Jump to content

Some of my WWII Naval Aviator flight helmets


bazelot
 Share

Recommended Posts

I wanted to post some of my WWII Navy flight helmets. Here they are. They are all named and some of them are researched. One belonged to one of the USS Missouri catapult pilots. Another one belonged to a Black Cat pilot who was in one of the PBYs that spotted the Japanese Navy at Midway. Another one belonged to a F6F pilot. I never buy my helmets mint. I always buy helmets that have history attached to them and that actually saw combat.
I would love to see some of yours.IMG_4014.jpgIMG_4014.jpgIMG_4018.jpgIMG_4023.jpgIMG_4023.jpgIMG_4022.jpgIMG_4019.jpgIMG_4020.jpgIMG_4020.jpgIMG_4021.jpgIMG_4014.jpg

IMG_4018.jpg

IMG_4023.jpg

IMG_4022.jpg

IMG_4019.jpg

IMG_4020.jpg

IMG_4021.jpg

post-119-0-90610800-1399397799.jpg

post-119-0-26457600-1399397982.jpg

post-119-0-44690000-1399468391.jpg

post-119-0-49849200-1399468402.jpg

post-119-0-05343800-1399468410.jpg

post-119-0-75061400-1399468462.jpg

post-119-0-46365100-1399468472.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I never buy my helmets mint. I always buy helmets that have history attached to them and that actually saw combat.

 

Good for you! Mint stuff is merely Army-Navy surplus, while the used and ID'ed things are historical artifacts.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You have some nice helmets! Early WWII ID'd USN flight helmets are getting VERY expensive. They have never been easy to find. The nicest WWII helmet I have is one worn by a VT-87 pilot who earned his Navy Cross in 1945.

 

Here is a thread on pre WWII USN flight helmets I started:

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...showtopic=34734

 

Kurt

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great flight helmets! Have you contacted any of the owners?

 

I am afraid all the original owners passed away. I managed to contact family members for some of them and got some really interesting information.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You have some nice helmets! Early WWII ID'd USN flight helmets are getting VERY expensive. They have never been easy to find. The nicest WWII helmet I have is one worn by a VT-87 pilot who earned his Navy Cross in 1945.

 

Here is a thread on pre WWII USN flight helmets I started:

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...showtopic=34734

 

Kurt

 

Some of them are getting pricey, that's right. Most of those cloth helmets were disposable and as such few survived. The same goes for the M-426A and the M-421A which were the most worn flight suits and flight jackets early on in the war in the Pacific.

Thanks for sharing the pre WWII helmet.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Good for you! Mint stuff is merely Army-Navy surplus, while the used and ID'ed things are historical artifacts.

Extremely well put!!!!!!!....and great helmets!...I am admiring all the leather chincups!!.....mike

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Extremely well put!!!!!!!....and great helmets!...I am admiring all the leather chincups!!.....mike

 

 

THanks, I probably have half a dozen more that are not displayed but I should take pictures of them

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Some great looking flight helmets there! I used to have a couple but for some reason I got interested in the modern flight helmets and have a bunch of modern original Navy squadron helmets. Love to see more of yours!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great!

I agree 100% with a helmet oet whatever flight gear which has belonged to a known user and with history is most interesting than an anonymous surplus stuff. But harder to find!

I love USN pilot items and history but I am more "specialized" in the 50's.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 months later...

I am bringing this thread back up. Anyone wants to share their WWII Navy flight helmets.

I have a more and I will take pics and post them as soon as I can locate the charger for my camera :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great thread Bazelot.... You have a very nice helmets... I have some example but all of these was showed in Navy Pilots thread in display section....

since this time I have had only new one : standard AN6540 series summer flying helmet with oxygen mask snaps, Navy WW2 ( not post war with N383 contract) ANB-H-1A earphones and Polaroid goggles... nice used and salty condition... it haver some name on top but hard to read...

 

I hope You show us more of You helmets soon :)

 

The best regards,

Jerry K.

post-369-1276003620.jpg

post-369-1276003632.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...
pararaftanr2

Okay Jerry, here you go!

This is an M-450-1, manufactured by H.L.B. Corp. NY and named to Lt. F.E. Yarnall, USNR. You might recognize it from Mick Prodger's Flying Helmets book, page 291, but that was two owners ago prior to my acquiring it in 2008. Unfortunately, the right earcup had melted, but I was able to obtain a replacement. It is displayed with Charles Fischer Spring Mk II Pilot goggles and an MSA type D demand oxygen mask.

post-9787-1277494746.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

pararaftanr2

Let's try another. This is a nylon tropical helmet with Charles Fischer Spring Mk-IV goggles and an M-5/UR lip mic. They were intended to improve speaking clarity at altitudes below oxygen mask levels but weren't too practical and were quickly replaced with the boom mounting system which used the same mic.

 

 

post-9787-1277694352.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Paul!

Thanks for nice helmet photos! I love Your M450 with TC-66 earcups and mask... Type D is a rare model!

Second helmet is new for me ... I never see the M-5/UR lip mic. installed directly to the helmet... only with oxygen mask snaps like in Mick P. book...

 

The best regards,

Jerry K.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

pararaftanr2

Hi Jerry,

Glad you enjoyed them. Sorry for the confusion with the lip mic. It is not permanently attached. There is a third snap, above the oxygen mask hook on the wearer's right side. The other end would attach to the top oxygen mask snap on the wearer's left side.

 

post-9787-1277725099.jpg

 

Best regards, Paul

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have REALLY enjoyed seeing these helmets. Thanks for taking the time to share. Amazing display from USN aviation

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Jerry,

Glad you enjoyed them. Sorry for the confusion with the lip mic. It is not permanently attached. There is a third snap, above the oxygen mask hook on the wearer's right side. The other end would attach to the top oxygen mask snap on the wearer's left side.

 

post-9787-1277725099.jpg

 

Best regards, Paul

 

 

Okay Paul, now I understood this configuration :) Do you have any vintage photo with this mic. in use???

 

The best regards,

Jerry K.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...