Vintage Flying Helmets
Aviation, military and historical items for discerning collectors
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RAF Type C flying helmet, first pattern, unwired, with label.
RAF Type C helmet, fist pattern, designed for external wiring and fitted with a leather chin strap and Bennetts buckle, with fore-and-aft goggles strap tabs. This is made in India under contract to the Air Ministry by Phelps & Co. and has a small cotton label inside the crown. Leather is in great condition, chamois lining is clean and helmet appears to be unissued. Rubber ear cups are pliable. Inside the forehead and the chin flap are lined with green velvet. The only issue this helmet has is that the top centre seam running from front to back has split for 2" / 5cm but this could be repaired with care. Curiously, the two front goggle strap tabs are bright red on the back! Overall a nice helmet that would be great with a little work.
$300 / £245 / €280
 RAF Type C flying helmet, first pattern, unwired, with label. |  RAF Type C flying helmet, first pattern, unwired, with label. |
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 RAF Type C flying helmet, first pattern, unwired, with label. |  RAF Type C flying helmet, first pattern, unwired, with label. |
 RAF Type C flying helmet, first pattern, unwired, with label. |  RAF Type C flying helmet, first pattern, unwired, with label. |
 RAF Type C flying helmet, first pattern, unwired, with label. |  RAF Type C flying helmet, first pattern, unwired, with label. |
 RAF Type C flying helmet, first pattern, unwired, with label. |
Luftwaffe Model 306 flying goggles.
A good pair of these large lens flying goggles which display well, despite missing a small section of the soft rubber cushion on the left side of the frame. The cushions are light, spongy and still flexible with slight surface crazing but are basically sound and quite decent. Frames and lenses are excellent and strap retains elasticity. The centre bridge has the classic double screw/nut adjustment. No markings that I can see.
$280 / £225 / €260
 Luftwaffe Model 306 flying goggles |  Luftwaffe Model 306 flying goggles |
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 Luftwaffe Model 306 flying goggles |  Luftwaffe Model 306 flying goggles |
 Luftwaffe Model 306 flying goggles |  Luftwaffe Model 306 flying goggles |
AAF HB-7 HS-33 headset with some history.
A good AAF HS-33 headset, comprising HB-7 headband and ANB-H-1 receivers with MX-41/AR cushions and braided cord with red PL-354 plug, in used condition but very good for display. It has a handwritten label attached (actually an ancient piece of masking tape) with the legend "WWII B-25 light bomber. Clint Jr. crash landed at Douglas AFB, Arizona 1944 with this radio gear on." A nice and very displayable headset.
$75 / £60 / €70
 AAF HB-7 HS-33 headset with some history |  AAF HB-7 HS-33 headset with some history |
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 AAF HB-7 HS-33 headset with some history |  AAF HB-7 HS-33 headset with some history |
 AAF HB-7 HS-33 headset with some history |  AAF HB-7 HS-33 headset with some history |
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 beautiful example.
$450 / £365 / €420
 Japanese Army Air Force flying gloves |  Japanese Army Air Force flying gloves |
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 Japanese Army Air Force flying gloves |  Japanese Army Air Force flying gloves |
 Japanese Army Air Force flying gloves |  Japanese Army Air Force flying gloves |
Scarce AAF B-13 officer's flight jacket with all insignia.
A scarce item of USAAF flying clothing: the B-13 was officially classified as flying gear and only issued to officers serving as pilots or aircrew, but because it resembled the "Ike" jacket, it could be worn while on base and out on the town (its primary distinction being two corduroy lined slash pockets on the front). This is a lovely example in "chocolate" (dark green) gabardine and is complete with all insignia, including a good pinback pilot wing, collar devices, captain's rank bars, overseas hash marks and shoulder patches for the AAF and 12th Air Force. I have found two pinhead sized moth nips in one sleeve and one tiny surface nip in the other sleeve, but you have to look very closely t see them. Lovely felt AAF patch. A very difficult to find flight jacket in great condition.
