" jacket tailored by cutting down down a service dress jacket.

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Lovely example of a US officer's "Ike" jacket, made by cutting down a service dress uniform jacket. Beautifully tailored - possibly i England, although the jacket retains its original tailor's label of Schwobilt.  Great condition, with evidence of having had insignia, medal ribbons etc. These "Ike" jackets were especially popular with the AAF. named label inside pocket is worth researching and possibly replacing missing patches and badges.

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ON HOLD

AAF 8th Air Force enlisted service dress uniform jacket, possibly English made.

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An absolutely superb AAF 8th Air Force enlisted service dress jacket with stripes for First Sergeant and 8th Air Force shoulder patch, as well as AAF brass collar disks. Though I can find no label, I am tempted to suggest it might be English made because of the colour and fabric which is closer to the British army battledress khaki serge. An outstanding jacket, with 2 or 3 very minor moth nips, the largest on the epaulette (see photos). Marked as a size 36R.

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$155 / £128 / €150

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