Vintage Flying Helmets
Aviation, military and historical items for discerning collectors
SALES March 2022
(click on pictures to enlarge)
RCAF Mk III Flying Goggles dated 1942.
Excellent pair of Canadian made Mk III flying goggles, well-marked and dated 1942. The pads are still soft, frames with 95+% black painted finish, lenses good with one small area discoloured (looks worse in photos) and superb strap with all springs good. There is a service number written on the front pad but difficult to make out. Well above average condition. Note helmet not included but is available for sale separately.
SOLD
AAF Type A-3 chest-type parachute pack and T-ring/ripcord.
Very good USAAF Type A-3 parachute pack dated May 1944 - used by paratroopers as well as AAF aircrews and featuring the yellow code system (D-rings on pack correspond to hooks on harness). Excellent condition. No silk but has been realistically padded to look the part. Incldes T-ring and short ripcord for deploying, and complete set of correct bungee cords.
SOLD
WWII Royal Navy and Fleet Air Arm tropical summer dress white shorts.
Quite scarce these days. Royal Navy heavy cotton shorts for summer dress in tropical regions. Very good condition and very clean with all buttons, double waist buckle etc. and named to P. Lovatt.
SOLD
WWII SAAF officer's peaked cap.
An intriguing officer's cap, tailored to a very high standard. The base cap is navy blue - and looks like RAAF - but has a SAAF cap badge with red felt center. Khaki cover for summer/tropical use. Black patent leather chin strap and peak. Though non-regulation for SAAF it may have been all that was available in the field. An interesting and obviously period cap. Additional feedback is welcome.
SOLD
USAF 1950s ike jacket and trousers to Senior Pilot.
While many WWII AAF veterans who stayed in the service were literally dragged, kicking and screaming, into the new "US Air Force" and its blue uniforms, others accepted it but retained their insignia, rightfully, as badges of honor. This is such a uniform. A superb USAF blue ike jacket and trousers, c.1950, complete with senior pilot wings, a splendid and impressive rack of medal ribbons, and both 9th AF and CBI patches to proudly display his WWII service. Captain's bars and silver US collar devices. Wing is not sterling marked and star has been added separately (and does appear to have tarnished as silver would). Super large size. Represents the early jet age era well. The wing alone is worth the lion's share of the asking price.
SOLD
Luftwaffe flight log book to aircrewman with II/KG27.
Excellent and very complete flight log book to Gefreiter Rudi Ulmer (later Unteroffizier). Presumably he was an air gunner or radio operator - he wasn't a pilot. The log begins with training in 1940 and follows Ulmer to the Eastern front where he flew He III aircraft with II/KG27. There is a quite a lot of operational combat up to June 1942 and then he transfers to 4 Fliegerkorps Transportstaffel flying in Ju52 aircraft. In addition to the log book entries, Ulmer completed a highly detailed 4-page fold-out (found tucked inside the log book) detailing flights which also bears an official stamp. Perhaps his log book was lost for a period of time? Definitely needs some research. KG27 was one of the most active units on the Eastern Front.
SOLD
Collection of 8 photos of Luftwaffe pilots and crews in flying kit.
A selection of good photographs of Luftwaffe pilots and aircrews in uniform and flying kit. Some are studio images and a couple are well know press photos which still have their paper tags attached, but there are a few gems that have not been seen before. Largest is 7" x 5" and all are good quality.
SOLD
RAF flight engineer half-wing brevet.
Typical WWII production, a lovely, heavily padded flight engineer brevet in ecru silk on melton wool with a reddish brown wreath and cotton backing.
SOLD
RAF Mk VIII goggles in box with demist cloth, unissued and unused.
Absolutely superb pair of Mk VIII goggles in their original box as issued, with demisting cloth in its tin. Goggles are unissued and unworn, with perfect leather, undamaged frames and strap retaining it full elasticity, with no sign of oxidation on the metal fittings. Clear lenses showing almost no delamination. Box has a few dents but is intact There has been a lot of discussion on forums about whether flat edge frames were WWII production or not. These goggles have a flat (non-rolled) edge but in all other respects fit the pattern for WWII manufacture. High, heavily-padded cushions and raised 'slit" vents. They also have the unsewn bottom edge and the white ink stamp most often seen o WWII issue. There is evidence of an embossed stamp on the center pad which looks like it could be the A-crown-M mark - and the box is Air Ministry marked, both of which would indicate wartime production. Very difficult to find a pair in better condition.
SOLD
RAF Type H oxygen mask, dated 1953, in original box BUT rubber petrified solid.
At first glance, this H mask appears unissued and unused, but sadly due to poor storage conditions, the rubber has petrified and it has gone rock hard.
Still, it can be displayed as is in its box or even on a helmet - or used for spares. the harness is excellent, though lacking the left hand strap with the snap/stud fasteners. It does have its original rubber bands in place and has a cotton webbing tape attached, perhaps for wearing as a full harness. Never fitted with a microphone, nor with its expiration valve. Rubber is age toned to a great shade of green/brown.
