SALES May 2022

Ultra-rare AAF prototype Type T-3 Armor Helmet for aircrew.

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One of the rarest items of flying headgear I have ever come across, this T-3 Armor Helmet was the prototype of the Grow helmet. The design originated in England by Colonel Malcolm Grow, Flight Surgeon with the 8th Air Force and production of leather covered examples was undertaken by Wilkinson Sword; examples were sent back to the States for evaluation and Fox Chase Knitting Mills was awarded a contract to produce just 2,500 of these helmets, with fabric instead of leather covering, and designated T-3. Once proven during combat tests, it was designated M-4 (as was the British made leather covered version).  This is the only example of a T-3 I have ever seen. Basically in great condition, except for rust staining to the fabric from storage, however, the fabric is not damaged or weak. The leather strap is also in great shape. A fantastic opportunity to own an extremely rare prototype helmet.

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SOLD

Superb Photo and document grouping to WWI US Army Air Service aviator with service overseas.

Includes a superb portrait in uniform, 9" x 7" in a period frame, plus a smaller print of the same image; enlistment documents and certificate of appointment dated November 1st, 1918 in Eastbourne, Sussex, England. There are also 77 small but significant photos all showing service life, transit, aircraft, crashes, etc.; his sergeant rank chevron with Air Service emblem (single), printed letter from Pershing; squadron roster with all contact information (224th Aero Squadron). Lovely grouping worthy of research.

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SOLD

Photos and documents to a fallen US Air Service flier.

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Framed 10" x 8" orginal photograph of US Air Service aviator Lt. William B. Petersen, who was killed in a flying accident France on July 2, 1918 while serving as a scout pilot. The framed photo shows Petersen with his squadron, posed on a car and is a fantastic, high quality professional image by Orren Jack Turner. Petersen is secod from left in the picture. With the photo are two newspaper cuttings about him, his certificate of training and his honorable death certificate, plus a memorium card. There are 4 smaller photos of Petersen in his Nieuport fighter and the crash. Superb grouping.

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SOLD

WWII Fleet Air Arm Type C helmet, second pattern (for internal wiring loom) in excellent condition.

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First internally wired pattern Navy Type C flying helmet (so-called 3-strap model) with a fully-enclosed internal loom. No wiring loom is fitted, and condition of helmet suggests that perhaps it has never had one installed. Rubber telephone holders with built-in Gosport entry tubes are excellent and inc,ude the small rubber covers for the entry ports. I have fitted a pair of NOS Canadian-made sponge cushions to help retain the shape of the zipped housings. Leather excellent, chamois lining extremely clean, showing little or no wear, though there is the sign that a name was written in (in typical naval style of large block letters), but difficult to interpret. Leather pullers are still fitted to the zips and chin strap is fully elastic. Looks like a size 2 (medium) and it comfortably fits a standard male feature styrofoam head. Finding any wartime production helmet in such good condition is a bit of a rarity these days. An exceptional example. 

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SOLD

Collar strap for the early wartime RAF Irvin jacket.

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Black elastic "collar strap" for the Irvin jacket. Fitted to the small eyelets on the back of the Irvin jacket collar to help hold the collar upright while flying in drafty conditions or open cockpit aircraft. Strap is in good condition, though it has lost most of its elasticity and is slightly faded. A difficult accessory to find.

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SOLD

RAF Type C* (C-star) flying helmet size 4 (largest) with provision for safety visor.

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Excellent used example of the rare late/post war version of the Type C helmet, catalogued as the Type C*. The helmet was modified by installing a shorter cord fitted with a quick disconnect plug. This was specially designed for use in early jet aircraft fitted with ejector seats. This helmet has further been modified by adding a single snap/stud to the brow for mounting a pivoting visor - this was also intended for use during ejection, to protect the pilot's face. The visor had a strap, similar to Mk VIII goggles, which was secured at the back of the helmet by the leather goggle straps. Later versions had 3 snaps (one on  each side as well as the one to the front). This example is in very good condition, with excellent leather and rubber earcups. The chamois lining is slightly grubby from use (and hair cream) but is well marked and a huge size 4, the largest size made. Also included is the scarce extension cord which enabled the helmet to be worn in conventional aircraft using the bell-shaped plug. A very rare and often overlooked variation of the ubiquitous Type C.

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SOLD

Extremely rare Luftwaffe LKpW100 flying helmet complete with all communications.

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One of the rarest and most highly sought after early Luftwaffe flying helmets, first worn in the mid 1930s and the mainstay of LW aircrews during the Battle of Britain, along with its companion summer version. The LKpW100 model featured brown enameled metal earphone housings (not bakelite as is often misstated) and integral throat microphones without the comfort nape pad found on the later LKpW101.  This example is without  any official nomenclature label but instead just has a tailor's label showing manufacture by Striegel & Wagner, one of the major suppliers of early Luftwaffe flying kit.  It does however have a LBA stamp on one chin strap. The Mi4a throat microphones utilize a type of closure/adjustment I have not come across before, with a sliding gripper buckle similar to that found on the crown of the helmet for fitting the oxygen mask top-strap. The fact that it has the tailor's label but no nomenclature label perhaps suggests this was a trial pattern produced by S & W which was later pressed into use (hence the LBA mark). A rare and possibly unique version of an extremely rare flying helmet.

