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French L'Armee De L'Air Superieur Summer Visor Cap - This if of the 1929 pattern and we purchased this cap from same collection as the winter cap we have just listed. It is possible it belonged to the same officer as the winter cap but of an earlier date due to the lower rank shown but this is only surmised. Braid indicates rank of Commandant and the braided cord chin strap is of the type known as "bride milanaise". No manufacturers details are shown inside. While linen crown is in good issued condition there are minor rust stains inside. Cloth winged badge to front attached by removable clips. Minor age crazing to peak. No size marked but appears to be a medium. Non removal white caps were authorised for "officiers subalternes and superieurs" as part of the 1929 regulations. Visor is in vulcanised fibre, already in use by Armee de l'Air makers in 1939. Clearly style and materials indicate dates from WWII/Indochina period.
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£145.00
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French L'Armee De L'Air Officer Superieur Winter Visor Cap - This is the 1929 pattern. The braided cap band indicates a high rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. Inside the crown of the cap is named to manufacturer G. Risacher, Master Tailor Base Aerienne 114, which is located at Aix-en-Provence. The base is situated in South of France. The cap carries winged badge to front attached by metal clips marked Deposee and fitted with a correct braided gold cord chinstrap. The leather cap band is marked with size 57. The cap is in excellent issued condition with no moth or damage to fabric. Minor age, crazing to peak. The cap is not dated but clearly style and materials indicate it is from early post war/Indochina.
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Japanese Army Air Force WWII Bomber Crew Winter Flying Helmet - A good issued example of a pattern which is normally associated with bomber aircrew. These were first issued in the 1930's and remained a standard pattern helmet through until the end of WWII. The shell is made up from eight pieces of brown leather and is in generally good shape but exhibits some lifting of the original top finish, but it has responded well to a treatment of Pecards antique leather dressing. Bomber crew flight helmets were quite heavily padded. This gave increased insulation and also provided a degree of head protecting against knocks and bumps when manoeuvring between crew positions inside the aircraft. The seams are all tight although thehelmet has a small area of damage to the top left brow.
Pressed hardened leather ear cups are fitted and on the inside of right one it is fully stamped with kanji (Chinese characters) indicating this helmet was manufactured by 'the Clothing Department 'located in Osaka. It is further embossed indicating the production date was 'Showa 14' (meaning Japanese era) 1939 so it pre dates the attack on Pearl Harbour. Each receiver cup has a 2.5 cm holes to their centres for the mounting of communications receivers (which the Japanese seldom used). The two press studs for the goggle straps are attached to the top of the hardened receiver cups which is a distinct feature of the Bomber helmet as the fighter version had these straps fixed to the rear. It also features an adjustable leather strap at the rear of the helmet to aid the fit of the helmet. The chin strap leather shows some service wear but it fine for a display purposes; the friction rings rings are in excellent condition. Below the chin strap rings is the Chinese 'kanji' character which indicates this helmet is a desirable 'Large' size.
Inside the helmet carries a two tone synthetic fur lining which is in excellent issued condition. Whilst this helmet is not mint and has clearly seen service it is still a very decent untouched display example of an increasingly rare WWII pattern. Those of you owning a copy of Mick Prodger's excellent book 'Vintage Flying Helmets' will see a near identical example illustrated on page 310. Many thanks to my good friend Mr Yasu Kikuchi for invaluable help in the translation the Japanese characters as so identifying the origins of this flying helmet!
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French Airaile Type 11 Armée de L'Air Flying Helmet - In 1935 France commanded the largest military forces in the world although her flying helmets and goggles were somewhat out dated and based on WWI designs. Despite this the 'Airaile 11' remained the standard issue pattern for the French Air Force during the 1930 and into WWII. A modified version of the same helmet was also issued to French Army paratroopers.
This helmet was manufactured by E. Gueneau & Cie of Paris and interestingly the manufacturers paper label in the crown carries a late wartime date of 1/45, with the size marked at '58'. We speculate this is a pre war manufactured helmet re issued for use in the final stages of WWII. Certainly the basic design was also used post war in a modified form designated 'type Airele 15'. Our helmet is clearly pre war/wartime specification, confirmed by two metal clips mounted on the outer shell, above the receiver/Gosport tube cups, designed to take the French oxygen mask 'Ulmer 12'.
The helmet itself is made from am internal cork shell covered in chromed leather and has soft padded leather flaps to house Gosport tubes or radio receivers. Lacing within the crown of the helmet and to the rear facilitates size adjustment and press stud goggle straps are fitted at the rear of the helmet. The outer shell has a minor crease marks on top but otherwise the leather is in superb condition inside and out with no issues to report. The ear cup flaps when opened show roughly cut ear hole enlargements ;our French consultant advises this was a common period modification made by pilots or flight mechanics to upgrade the radio clarity coming from the receivers and proves the helmet has been issued and has seen service, which is also confirmed by the internal paper label which carries a handwritten 'H 18' as well as the initials to the crown R.H. who we assume to be an original owner.
