Vintage Flying Helmets
Aviation, military and historical items for discerning collectors
SALES April 2022
(click on pictures to enlarge)
RCAF First model zip ear flying helmet (same pattern as British Type B).
Very good example of the first model RCAF flying helmet, which used the exact same pattern as the British made Type B helmet (the second, more common Canadian model simplified the pattern to fewer pieces for faster production). This pattern is quite scarce. Beautiful glove soft leather in a light brown colour with a clean chamois lining. Has two names inked inside and a great set of RCAF sponge pads inside the ears. Often referred to as a "Canadian Type B". Small size but fits perfectly on a male feature display head. Note: goggles shown in last picture are not included but are offered for sale separately.
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RAF Mk II First Aid Outfit - opened but complete with all contents.
Excellent example of the early Mk II First Aid Outfit carried by all RAF aircrews and pilots. This example has been opened by making a vertical incision down one side and carefully fastened using the safety pins included. All the original contents are complete and present - which is unusual. Excellent condition; the cellophane wrapping on the burn mittens somewhat fragile and split but everything else is intact. Large wound dressing dated November 1938. No overseas shipping.
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RAF Type G oxygen mask in very good used condition.
Very good RAF Type G oxygen mask - now becoming extremely difficult to source. This example is in very good overall condition, with one very minor trouble spot. A very small piece of rubber has broken away from the area to the back of the expiration valve (left cheek - see photos). This cannot even be seen when displayed and is covered up by the strap. Elsewhere, the rubber is superb—pliable, retaining its shape well and showing no signs of the usual deterioration in 80-year old rubber. But for this tiny are it would rate "excellent" condition. The lugs holding the nosewire and strap are strong; suede lining is clean, strap retains elasticity if slightly soiled. Nice early "flat-8" type clip. A very good mask fitted with a good Type 57 microphone - minor paint loss to edge.
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RAF MK VIII goggle strap in unissued condition.
Spare or replacement strap for the wartime RAF Mk VIII flying goggles in excellent, unused condition. Blue grey elastic strap still has its full elasticity, leather in excellent condition. Some minor oxidation to the metal fittings and rust stains from storage. It has an Air Ministry ink stamp which I believe has been added - but does not detract - this is guaranteed 100% original. A very difficult accessory to find.
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Superb AAF custom made chocolate "Ike" jacket by Burberry of London.
Fabulous custom made "Ike" jacket (named after Eisenhower who adopted the British battledress style jacket). Very high quality chocolate wool, made by Burberry. All insignia removed but named inside to Major J.J. Doyle and dated 6.6.44. Could easily be researched and fully restored with the correct badges and insignia for display. A beautiful jacket which is custom tailored by the famed London clothier, not cut down from a 4-pocket tunic as many were. Excellent condition.
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AAF English made 4-pocket tunic 8th Air Force.
Excellent tailored gaberdine wool 4-pocket officer's tunic, English made and labeled, named to G.E. Ware and dated 1943. Attached belt and buckle. Retains a lovely felt embroidered 8th Air Force shoulder patch, US and winged prop. collar devices and medal ribbons for DFC, Air Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters, Defence medal and European, Africa and Middle East campaign with 4 stars + blue ribbon for unit citation. Lacks wings and rank insignia, which is the way I received it, but these could be replaced with research. 4 overseas service stripes to left sleeve. Has had buttons removed, but these are present in the pocket. A superb example of a British made, custom tailored jacket, the label indicating New Bond Co. Ltd. and a broad arrow mark. Very good condition with minor wear. A scarce tunic.
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Early WWII US Army Song Book.
Dated 1941, this small 4.5" x 6" booklet has 62 pages packed with songs about army life, including many that would probably be banned in today's sanitized world! Great condition, with minor creases to the top corner and a tiny 1/8" split on back cover. A great accessory for any army or Air Corps display.
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RARE US Special Forces Green Beret named to a Vietnam era sniper.
