Pilot Flight Helmet

US Army AAF WW2 B-17 BOMBER PILOT M-5 FLAK HELMET Vtg Flight Aviator Flying RARE

US Army AAF WW2 B-17 BOMBER PILOT M-5 FLAK HELMET Vtg Flight Aviator Flying RARE
US Army AAF WW2 B-17 BOMBER PILOT M-5 FLAK HELMET Vtg Flight Aviator Flying RARE
US Army AAF WW2 B-17 BOMBER PILOT M-5 FLAK HELMET Vtg Flight Aviator Flying RARE
US Army AAF WW2 B-17 BOMBER PILOT M-5 FLAK HELMET Vtg Flight Aviator Flying RARE
US Army AAF WW2 B-17 BOMBER PILOT M-5 FLAK HELMET Vtg Flight Aviator Flying RARE
US Army AAF WW2 B-17 BOMBER PILOT M-5 FLAK HELMET Vtg Flight Aviator Flying RARE
US Army AAF WW2 B-17 BOMBER PILOT M-5 FLAK HELMET Vtg Flight Aviator Flying RARE
US Army AAF WW2 B-17 BOMBER PILOT M-5 FLAK HELMET Vtg Flight Aviator Flying RARE
US Army AAF WW2 B-17 BOMBER PILOT M-5 FLAK HELMET Vtg Flight Aviator Flying RARE
US Army AAF WW2 B-17 BOMBER PILOT M-5 FLAK HELMET Vtg Flight Aviator Flying RARE
US Army AAF WW2 B-17 BOMBER PILOT M-5 FLAK HELMET Vtg Flight Aviator Flying RARE
US Army AAF WW2 B-17 BOMBER PILOT M-5 FLAK HELMET Vtg Flight Aviator Flying RARE

US Army AAF WW2 B-17 BOMBER PILOT M-5 FLAK HELMET Vtg Flight Aviator Flying RARE

US Army Air Forces B-17 "Flying Fortress" bombers ran a gauntlet of fire from flak and fighters in the hotly contested skies over Occupied Europe. The M-5 flak helmet was developed to better protect B-17 pilots and air crews from "ack ack" while in flight. The M-5 featured a steel shell like that of an M-1 helmet, but carried hinged and pointed metal ear flaps to fit over flight helmets and headsets. This US Army AAF WW2 B-17 BOMBER PILOT M-5 FLAK HELMET is in very good condition, with a small dent in the middle top crown, a small hole having been purposely punched in the middle back lip, some scattered scratching and patina around the exterior, moderate patina to the interior crown, heavy scattered cracking and tearing to the leather forehead band, some brownish soiling to the interior suspension, missing the leather chinstraps, and with some scattered age wear evident (ALL pictured).

Otherwise, the helmet is in fine shape, with no other damage to the tough steel construction, which retains approximately 85% of the original "flocked" OD exterior finish. Most interestingly, it boasts the classic hinged and pointed metal ear flaps, sports a fully intact khaki HBT interior suspension, sweatband, and nape strap, and is complete with the original brown leather forehead band. It carries the heat lot number "1258A" stamped at the interior back lip, and is a fine example of a very rare, original US Army AAF WW2 B-17 BOMBER PILOT M-5 FLAK HELMET. The item "US Army AAF WW2 B-17 BOMBER PILOT M-5 FLAK HELMET Vtg Flight Aviator Flying RARE" is in sale since Saturday, July 3, 2021. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Militaria\WW II (1939-45)\Original Period Items\United States\Hats & Helmets".

The seller is "abramsantiques" and is located in Claremont, California. This item can be shipped worldwide.


US Army AAF WW2 B-17 BOMBER PILOT M-5 FLAK HELMET Vtg Flight Aviator Flying RARE