A less pristine example has recently sold at auction for EU 688 (c. £588) Ours is rather more competitively priced and as close to a text book example of an increasingly rare flying helmet we do not anticipate will be with us for long!
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Mk III Flying Goggles - Like the RAF Mk IIIA's goggles we have just listed this set is about as good as they come! This example is RCAF issue and the back strap is clearly stamped with stores Ref. 22/397. Interestingly the strap is also stamped 22C/13 C.C.B. The Mk III pattern was introduced into RAF service in 1935 against stores reference nos 22C/69 and featured curved Perspex lenses, black painted brass frames and wide leather face pads intended to protect the wearer in an open cockpit which was the norm in the 1930's. Despite the pre war design many saw service into the Battle of Britain and beyond. The RCAF model was manufactured to an identical to the Air Ministry issue pattern but it clearly continued to be issued long after it was declared obsolete by the Air Ministry as confirmed by the 1942 manufacturing date on this set.
The frame retains almost all of the original paint finish with only minor rubbing. All of the frame screws are original and both frame 'stops' are in place. The ventilation holes above the stops were designed to prevent condensation forming on the inside of the lenses. The leather surrounds are in exceptional condition with no damage or repairs and retain suppleness. The lenses have light marking commensurate with age and service use but again are in exceptional condition. On the reverse side the leather and velvet face pads are in near mint condition and this set remains quite soft without the usual hardening of the interior padding. The leather nose cover is equally soft. The back strap is near perfect and the canvas spring covers and the springs themselves are in top condition, more or less as they left the factory 74 years ago! The brown leather back strap is fully stamped as already described with the friction buckle in good working order and the curled strap end remaining and not cut like so many we see.
Like the RAF Mk IIIA goggles which we have also just listed this set definitely match the collectors maxim 'Buy the best you can afford'. Don't however just take our word for it and if you have possible interest please drop us a mail and requested detailed pictures which will prove the point. These iconic goggles will display perfectly with an RAF or RCAF B type flying helmet and we do not anticipate that they will be with us for long.
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Japanese Army Air Force Flying Goggles - very fine set of original WWII Japanese 'cats eye' flying goggles, first issued in the 1930's. They were fitted with large curved lenses, that gave them their distinctive look. The frames were made from lacquered metal, with a velveteen cushion and a soft silk nose cover. Goggles finished with black or reddish brown painted frames and green velveteen face pads are regarded as exclusively Army Air Force issue. Those with reddish brown or light bronze frames and brown face pads were used by both Army and Navy aircrew. Whilst the war progressed the quality of manufacture diminished due to shortages of materials.
These appear to be an early WWII set and are made to a very high specification. The black paint on the frames is near perfect and the glass lenses are virtually good enough to use as intended. The green velvet face cushions are in near mint condition. The light brown back strap has lost most of its elasticity but is otherwise perfect. It is attached to the goggle rings by leather fasteners. Late war production used plastic for this purpose so again confirming these are early goggles. The only ID mark we can find on these is beside the left attachment ring and appears to show a Chinese character looking something like an 'SS' in an elongated circle. If any visitors to the site can identify the manufacturer please get in touch and we will add to our description.
All in all a near perfect example of 'Cat's Eye' goggles that would be hard to upgrade. Those of you owning a copy of Mick Prodger's excellent 'Vintage Flying Helmets' will see a near identical set illustrated on page 312 top left. These would display well on the Japanese winter flying helmet we have also listed today.
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Japanese Army Air Force Winter Flying Helmet - A good issued example of a pattern which is normally associated with bomber aircrew. The helmet is fished in dark brown leather with the Army 'star' motif stitched to the brow, which is complete and in good condition. The leather is generally good but is a little hard with minor cracks in places to the finish. Pressed hardened leather ear cups are fitted and on the inside both are fully stamped with the two kanji (Chinese characters) indicating a 'honshou' stamp which is official approval stamp that certify the helmet is the product of the army factory. The other character confirms the helmet was manufactured in the period 'Shouwa 15', which translates to the year 1940, so this is a pre Pearl Harbour example. The two press studs to fastened goggle straps are in place and working as is an adjustable leather strap at the rear of the helmet. The metal rings show normal age wear. Below the chin strap rings is the Chinese character 'CHU' which translated means the helmet is medium size. Inside the helmet carries a synthetic fur lining which shows some age wear. Whilst this helmet is not mint and it has clearly seen service but is still a very decent untouched display example of an increasingly rare WWII pattern. Many thanks to my good friend Mr Yasu Kikuchi for invaluable help in identifying accurately this item!