1972 dated green beret manufactured by Dorothea Knitting Mills, Toronto, Canada (as were all US green berets), named to D. Maclean. Inside are several notations in white: SAT CONG (kill Cong) and OSOK (one-shot-one-kill) with cross hairs and tally of what looks like 43 kills. This is from an old collection and needs a lot more research than I can provide, but insignia appears to be genuine and beret is 100% correct. A superb and extremely rare item for the Vietnam collector.
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RAF Type G Flying Helmet in green cotton, dated 1990 and size 4.
The often undervalued and underrated Type G helmet was first issued in the mid 1950s and continued in service until the 1990s. Initially designed to be worn under the Mk I "bone dome" it could also be worn alone and remained ever popular with the crews of transport and reconnaissance aircraft throughout its service life as a more comfortable alternative to just a headset. This example is one of the last made, and is in virtually mint condition. The green fabric is impeccable and the white leather ear pads are unblemished. Fully wired with receivers and plugs and size 4, the largest size produced.
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Extremely rare Fleet Air Arm flight deck handler's working overalls, plus helmet and gloves.
One of the most difficult items of naval flight related clothing! These one-piece overalls were specially designed for and issued to flight deck crews on aircraft carriers working in the sub-zero temperatures of the North Atlantic. The navy blue overalls are made from very heavy waterproofed canvas/denim and feature a short mandarin collar, full-length front zip with a wind-flap behind it and a full waist belt. One large flapped pocket to the left breast. Cuffs and ankles buttoned for a tight fit. Deck crews wore distinctive coloured helmets with these suits depending on their trade, for recognition and visibility: yellow, red, blue, green etc. to distinguish armourers, mechanics, batsmen, fire control, RATOG loaders etc. (See additional wartime photos showing deck crews wearing these overall and bright helmets while servicing Seafires). Some also wore matching armlets for visibility. Included is a blue helmet and also a pair of anti-flash gloves suggesting this deck hander was perhaps handling ordnance and munitions. Suit is well marked inside and dated 1945. Helmet is marked Size 2 large. Gloves are dated 1943 and still sewn together. All three items are in outstanding, unissued condition and make a fabulous display for any Fleet Air Arm collection. It is also possible that pilots and aircrews may have obtained these suits in preference to the Sidcot, since they would be very warm and practical - and could be mistaken for prestige suits in old photos.
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RAF K dinghy pack - Mae West connector, both male and female parts.
Unissued 2-part connector for attaching the K-dinghy pack to the Mae West. Patented spring release operation allows for easy disconnect but prevents accidental separation. Smaller female end was attached to Mae West and longer section was attached to the K-Dinghy pack. Very hard to find accessory.
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Fleet Air Arm second pattern (for internal wiring) Type C flying helmet in size 4.
Superb example of the late war Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm version of the Type C flying helmet, in a very scarce size 4 (largest size made). Helmet shows almost no wear and is in perfect condition, the leather and chamois both like new, and retains its rubber telephone holders with built-in ports for Gosport tubes. Original sponge rubber donuts are also fitted (one has a small piece missing but does not detract and still pads the zip housings perfectly). This would be very difficult to upgeade.
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Early RAF Type B flying helmet in outstanding condition.
A nice early RAF Type B helmet which I believe was manufactured by Compton Sons & Webb, judging by the evidence that a large, square label was once attached inside the crown - removed per Air Ministry orders and replaced with a simple ink stamp. (The construction also corresponds to another Compton Webb helmet in my collection). It is labeled as size 1, which if so, is the largest size 1 I have ever come across! It fits a display head like a 2 or even a 3, so my guess is it was incorrectly stamped after the label was removed. Condition is excellent, the leather and chamois both superb, soft and pliable and very clean, Bennett buckles retaining leather covering, chin strap with metal tip, telephone housings with leather pullers on the zips, rubber telephone holders present. Mint RCAF sponge pads installed to hold their shape. A lovely helmet which would be difficult to upgrade.
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RCAF sponge rubber pads for zip ear pockets on Type B and Naval Type C flying helmets.
