Vintage Flying Helmets
Aviation, Military & Historical Items for Discerning Collectors
8 carded wartime (King's Crown) Royal Marines uniform buttons + 2 RM rank pips.
4 large gilt tunic buttons, 2 domed small buttons and 2 small pocket buttons for a Royal Marines Artillery service dress uniform, plus 2 beautiful gilt enamelled shoulder rank pips. All with King's Crown. Some patina/oxidation on a couple of them (see photos) but very nicel examples, various makers in London and Portsmouth.
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$45 / £35 / €42
 8 wartime (King's Crown) Royal Marines uniform buttons + 2 RM rank pips |  8 wartime (King's Crown) Royal Marines uniform buttons + 2 RM rank pips |
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 8 wartime (King's Crown) Royal Marines uniform buttons + 2 RM rank pips |  8 wartime (King's Crown) Royal Marines uniform buttons + 2 RM rank pips |
 8 wartime (King's Crown) Royal Marines uniform buttons + 2 RM rank pips |  8 wartime (King's Crown) Royal Marines uniform buttons + 2 RM rank pips |
 8 wartime (King's Crown) Royal Marines uniform buttons + 2 RM rank pips |  8 wartime (King's Crown) Royal Marines uniform buttons + 2 RM rank pips |
Uniforms / Hats and Clothing - British & Commonwealth
(click on pictures to enlarge)
WAAF other ranks service dress cap with photo of owner, WD label dated 1944.
WAAF uniform items are much more difficult to source than their male counterparts, since the WAAF was such a small branch of the service. This is a lovely service dress cap, made from high quality wool. The peak shows some surface crazing but nothing serious; chin strap is very good, lining is also very good. WD ink stamp indicates a date of 1944 and, through difficult to photograph, the inside of the crown clearly shows a WD broad arrow, size 7 and date of 1944. Hat came with an original wartime photograph of the owner, named to the reverse. Definitely could be researched. Overall a very nice cap.
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$440 / £325 / €385
 WAAF other ranks service dress cap with photo of owner, WD label dated 1944. |  WAAF other ranks service dress cap with photo of owner, WD label dated 1944. |
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 WAAF other ranks service dress cap with photo of owner, WD label dated 1944. |  WAAF other ranks service dress cap with photo of owner, WD label dated 1944. |
 WAAF other ranks service dress cap with photo of owner, WD label dated 1944. |  WAAF other ranks service dress cap with photo of owner, WD label dated 1944. |
 WAAF other ranks service dress cap with photo of owner, WD label dated 1944. |  WAAF other ranks service dress cap with photo of owner, WD label dated 1944. |
 WAAF other ranks service dress cap with photo of owner, WD label dated 1944. |
RAF / RNZAF officer's service dress peaked (visor) cap.
Very nice wartime RAF officer's service dress cap, a recent acquisition from New Zealand which, though not attributed, was owned by an officer of the RNZAF. Shows very little wear and has a lovely shape – turned down at the sides like a "crusher" – complete with beautiful, heavily padded bullion badge and narrow leather chin strap. There a couple of very tiny moth holes on the top of the peak and on the crown, and a couple of minor wear spots underneath the visor, but nothing that seriously detracts from what is a lovely cap (and hardly show ion display - see photos). Good size 7-1/8, Roan leather sweatband, diamond shaped tailor's label (now absent), good chin strap with original buttons. A nice example of a cap that was "there".
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$235 / £175 / €210
 RAF / RNZAF officer's peaked (visor) cap |  RAF / RNZAF officer's peaked (visor) cap |
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 RAF / RNZAF officer's peaked (visor) cap |  RAF / RNZAF officer's peaked (visor) cap |
 RAF / RNZAF officer's peaked (visor) cap |  RAF / RNZAF officer's peaked (visor) cap |
RAF Other Ranks Service Dress tunic belt and buckle.
Often missing from RAF OR service dress uniforms. Blue wool serge belt with brass 2-prong buckle. 3 sets of holes. Excellent condition. Wartime period.​
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$55 / £42 / €50
 RAF Other Ranks Service Dress tunic belt and buckle |  RAF Other Ranks Service Dress tunic belt and buckle |
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 RAF Other Ranks Service Dress tunic belt and buckle |  RAF Other Ranks Service Dress tunic belt and buckle |
Royal Navy officer's working dress blouse
The Royal Navy equivalent of "battledress" – introduced in 1944 after much petitioning, primarily by members of the Fleet Air Arm, who found wearing their double-breasted dress uniforms impractical for flying duties – hence this is effectively a FAA aircrew uniform item (ordinary seamen aviators had a different version without the guilt buttons). This example is in excellent condition and appears unissued and unworn. Dark blue wool serge with gilt buttons and patch pockets. There are a couple of tiny moth nips which are mostly to the back of the shoulders or under the arm and not seen when displayed or worn. ​
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$280 / £215 / €255
 Royal Navy officer's working dress blouse |  Royal Navy officer's working dress blouse |
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 Royal Navy officer's working dress blouse |  Royal Navy officer's working dress blouse |
 Royal Navy officer's working dress blouse |  Royal Navy officer's working dress blouse |
Indian made 1944 dated RAF issue battledress blouse in khaki Aertex cotton fabric (same as the bush jacket).
