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What do I have here guys?


buzzbomb
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Im not sure what I just purchased as it was on a whim. I liked the look and it was only $55

For years Ive been trying to acquire an a8b and flight helmet/s. but what have I landed here? Any info is much appreciated :)

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very common. its the summer Type A-9 standardized in 1941 and used thought out the war. what you really want is the one with the leather cups stitched onto the sides to hold the receivers. The hooks are for attaching the A-9 and A-10 oxygen masks but A-8B masks were often used with; this as well. these were more common in the CBI theater rather than the ETO. These can be found on eBay all day long even in original boxes in unused condition.

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the headset is also common. typically the larger foam padded headset wasn't used very often by the AAF and can also be found used by the navy.

 

 

Here is my Summer A-9 with HS-33 headset receivers (HB-7 Headphones fitted with ANB-H-1 receivers and the red PL-354 bail out plug. (HS-33)

 

 

 

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the headset is also common. typically the larger foam padded headset wasn't used very often by the AAF and can also be found used by the navy.

 

 

Here is my Summer A-9 with HS-33 headset receivers (HB-7 Headphones fitted with ANB-H-1 receivers and the red PL-354 bail out plug. (HS-33)

 

 

 

Hey where did you buy the manekin heads from??

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I have a set of those as well... they are very cool.

the headsets that were more commonly used are the HS-23 wth a PL-54 black plug with the Brown Foam pads (very rare to find the brown foam pads today... I was lucky and landed a pair this past summer by pure chance) and the later HS-33 with black ear pads with the PL-354 red plug.

 

 

 

here is my set collection.

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the leather "helmets" are the most desirable . the more common and easiest one to get is the A-11 but the most desirable and most pricey today are the variations on the B-6 and the type C. especially the RAF Type C-1 as many USAAF guys wore those as well but they are difficult to come by. I would suggest getting the book Flight Gear 1942-1945: US Army Air Forces Aviators in Europe

 

 

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you can get styrofoam heads at Michaels, Hobby Lobby, AC Moore...

 

With styrofoam heads be careful to not display on them anything with a vinyl headband.

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agreed. I highly recommend stretching a stocking over it to keep the rubber and styrofoam from interacting. I read that gassing out can cause breakdown. I have done this to a couple of mine and need to do my last yet...

 

 

 

 

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