Original WWII stock. Black sponge rubber cushions fit inside the zip ear pockets of the Type B and Naval Type C helmets to provide noise attenuation and padding. For some reason the Canadian made types have better longevity and therefore do not harden and damage the leather and electrics of the helmet. Lovely matched pair, unissued perfect condition.
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RAF jet helmet attachment hooks for Oxygen Mask.
A nice matching pair of hooks, listed and marked as "Harness Mk 5" for attaching the various oxygen masks to the Type G flying helmet. Most often found with the Types P and Q masks but also used for the A-13A-2 and others.
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RAF / MI9 2-piece trouser button escape compass.
In superb condition and still working well as a compass, this 2-piece trouser button set would have been sewn on the blouse or trousers of a suits aircrew or war service dress uniform. The "base" button has a small spike built in on which the second magnetized button would rest and rotate, the double dot pointing to magnetic north. Painted black so as to look like standard RAF uniform trouser buttons.
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WWII RAF officer's service dress uniform jacket and matching trousers, flight lieutenant.
Nice wartime RAF officer's service dress uniform jacket and trousers which are a perfect match. While the blue-grey barathea was prescribed in King Regs, there is invariably slight variations in weave and colour from one tailor to the next, so to find a perfect matched set is quite unusual. These came together and how little or no wear and no sign of insignia except for the Flt Lieutenant rank lace.
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AAF officer's green 4-pocket tunic 13th AF.
2nd Lt. green 4-pocket dress tunic with collar devices, 2nd Lt. "butter" bars and 13th AF patch. Great to fill a hole or for re-enacting. Tailored by Frank Bros. of San Antonio with a name label inside the pocket but no name written in. No wear or damage, excellent condition.
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RAF 1940 Pattern Flying Boots modified to 1941 pattern.
A truly exceptional pair of 1940 pattern flying boots in outstanding condition, showing light use but no wear or damage. The suede is largely clean, the fleece lining is spotless and the rubber coating is as pliable as they it was applied, with no hardening, cracking or flaking as is usually seen. Zips run smoothly and tongues are present and well marked with AID stamp. Perhaps best of all, these are true 1940 pattern boots which have had the ankle straps added later, probably in the factory but perhaps in the field. They are sewn a little higher than the standard practice. The boots have a lovely crisp Air Ministry stamp, but the original stores ref. information has been removed and the new 22C number hand-written in its place. 1940 boots are getting harder to find in this kind of condition and those which have been modified have always been scarce. This is a lovely pair of boots in a good size 9 UK (size 10 US).
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Luftwaffe enlisted man's belt and buckle.
Very good example of a Luftwaffe enlisted man's belt and belt buckle. Blackened leather belt shows use but no wear or damage - marked size 95. Buckle with eagle/wreath retains 90% original dark painted finish, with minor wear on the high spots. Oddly no tab on buckle (either removed or never there) but doesn't affect functionality. It might be a Heer (Army) belt modified for Luftwaffe use, but if so, this was done a long time ago.
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RAF Sea Boot socks for wear with flying boots.
Excellent pair of off-white RAF issue Sea Boot socks as worn during the Battle of Britain by fighter pilots and throughout the war by bomber crews in an effort to keep warm. Heavy wool socks with cable-knit reinforced heel and foot areas. Show no use just very slightly grubby from storage. Even though they did not come together, these would go perfectly with the above boots!
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Extremely rare RAF Ops Room table markers, raid block tiles and counters.
Ultra-rare markers, tiles and counters recently acquired from storage at a former RAF station. These were vital tools that were used to track and measure aircraft activity in Southern England during the Battle of Britain. The numbered tiles fitted on "Raid Blocks", pushed around on large table-top maps. Counters and arrows were laid on the map to indicate numbers and direction of flight, each colour denoting a specific group and their time in the air (corresponding to colour segments on the ops room clock). Black name tiles hung on wall charts signaling where the activity was taking place. Priced singly or as a job lot.
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Early wartime RAF pilot's wing.