Excellent, unissued example of the tropical battledress blouse made from the same khaki Aertex cotton as the bush shirt / jacket. These were usually worn with shorts and were popular among all branches of the armed forces, including the RAF, replacing the old KD jackets. Nicely stamped inside with typical Indian factory markings and a date of 1944. This is the 6 button front version. Excellent condition and quite scarce.​
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$155 / £125 / €150
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 Indian made 1944 dated RAF issue battledress blouse in khaki Aertex cotton fabric (same as the bush |  Indian made 1944 dated RAF issue battledress blouse in khaki Aertex cotton fabric (same as the bush |
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 Indian made 1944 dated RAF issue battledress blouse in khaki Aertex cotton fabric (same as the bush |  Indian made 1944 dated RAF issue battledress blouse in khaki Aertex cotton fabric (same as the bush |
 Indian made 1944 dated RAF issue battledress blouse in khaki Aertex cotton fabric (same as the bush |  Indian made 1944 dated RAF issue battledress blouse in khaki Aertex cotton fabric (same as the bush |
RAF blue grey wool scarf.
Knitted wool scarf which was issued as part of the uniform in colder and temperate climates, but also frequently worn on ops by aircrew for extra warmth under the flying clothing. Double thick layer of wool, sewn at both ends, measures approx. 40" x 7". Excellent condition, barring a few small holes / moth nips which really don't show up too much. One of those great accessories that are never easy to find.
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$85 / £68 / €80
 RAF blue grey wool scarf |  RAF blue grey wool scarf |
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 RAF blue grey wool scarf |
8 carded wartime (King's Crown) Royal Marines uniform buttons + 2 RM rank pips.
4 large gilt tunic buttons, 2 domed small buttons and 2 small pocket buttons for a Royal Marines Artillery service dress uniform, plus 2 beautiful gilt enamelled shoulder rank pips. All with King's Crown. Some patina/oxidation on a couple of them (see photos) but very nicel examples, various makers in London and Portsmouth.
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$45 / £35 / €42
8 wartime (King's Crown) Royal Marines uniform buttons + 2 RM rank pips | 8 wartime (King's Crown) Royal Marines uniform buttons + 2 RM rank pips |
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8 wartime (King's Crown) Royal Marines uniform buttons + 2 RM rank pips | 8 wartime (King's Crown) Royal Marines uniform buttons + 2 RM rank pips |
8 wartime (King's Crown) Royal Marines uniform buttons + 2 RM rank pips | 8 wartime (King's Crown) Royal Marines uniform buttons + 2 RM rank pips |
8 wartime (King's Crown) Royal Marines uniform buttons + 2 RM rank pips | 8 wartime (King's Crown) Royal Marines uniform buttons + 2 RM rank pips |
RAF mess dress uniform trousers, named and dated 1939.
Excellent pair of pre-war RAF mess dress trousers i fine barathea wool, tailored by Gieves for L.H.M. Hely and dated 4/39. Complete with all buttons. There is some minor moth damage; one 1/4-inch nip and a series of 5 or 6 pinhead size holes down the outside of the right leg, spaced about 4 inches apart, that are difficult to see. There is another tiny hole on the outside of the left leg and a couple of holes just below the waistline (would most likely be concealed by the jacket). None of it is very serious and practically invisible from a few feet away. Nice early date with a name to research and of course expertly tailored.
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$100 / £78 / €92
 RAF officer's mess dress trousers |  RAF officer's mess dress trousers |
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 RAF officer's mess dress trousers |  RAF officer's mess dress trousers |
 RAF officer's mess dress trousers |
WWII issue Service Dress tunic to a Warrant Officer pilot.
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WWII issue Service Dress tunic to a Warrant Officer pilot. Officer quality tailoring from fine barathea wool, yet this is an issue uniform rather than privately tailored. While officers were generally expected to provide their own uniforms from private tailors, other ranks and NCOs, being less well paid, were supplied from RAF stores. Since Warrant Officers were senior NCOs who wore officers' uniforms, they were provided with officer quality materials. These were not common and don't turn up on the collector market all that often. Though not named, this Warrant Officer's SD tunic is a beautiful example of an issue "officer grade" uniform, and includes a lovely well-padded pilot wing brevet.
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$250 / £190 / €230
 RAF Warrant Officer pilot's service dress tunic |  RAF Warrant Officer pilot's service dress tunic |
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 DSCN2068 |  IMG_7139 |
 RAF Warrant Officer pilot's service dress tunic |  RAF Warrant Officer pilot's service dress tunic |
RAF 1937 pattern webbing set with belt, cross-straps, canteen, Webley holster and ammo pouch.
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Very nice RAF 1937 pattern webbing set, with all components showing equal wear, with owner's service number on belt, cross-straps and canteen cover, holster dated 1943 and ammo pouch dated 1942. Canteen cover is dated 1942. Other markings are there but faded. All hardware is made of brass with a good patina. Canteen is wool covered and retains original cork. A very nice set which will display well on a RAF tunic or uniform. RAF webbing is getting harder to find these days.