SOLD
RAF 1932 pattern life vest (reproduction).
A very good replica of the ultra-rare 1932 pattern life vest made famous by fighter pilots in the Battle of Britain, but worn by all RAF aircrew from 1932 until 1941. Green fabric vest with 3 buttons and buckled webbing straps. Stencilled "instruction" markings to the front and a convincing Air Ministry label. Smooth working wartime style Lightning zip at the back of the collar. While this replica vest wouldn't fool an expert, it is very well made and will certainly fill a gap in a collection or anyone who doesn't have the money to spend on an original. Great for a re-enactor as well. Unused, unworn condition.
SOLD
Early one part floating signal lamp carried in RAF and FAA mae wests.
Very good, clean, complete example of the early, single part floating lamp carried by RAF and Fleet Air Arm aircrews. This model predates the two-piece wired type and is often seen in photos attached to the mae west before the lamp pocket was attached. The FAA continued its use because they favoured the red-lamp over the white lamp used on the two-piece model. This example still has 95+% of its paper label attached, as well as its line and the "testing key". Quite a scarce type.
SOLD
RAF Goldfish award badge and membership card to AAF airman with 384th BG with history + mission reports.
Fantastic and extremely rare Goldfish Club badge and membership card, named to Sgt. Robert L. Compton, Air Gunner on B-17F aircraft with the 384th BG, 8th Air Force. Badge is still stapled to the card, as it was presented to him. Rare to find a British card and badge awarded to to a US AAF airman - even rarer for a tail-gunner to survive a full tour! Comes with complete history of Sgt. Compton's 25 credited combat ops, with mission sortie reports for every op, including December 30, 1943, when his aircraft was forced to ditch in the English Channel after a raid on Ludwigshafen. There is also a photocopy photo of him with his full crew.
SOLD
RAF black cotton "Prestige" suit - superb replica.
Excellent and accurate replica of the extremely rare and highly sought after "prestige" flying suit in black cotton. So called "prestige" suits were worn by members of RAF display teams and individuals, usually selected from the top echelon of pilots, prior to the war. Many chose to wear them in combat to preserve their service dress uniforms, and the private makers offered them to those who could afford, usually the wealthier members of the Auxiliary Air Force. This included a number of fighter pilots who excelled during the Battle of Britain, hence the name "prestige" suit. While original examples—which were usually available in black, white and dark blue—are extremely rare, this modern replica is very accurate and detailed. Black cotton, with sleeve and legs zips as well as a full front zip, plus a zip-up thigh pocket and two lower leg pockets for maps, two flapped breast pockets and a full belt. Zips are extremely high quality and made by RiRi, a Swiss company which ironically also supplied zip fasteners to the Luftwaffe in WWII. It is quite likely however that a private "prestige" suit of the 1930s could have been fitted with RiRi fasteners. Excellent condition and will fill a gap in a collection at a fraction of the price of an original suit, also perfect for re-enacting.
SOLD
RAF B8 style aircraft control stick grip.
Not sure what aircraft this may have come from, but it is a basic US B-8 style grip and seller believes it is from a RAF helicopter, so possibly Sea King? Wessex? Whirlwind? they were licence built US types. It has a trigger and four fully operating buttons for weapons systems, radio contact etc. One button (top front, with yellow center) has broken top but still functions. Overall great condition. There is a small "G" in a shield to one side of the pistol grip and a serial number on the underside of the top button housing. If anyone can identify the aircraft, let me know! Control grips make great collectibles and are not easily sourced.
SOLD
WWII US Navy aircrew midshipman's visor cap plus a wonderful and extensive grouping of accessories all named with photos etc.
Hard-to-find accessories for completing a uniform display. Comprises white cotton kit bag which contains the following: Nice midshipman's visor cap fitted with khaki cover plus a complete set of cap covers: 3 white, one blue, one green (aviation) plus the waterproof cover. Green cover has some mothing but not too bad. Also includes several pairs of socks, 2 ties, 2 belts, set of unused USN buttons still in the box, superb hand-tinted photo of him wearing the cap, ID bracelet, fabulous Art Deco style leather wallet, medal ribbons, several old badges. Also includes a beautiful sterling set of boxed aircrew wings which came with this set and were originally listed separately. All items are named to F.G. Buehler (or FGB), except kit bag which is named to Robert Buehler - perhaps a relative? This is how it arrived so I don't want to break it up.
SOLD
Cold War era German military "walkie-talkie" two way radio.
My guess is this is from the 1960s or early 1970s. Very similar to the WWII pattern two-way radio but slightly streamlined. Complete and includes the full length antenna which is often missing or broken. No idea if it works (you'd need another one to fnd out!) but it is in great condition.
SOLD