White Leather Flight Helmet Identification Help Requested

[Clayton]

Gents;

 

Could anyone tell me what kind of helmet we have here? This helmet is made of, what I believe to be, white leather. It has a "U.S. AIR FORCE" winged star side stamp, the helmet is lined in grey colored cloth. The contract label reads, "HELMET, FLYING, PROTECTIVE, H149/A1C, HEADSET, TYPE MB-3, MIL-HY-25758A (USAF), AVIATORS EQUIPMENT CORP., CONTRACT AF36 (600) - 6538, SIZE MEDIUM". The helmet is complete with the white leather throat microphone.

 

Ant helmet would be greatly appreciated.

 

Best regards to all,

 

Clay

[Clayton]

More Photographs

[Clayton]

Another Photograph

[Clayton]

And Another Photograph

[SergeantMajorGray]

I believe this is a liner for a 50s flight helmet.

[Bebel]

Clay,

 

This is a circa 19850's SAC crews member's protective helmet.

 

Franck

[Sabrejet]

That was my first thought...but it appears to have goggle retention loops on the back....pointless if it was a liner?

[Clayton]

Hello Guys;

 

Yes it has goggle retention loops on the rear and the body is rather thick. I never saw another helmet like this but I don't know much about helmets.

 

Best regards to all,

 

Clay

[Trooper B.A.R]

The snap in front is also for the bill that snaps on this helmet. Most of these are missing the bill.

[SergeantMajorGray]

Ah the front snap is what made me think it was a liner Bebel is correct.

[Clayton]

Thank you all for the help. Are these liners common?

[juvatwad]

As stated above, it's not a liner, but rather a flight helmet. They are not rare.

 

Ian

[Clayton]

Gentlemen;

 

Many thanks for your help. There are real experts on this forum and I thank you for your help on this protective flight helmet.

 

Best regards to all,

 

Clay

[benguttery]

This helmet bridged the gap between cloth or single-layer leather helmets from the World War 2 era to a true hard-shell helmet. With the introduction of jets and ejection seats a bit more protection was needed. This thick, padded, white leather helmet did provide straps for goggles and the bill -- yes, this helmet had a leather bill that snapped on the front and had an elastic band that wrapped around the helmet like a goggle would. It is not rare, but is a fine piece to have in your collection.