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$250 / £205 / €230
 RAF 1937 webbing set with canteen |  RAF 1937 webbing set with canteen |
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 RAF 1937 webbing set with canteen |  RAF 1937 webbing set with canteen |
 RAF 1937 webbing set with canteen |  RAF 1937 webbing set with canteen |
 RAF 1937 webbing set with canteen |  RAF 1937 webbing set with canteen |
 RAF 1937 webbing set with canteen |  RAF 1937 webbing set with canteen |
 RAF 1937 webbing set with canteen |
RAF other ranks sidecap dated 1943.
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Excellent RAF other ranks' sidecap in excellent condition, showing virtually no wear. Maker marked and dated 1943. Size 6-1/2 so may have been issued to a WAAF (they also had the option to wear these). Perfect for display and has a lovely well polished badge and correct KC buttons.
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$75 / £60 / €68
 RAF / WAAF other ranks sidecap dated 1943 |  RAF / WAAF other ranks sidecap dated 1943 |
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 RAF / WAAF other ranks sidecap dated 1943 |  RAF / WAAF other ranks sidecap dated 1943 |
 RAF / WAAF other ranks sidecap dated 1943 |
Scarce RCAF KD tunic to BCATP (British Commonwealth Air Training Plan) Air Observer School.
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KD service dress tunic acquired directly from a RCAF veteran pilot who spent part of his service time as an instructor at Air Observers School #8, located at Ancienne Lorrette Airfield outside Quebec. Tunic is well-marked and dated 1942 and is fitted with scarce AOS (Air Observer School) buttons. BCATP items are scarce and would be well worth researching for more details.
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$125 / £105 / €118
 RCAF KD tunic with BCATP buttons - RARE |  RCAF KD tunic with BCATP buttons - RARE |
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 RCAF KD tunic with BCATP buttons - RARE |  RCAF KD tunic with BCATP buttons - RARE |
 RCAF KD tunic with BCATP buttons - RARE |  RCAF KD tunic with BCATP buttons - RARE |
 RCAF KD tunic with BCATP buttons - RARE |  RCAF KD tunic with BCATP buttons - RARE |
RAF War Service Dress blouse dated 1945, modified to open lay-flat collar.
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Quite a rare variation of the standard War Service Dress blouse. Dated 1945, this would have been manufactured and worn with a standing collar that could be fastened up to the neck. Some officers and senior NCOs would have their tailor modify the neck to an open "lay-flat" collar, which was finally introduced as standard in later, post-war patterns. This is an example of a wartime blouse which has been modified, very nicely (though somewhat roughly on the inside). It has also had some period repairs to the back, which again have been very nicely done so as to be almost invisible. An interesting and scarce modification. All good period insignia including a nice flat Navigator brevet.
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$300 / £220 / €265
 RAF navigator's war service dress blouse, 1945 dated, modified to lay flat collar |  RAF navigator's war service dress blouse, 1945 dated, modified to lay flat collar |
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 RAF navigator's war service dress blouse, 1945 dated, modified to lay flat collar |  RAF navigator's war service dress blouse, 1945 dated, modified to lay flat collar |
 RAF navigator's war service dress blouse, 1945 dated, modified to lay flat collarDSCN2550 |  RAF navigator's war service dress blouse, 1945 dated, modified to lay flat collar |
 RAF navigator's war service dress blouse, 1945 dated, modified to lay flat collar |
RCAF officer's Service Dress uniform jacket to an Air Gunner Flying Officer.
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Very nice, high quality RCAF officer's Service Dress jacket to a Flying Officer/Air Gunner. Very good condition showing only light wear, with a lovely RCAF Canadian made Air Gunner brevet. Good labels inside jacket but no sign of an owner's name.
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$175 / £205 / €245
 RCAF officer's Air Gunner service dress tunic |  RCAF officer's Air Gunner service dress tunic |
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 RCAF officer's Air Gunner service dress tunic |  RCAF officer's Air Gunner service dress tunic |
 RCAF officer's Air Gunner service dress tunic |  RCAF officer's Air Gunner service dress tunic |
 RCAF officer's Air Gunner service dress tunic |
WWII dated RAF PT Shorts.
A seldom found accessory for an airman's kit. Blue grey cotton shorts used with a white t-shirt for PT every morning. In very good condition. This airman had the good sense to replace the drawstring tie with elastic which retains its stretch. Size 36 waist and well marked with a 1942 date. Very good condition.
$50 / £35 / €42
 WWII era RAF PT shorts |  WWII era RAF PT shorts |
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 WWII era RAF PT shorts |
British Army officer's sidecap with Royal West Kent Regt. badge.
Excellent officer's sidecap with a beautiful slider-back cap badge of the Royal West Kent Regiment. No wear or damage but some staining to the interior. Badge and GS buttons appear to be WWI era and this may have belonged to someone serving in the Home Guard 1940-43.
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$85 / £65 / €73
 WWII British Army Sidecap |  WWII British Army Sidecap |
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 WWII British Army Sidecap |  WWII British Army Sidecap |
 WWII British Army Sidecap |  WWII British Army Sidecap |