empireguns Posted February 12, 2016 Share #1 Posted February 12, 2016 same group i got the smoking jacket in are these 2 helmets of the 67th Fighter squadron and the 356 Fighter squadron plus a neat license plate for the 4th Fighter squadron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
empireguns Posted February 12, 2016 Author Share #2 Posted February 12, 2016 a Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
empireguns Posted February 12, 2016 Author Share #3 Posted February 12, 2016 c Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kammo-man Posted February 12, 2016 Share #4 Posted February 12, 2016 Very very cool. Can you show the devil better ? owen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
empireguns Posted February 12, 2016 Author Share #5 Posted February 12, 2016 sure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
empireguns Posted February 12, 2016 Author Share #6 Posted February 12, 2016 h Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWalsh Posted February 12, 2016 Share #7 Posted February 12, 2016 That green helmet is something else. I think it's one of the coolest ones I have seen. Love that Phantom emblem. Nice!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfixer Posted February 12, 2016 Share #8 Posted February 12, 2016 two helmets from the same guy? sweet deal...agree love the Phantom II Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAST Posted February 12, 2016 Share #9 Posted February 12, 2016 Awesome flight helmets! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlegto Posted February 12, 2016 Share #10 Posted February 12, 2016 Fantastic find! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLeo Posted February 12, 2016 Share #11 Posted February 12, 2016 Great artwork on those! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluespicker Posted February 12, 2016 Share #12 Posted February 12, 2016 I am certain this will be unpopular but I think those who collect these personalized items should cast a discerning eye at any decorative items that lack any signs of wear and perhaps were never flown as they now appear. A helicopter helmet popped up on EBAY and it was nicely painted (Razorbacks) as I recall. Turns out that the helmet wasn't flown in Vietnam but the flyer's helmet was his after returning from Vietnam and becoming an instructor. In this case, the aviator was still out there and could verify the story. These two helmets are nice examples of USAF flight helmets and would be a welcome addition to any jet helmet collection. The thing is, I doubt they were flown this way as the decorative parts seem to show zero wear. USAF MAJCOM directives covered what could be put on a helmet and a lot of flyers decorated their helmet after they PCS'd out of a unit. Some units did some really fancy commemorative decorations for guys who were leaving the unit. Do you have any photos of this helmet being flown? Is the flyer still around? Again, not trying to be argumentative but the sellers on EBAY have figured out that decorations sell the helmet and that's okay unless you are paying a premium for the decoration. Yes, there are individuals who do appraisals ala Antiques Roadshow and many times, the value isn't what the owner expected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kammo-man Posted February 12, 2016 Share #13 Posted February 12, 2016 Very cool painted Devil. owen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
empireguns Posted February 12, 2016 Author Share #14 Posted February 12, 2016 I am certain this will be unpopular but I think those who collect these personalized items should cast a discerning eye at any decorative items that lack any signs of wear and perhaps were never flown as they now appear. A helicopter helmet popped up on EBAY and it was nicely painted (Razorbacks) as I recall. Turns out that the helmet wasn't flown in Vietnam but the flyer's helmet was his after returning from Vietnam and becoming an instructor. In this case, the aviator was still out there and could verify the story. These two helmets are nice examples of USAF flight helmets and would be a welcome addition to any jet helmet collection. The thing is, I doubt they were flown this way as the decorative parts seem to show zero wear. USAF MAJCOM directives covered what could be put on a helmet and a lot of flyers decorated their helmet after they PCS'd out of a unit. Some units did some really fancy commemorative decorations for guys who were leaving the unit. Do you have any photos of this helmet being flown? Is the flyer still around? Again, not trying to be argumentative but the sellers on EBAY have figured out that decorations sell the helmet and that's okay unless you are paying a premium for the decoration. Yes, there are individuals who do appraisals ala Antiques Roadshow and many times, the value isn't what the owner expected. Who cares!! real helmet, real pilot. and these were used, maybe as you say painted afterwards but really.....who cares. nice Vietnam era helmets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
empireguns Posted February 12, 2016 Author Share #15 Posted February 12, 2016 PS I took these straight from his house. I have all of his equipment, medals, uniforms, paperwork etc will post some of it. always one downer out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullseye881 Posted February 13, 2016 Share #16 Posted February 13, 2016 Nice helmets. Ltc. Koncak flew 100+ missions in Vietnam & was awarded the DFC. I was shocked how cheap the estate sale decided to sell the group for, but fortunately I ended up with a couple good pieces from the estate. You should post some photos of the party suits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
empireguns Posted February 13, 2016 Author Share #17 Posted February 13, 2016 cheap? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullseye881 Posted February 13, 2016 Share #18 Posted February 13, 2016 Cheap is probably a poor choice of words, I am just used to estate sale companies wanting more than retail on military items. It's a great group & I look forward to seeing some more photos of the pieces. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
empireguns Posted February 13, 2016 Author Share #19 Posted February 13, 2016 haha ok was thinking the market in Tennessee was real different than Orlando Fl I think the price was almost dead on for what was in it. It's not for resale so I'm ok with it but if i were going to make it a for profit venture I don't think there's not much there after that price. It was a nice group though. what did you get to scoop up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nguoi tien su Posted February 14, 2016 Share #20 Posted February 14, 2016 He flew with the 8th TFW at some point. 1968. On 5 June 1LT Steven D. Gulbrandson, 435 TFS, a veteran of two F-4 ejections to date, received an unwelcome send-off from the North Vietnamese upon completion of his 100th mission. MAJ Sidney J. Wright, pilot/1LT Gulbrandson, PSO, in Rattler Flight Lead, and CAPT Tony Koncak, pilot/1LT Armond A. Turner, PSO, as Rattle Two, were providing flak suppression for Lizard Flight (433 TFS seeding flight). Rattler Flight put all CBU-23 ordnance on target but did not see any firing. Nevertheless, Rattler Lead hit between the inlet ramp and fuselage near the read cockpit took an AAA! 1LT Gulbrandson was presented with a piece of the shrapnel lodged in the aircraft as a farewell gift. Great helmets! Yes, please show the party suits!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost Posted February 14, 2016 Share #21 Posted February 14, 2016 Seriously nice score! Hopefully you were able to keep most of this group together it looked massive. I almost took off work Wednesday to to see if I could get something myself. CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
empireguns Posted February 15, 2016 Author Share #22 Posted February 15, 2016 Yes that was the main concern I hate to see groups broken up because they will never be back together. I paid the price to get it all just for that purpose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultra Hog Posted February 17, 2016 Share #23 Posted February 17, 2016 As a long time flight helmet collector (> 20 years; nearly 90 at home), i've never seen such artwork on old HGU-2... For me the 2 visor cover were painted recently by the same guy, no historical value ! An old flight helmet with artwork & no flight use is just like a chocolate cake without taste... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
empireguns Posted February 18, 2016 Author Share #24 Posted February 18, 2016 That's your opinion (if someone values it.) and they were not painted recently they were painted mid1970's and both of these helmets had flight use. just probably without the paint as it was most likely done as he left the unit. Comments without checking are like crepes without creme, bland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longbranch Posted February 18, 2016 Share #25 Posted February 18, 2016 I think we are just seeing two different approaches to collecting pop up here. Some like the helmets to be EXACTLY as they were flown in the 50s/60s/70s. Some don't mind a few unit embellishments possibly added to the helmet after it was "retired". That's the beauty of it. We can all collect what we like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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