Lovely example of a later 1930s / early wartime RAF pilot wing. Heavily padded, with cream silk embroidered wings, crown and cipher with orangey brown wreath, on fine melton wool background with a coarse hessian/burlap backing. They appear to have been sewn on but are in excellent condition and a perfect display example.
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RARE RAF mask tube/hose for high-altitude flight PLUS extremely rare secondary tube + attachment for emergency bale-out oxygen supply.
Extremely rare oxygen mask accessory. The high altitude tube (hose) attached to either the G or H mask for use by aircrews baling out at extreme height requiring emergency oxygen for their descent. Standard corrugated tube with an extension featuring a narrow bayonet attachment for the thinner tube inserted between tube and connector with clothing clip. Brass connector is nicely Air Ministry marked. This variation of the mask hose is a rarity in itself - but the additional thin connecting tube which attaches to the emergency oxygen supply (carried in a pocket on the seat type parachute pack) is ultra-rare; in over 30 years this is the first I have ever seen. Approximately 3 ft. (92cm) long. Not to be confused with the walk around bottle which has a fatter, shorter hose.
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1930s publication - Aero Engineering Charts with data on 50 British aircraft.
Excellent manual/dossier on mid-late 1930s aircraft, featuring scale drawings, cutaways or photographs of 50+ types, including fighters, bombers, flying boats, transports, trainers and reconnaissance aircraft. 50 separate folded sheets, each 11.75" x 8.75" (30cm x 22cm) in a hardback folder. In excellent condition, with slight age toning to pages.
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Extremely rare RAF first model Type C flying helmet with up/down goggle strap tabs and 2 snap fasteners for the Type E oxygen mask.
One of the rarest of RAF flying helmets - considerably more scarce than the Type B -because the basic design was changed after the early production run. This is the first model of the first pattern of the unwired (or externally wired) Type C helmets, featuring "up-and-down" fore and aft goggle strap tabs and just two male snap fasteners on each side for the early Type E oxygen mask. The helmet also has a woven Air Ministry spac. label inside as well as the stamped A-crown-M into the leather on the left lower cheek. Leather is very good, chamois is grubby but no damage. Rubber earcups still have their shape and are still pliable (left sightly firmer than the right). Bennett buckle has its leather covering and chin strap retains its metal "V" tip. Snaps retain brown coating. Very difficult to find these days.
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Rare and possibly unique RAF Type F flying helmet prototype.
Extremely rare and perhaps one-of-a-kind prototype of the RAF Type F flying helmet, service tested in 1950 as a replacement for the Type C. It was not adopted until 1954 and was quickly upstaged/replaced by the improved Type G. This prototype differs from the issue model of the Type F in several ways. First of all, it was cut to a similar pattern as the Type C, except that the receiver housings were mounted inside the helmet instead of externally (note: the large oval pads found on issue F and G helmets will NOT fit in this prototype). It is made from white airtex fabric with snaps and a built-in mask hook as per the Type C, and used the same chin strap as the Type C. Helmet is tagged as being 1950 prototype but tag is dated 1960-something so it was evidently still considered serviceable at that time. Excellent condition and ex-large size. Showing only light use. A fabulous opportunity for the early 50s jet helmet collector.
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Fantastic set of two RAF pilot log books to a special ops pilot with 267 squadron.
Two log books to RAF pilot Flt. Sgt (later W/O) R.G. Drew who began had his flight training in Canada with the EFTS then to Texas with the BFTS. He became a ferry pilot delivering numerous aircraft all over the ETO. In 1944 he joined 267 squadron flying special ops from Bari, Italy to Yugoslavia and all over southern Europe. 267 was one of the clandestine squadrons which flew agents and supplies to the Partisans and other resistance groups. A fascinating pair of log books with many interesting signatures and full of missions. Entries include many supply drops and "Supplies and personnel." Very high risk ops, well worthy of research. After VE Day he went with 267 to the Far East to continue special ops. Minor water staining on covers, no damage or staining inside. Includes a large photo of his training class in Texas.
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