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Russian Aviators Face Mask - We were advised when purchased this mask was used by airmen in exposed crew positions to insulate the face and prevent frostbite and that it dates from circa WWII. We would not profess to be experts on Soviet era flying kit so we will leave it to prospective purchasers to ascertain exactly what we have here. We have however been able to match the mask very closely with a Russian example in an aviation museum so the facts look to be correct. It does not carry a makers label to give any clues although on the elastic straps are two ink stamps but these are not very clear but we can make out a '40' that might indicate a manufacturing date of 1940? The mask itself is in excellent condition and made from soft tan leather with the inside being lined with short hair fur as found on a small rodent. So if you are into Russian flight clothing (or S & M! this one could be for you!
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French Air Force issue Cebe 4000 Flying Goggles - An increasingly rare set of 1940 dated goggles with the frame, hinge, lenses are all being in great condition and no issues. The double elastic back strap is complete as shown and nice to see the second set which often get lost on this pattern. The clips for attaching to the frame are perfect and full working order. The original curved lenses are fitted and again great condition. The rubber is generally good but a little age wear as shown but should not cause any issues for display. The leather face pad is nice clean condition and of course helps the integrity of the rubber outer. The original issue box is a further bonus and is fully stamped with full details as well as a May 1940 date so these could well have served during the Battle of France and with the Free French during the battle of Britain. The top strap is missing from the box however. The set is completed by the instruction sheets but these are copies taken from an original. This a is only the second set of Cebe 4000 we have had in the last 10 years so to describe them as scarce is no understatement!
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French Airforce Gueneau & Cie Hard Shell Flying Helmet - These are becoming very scarce and this is an excellent original example of the type. The design is reminiscent of the WWI Roold helmet but despite its looks it remained an issue item into WWII. Features a dark brown leather covered hard shell with soft leather lined ear flaps designed to hold radio receivers. Inside the original E.Gueneau, Paris label and confirms the pattern as as 'Casque Airele' (Airele 11 type) and dated October 1939 so could well have swerved before the fall of France in 1940. It also has an ink acceptance stamp which we understand to be similar to the RAF AID embossing. When France was overrun escaping flyers formed Free French units with he RAF and the days of the Gueneau were over with the FF pilots being issued with RAF kit although a few of them were treasured by crew members & fitted with RAF G masks, especially in bombing squadrons (Lorraine, Tunisie, Guyenne).Our helmet is probably one of the last produced before the Vichy and postwar types 14, 15 and 18 and scarce to find in this condition. Size is marked at 58 (medium).
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RAAF Mk IIIA Flying Goggles - An excellent example of these classic goggles which were issued to both RAF, RAAF and RNZAF flight crews in the early part of WWII. These are near unissued condition with nearly all the black paint in place, hinge in good working order and goggle stops and ventilation trumpets just as they should be. The clear perspex lenses exhibit minor scratching but far above average and the black velvet face pads and black leather nose cover are also near perfect. The interior padding has hardened over the years. The back strap features red spring coverings (which helps identify Australian issue goggles) are in good condition with springs intact. The leather section has the correct adjustment buckle but is unmarked although could well have been manufactured by Stokes.
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Mk IIIA Flying Goggles - A fine example, as issued to allied airmen in WWII. This pair is unusual in that they are Australian manufactured, although the pattern is virtually identical to the RAF examples. Very clear perspex lenses mounted in brass frames and original leather sprung backstrap. These are in the condition every collector aspires to and are hard to fault.
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WWII 'B' Type Flying Helmet - An original 'B' type helmet of an unusual specification. A near identical example is shown on page 230 of Mick Prodger's book of vintage Flying Helmets and is listed as South African Airforce. It is constructed of pigskin with receiver cups fitted and zips in working order. On the downside, the rear adjustment strap has been removed and the leather shell is showing heavy wear. The interior has doughnuts fitted and is clean. Snaps for a 'D' type oxygen mask are fitted. The helmet is not wired, but we have added receivers foams for display purposes. Not the best example, but a rare helmet to add to your 'B' type collection.
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RAAF 'B' Type Flying Helmet - WWII, complete with Gosport tubes and frost protection pads. Very clean original condition, inside and out. Maker's label reading V 219, A.F. with broad arrow and dated 1944. Good size and a fine example.
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Soviet Leather Flying Helmet - Mig plot's, including goggles, oxygen mask, bone dome and visor, dated 1968. For sale as complete set only.
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