Sabrejet Posted September 22, 2011 Share #1 Posted September 22, 2011 When the US entered WW2 the USAAF’s standard summer flying helmet was the A-9. This was a close-fitting, OD gabardine helmet which had attachment hooks for the Types A-9/10 oxygen masks but no provision for communications equipment. This was soon deemed to be disadvantageous for the rapidly expanding USAAF. So, until something better was designed and produced, up-grading kits were made available. These were to be added to existing A-9s at unit level. The kit comprised of molded leather ear-cups to retain the standard R-14 receivers, soft cotton ear-muffs for comfort and to cut down on external noise and short lengths of webbing with snaps to attach the newer generation of oxygen masks. This is an example of such a rigger-modified A-9. As they were done individually no two will be identical though example is fairly typical of the type. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted September 22, 2011 Author Share #2 Posted September 22, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted September 22, 2011 Author Share #3 Posted September 22, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted September 22, 2011 Author Share #4 Posted September 22, 2011 Woven spec label, size label and Army Air Forces property stamp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted September 22, 2011 Author Share #5 Posted September 22, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted September 22, 2011 Author Share #6 Posted September 22, 2011 Added webbing/snaps/hook to attach oxygen mask. Also the russet leather ear-cups which housed the R-14 receivers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted September 22, 2011 Author Share #7 Posted September 22, 2011 Soft ear-muffs sewn inside for comfort and as sound-mufflers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted September 22, 2011 Author Share #8 Posted September 22, 2011 Factory-fresh R-14 receivers of the type fitted to A-9s and various other flying helmets (and tankers' helmets too) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted September 22, 2011 Author Share #9 Posted September 22, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack's Son Posted September 22, 2011 Share #10 Posted September 22, 2011 Hi Ian, Once again you force me to learn through reading your excellent threads. Now I'm about to get into flying....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cobrahistorian Posted September 22, 2011 Share #11 Posted September 22, 2011 Ian, Beautiful example! These were common in North Africa and Sicily (unless resourceful American pilots could acquire RAF Type D tropical helmets!) I've been looking for one of these for a while. Yours is in perfect condition! Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted September 22, 2011 Author Share #12 Posted September 22, 2011 Ian, Beautiful example! These were common in North Africa and Sicily (unless resourceful American pilots could acquire RAF Type D tropical helmets!) I've been looking for one of these for a while. Yours is in perfect condition! Jon Thanks Jon. I notice that there are some examples currently listed on Bell's Aviation website. Price have crept up since I acquired mine back in the mid-90s! :w00t: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted September 22, 2011 Author Share #13 Posted September 22, 2011 Hi Ian,Once again you force me to learn through reading your excellent threads. Now I'm about to get into flying....... You're too kind JS! You have your wings and related medals...right? So now what you need to do is put together a representative flight helmet head to display alongside them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutiger83 Posted September 22, 2011 Share #14 Posted September 22, 2011 Now I'm about to get into flying. JS, You already have the wings! The next step is the helmet! Ian, You have been a busy boy! These posts have been fantastic! Thanks so much for the threads. ....Kat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted September 22, 2011 Author Share #15 Posted September 22, 2011 JS, You already have the wings! The next step is the helmet! Ian, You have been a busy boy! These posts have been fantastic! Thanks so much for the threads. ....Kat Thank you Kat! Retirement = more free time to put stuff together! :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flight helmets 522 Posted October 2, 2011 Share #16 Posted October 2, 2011 This is great. I know a fighter pilot who flew the A-36 version of the P-51 Mustang in the MTO. He told me he wore the same setup with sunglasses, instead of goggles. Later, he wore an upgraded helmet, the A-10, which was nearly identical to the AN-H-15 helmet, with sunglasses. He said goggles were uncomfortable to him and fogged up too much. Thanks for posting. Phil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cobrahistorian Posted October 2, 2011 Share #17 Posted October 2, 2011 Kat, Now you're encouraging others! You're just as bad as the rest of us! Jon JS, You already have the wings! The next step is the helmet! Ian, You have been a busy boy! These posts have been fantastic! Thanks so much for the threads. ....Kat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted October 2, 2011 Author Share #18 Posted October 2, 2011 Crazy prices around these days! Ebay # 310196778065 This one isn't even wired-up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cobrahistorian Posted October 2, 2011 Share #19 Posted October 2, 2011 And I just missed out on a nice modified one the other day that went for $32! I was busy and forgot to check ebay.... Well, that and the fact that I'm flat broke... Crazy prices around these days! Ebay # 310196778065 This one isn't even wired-up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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