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SOLD

RCAF 1940 dated other ranks' service dress uniform jacket with faux French cuffs.

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RCAF other ranks service dress uniform jacket, with rank of flight sergeant and excellent embroidered Canada/USA shoulder eagles on both sleeves (Eagles correctly facing to the rear). Made by Ritchie, Farber & Co. of Toronto and dated 1940. This is an early style jacket and features the faux French cuffs (literally a double row of machine stitching on each sleeve, intended to look like a turned back cuff). Very good condition, with some light staining inside, mostly from things carried in the pockets, and one very small hole on the front, above the left breast pocket.  The faux French cuffs were phased out on all RAF and Commonwealth uniforms in 1940 and, and examples are quite scarce and highly desirable.

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SOLD

AAF officer's service dress uniform jacket, privately tailored in England.

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Privately tailored WWII AAF officer's service dress uniform jacket made from olive gaberdine wool, with integral belt. Label reads "Tailored by Brown & Haigh, England" with an official acceptance mark on the inside of the pocket. Light wear, with no serious damage. Top button detached but included in top pocket. Evidence of a circular patch having been sewn on left shoulder (most likely 8th Air Force) and name inked on label reads Bowter or Bowier – needs research. A nice English made uniform worthy of research and replacing the insignia.

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SOLD

Luftwaffe LKpW101 flying helmet complete with rare fur lining.

The standard issue winter flying helmet for the Luftwaffe throughout WWII in exceptional condition, this particular model having the extremely rare rabbit fur lining. Though not an uncommon helmet, the fur lined variety is seldom encountered, and this example is in absolutely first class condition; the leather is superb with none of the usual scuffing on the hard ear pieces, and the woven interior label bears the full manufacturer's name, dating it at 1940 or earlier. It is a size 56 and fits a standard display head comfortably. Fur lining is excellent, and the helmet has not been "butchered" by removing one set of the snap fasteners on the strap of the Mi4c carbon throat microphones, a common practice after 1941. Fitted with receivers and undamaged acetate inserts, and an interesting mid-length cord and plug. A lovely example of a rare variant of this iconic Luftwaffe helmet.

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SOLD

Scarce original single USA shoulder tab for RAF uniform.

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Very scarce  original USA shoulder tab (single) for the RAF uniform as worn by "Yanks in the RAF."  Light blue silk on  blue barathea for an officer - 100% original.

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SOLD

RAF issue Sea Boot Socks in excellent condition.

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Classic "Sea Boot Socks" synonymous with Battle of Britain fighter pilots but issued and worn by most RAF aircrews. No holes or worn spots, these show little if any wear at all. Markings have faded except for a  faint broad arrow and what looks like size 11. Look great inside any RAF flying boots.

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SOLD

RAF Type D summer flying helmet. 1944 issue for internal wiring.

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Excellent example of the Type D flying helmet, for desert and hot weather use, in a large size 3. Very clean, showing little if any actual use, the tan cotton shell and satin lining in superb condition, the rubber earcups soft and pliable. The lining has pulled through on the snaps inside the back but this is nothing serious and quite usual. Good chin strap with lots of elasticity. Nicely marked on the left side with broad arrow and stores ref. information, as well as on the inside with size and a handwritten name "Monty" with service number. Can be fitted with either a RAF internal wiring cord or USAAF HS-38 with ANB-H-1 receivers – helmet was popular with both British and US flyers.

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SOLD

RAF Flight Observer brevet / half-wing.

Superb RAF Observer brevet/half-wing which was really replaced by the Navigator brevet circa 1942 but still remained popular with those who had qualified as Observers earlier. This is a lovely, early example in cream coloured silk on dark blue wool, heavily padded with a tan linen backing fabric. 

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SOLD

RAF bomb aimer half-wing brevet.

Typical WWII production, a lovely, heavily padded bomb aimer brevet in ecru silk on melton wool with a reddish brown wreath and cotton backing. Slight stain to tip of wing which I have not attempted to clean - doesn't detract from appearance and may clean off if desired.

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SOLD

AAF AN6530 flying goggles by Fischer Spring.

Excellent pair of these iconic US issue goggles worn by both USAAF and US Navy pilots and flight crews. This is the first decent 100% original set I have seen in quite a while. Excellent original one-piece rubber cushion, great frames with no dings or dents, clean clear lenses and original black elastic strap with lots of elasticity still in it.  Nicely marked to bridge and with Fischer Spring manufacturing data engraved under the left side of the frame. Show only light use - chamois backing with light stains. 

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SOLD

RAF Mk VII Flying Goggles.

A very decent, displayable set of Mk VII goggles in above average condition. These seem to be getting quite difficult to find these days. The frames are straight and tight with only minor dings and no major distortion, and still have about 85-90% of their painted blue finish. Lenses are good, with no chips and little sign of delamination. Leather nose-piece and pads are dry but in good shape. The padding has crumbled somewhat inside the pads, but this in no way detracts from their appearance. Even the elastic webbing strap still had a little bit of stretch to it.  Overall a good, used pair that would look great on a helmet.

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SOLD