$475 / £385 / €445
 AAF B-13 officer's flight jacket with all insignia |  AAF B-13 officer's flight jacket with all insignia |
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 AAF B-13 officer's flight jacket with all insignia |  AAF B-13 officer's flight jacket with all insignia |
 AAF B-13 officer's flight jacket with all insignia |  AAF B-13 officer's flight jacket with all insignia |
 AAF B-13 officer's flight jacket with all insignia |  AAF B-13 officer's flight jacket with all insignia |
 AAF B-13 officer's flight jacket with all insignia |
AAF enlisted man's B-14 flight jacket with 8th AF patch and sergeant's stripes.
A scarce item of USAAF flying clothing: the B-14 was officially classified as flying gear and only issued to enlisted aircrews, but because it resembled the "Ike" jacket, it could be worn while on base and out on the town (its primary distinction being two corduroy lined slash pockets on the front). This is a lovely example in olive drab wool and is complete with 8th Air Force patch to the shoulder and sergeant's stripes to both sleeves. Like the officers' version, an extremely difficult to find flight jacket in great condition, with no signs of wear or damage at all.
$450 / £365 / €420
 AAF enlisted man's B-14 flight jacket |  AAF enlisted man's B-14 flight jacket |
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 AAF enlisted man's B-14 flight jacket |  AAF enlisted man's B-14 flight jacket |
 AAF enlisted man's B-14 flight jacket |
AAF enlisted man's peaked / visor cap - a true "crusher".
Quite unusual to find a true "crusher" for enlisted personnel. This is a beauty! Khaki top with oilcloth liner and superb quality soft patent leather peak that rolls up tightly to fit in a pocket. Front and rear chin straps in matching soft leather. Good two-piece enlisted cap badge. A few loose stitches on the leather sweatband and two pinhead sized moth nips on the underside of the top at the back, which aren't visible when worn or displayed. Best of all is the lovely rakish shape of the cap which has a distinctive backwards sloping look. This is a good-looking, high-end, officer-quality cap.
$200 / £165 / €188
 AAF enlisted man's peaked / visor cap - a true "crusher" |  AAF enlisted man's peaked / visor cap - a true "crusher" |
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 AAF enlisted man's peaked / visor cap - a true "crusher" |  AAF enlisted man's peaked / visor cap - a true "crusher" |
 AAF enlisted man's peaked / visor cap - a true "crusher" |  AAF enlisted man's peaked / visor cap - a true "crusher" |
 AAF enlisted man's peaked / visor cap - a true "crusher" |
Superb WWII RNZAF officer’s SD uniform tunic and peaked cap.
Superb RAF style 4-pocket service dress tunic and peaked cap. The RNZAF was the smallest of the Commonwealth air forces and uniforms are scarce. This is a particularly nice example, privately tailored to the highest possible quality, presumably from Merino wool. The quality of the wool is noticeably heavier than British made RAF uniforms. The jacket and cap are a very good match. The cap is maker marked to a Wellington tailor; the jacket has a label in the neck which is worn and not legible. Rank lace to a Flight Lieutenant with a beautifully worn NZ pilot wing and medal ribbons for the 39-45 Star, Pacific Star, Defence and War Medals and New Zealand War Service medal. Lovely set.
$650 / £528 / €625
 RNZAF-cap+tunic |  WWII RNZAF officer’s uniform and peaked cap |
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 WWII RNZAF officer’s uniform and peaked cap |  WWII RNZAF officer’s uniform and peaked cap |
 WWII RNZAF officer’s uniform and peaked cap |  WWII RNZAF officer’s uniform and peaked cap |
 WWII RNZAF officer’s uniform and peaked cap |  WWII RNZAF officer’s uniform and peaked cap |
 WWII RNZAF officer’s uniform and peaked cap |  WWII RNZAF officer’s uniform and peaked cap |
 WWII RNZAF officer’s uniform and peaked cap |  WWII RNZAF officer’s uniform and peaked cap |
 WWII RNZAF officer’s uniform and peaked cap |