US Army AAF WW2 8TH AIR FORCE FIGHTER PILOT BRITISH WIRED TYPE C FLIGHT HELMET
The 8th Air Force was the most potent arm of American air power during WW2, tasked with the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. Flying B-17 and B-24 heavy bombers with P-51 Mustang fighter escorts, the "Mighty Eighth" swept the vaunted Luftwaffe from the skies in epic air battles over Occupied Europe.
Many P-51 fighter pilots chose to wear the classic British RAF Type C leather flight helmet, fitted with the US HS-38 headset, consisting of ANB-H-1 ear phones, "Y" loom wiring, and a PL-354 red plastic end plug. This US Army AAF WW2 8TH AIR FORCE FIGHTER PILOT BRITISH WIRED TYPE C FLIGHT HELMET is in fair condition, with heavy ongoing flaking to the upper right front and lower left back crowns, some flaking at the upper right ear, a small partial edge crack in the front right ear cup, a noticeable partial edge crack in the back left ear cup, some scattered outdenting from the interior ear pads, some scattered drying around the exterior, some scattered darkening around the inside, and with moderate overall age wear evident (ALL pictured). Otherwise, the helmet is in fair shape, with no other damage to the tough brown leather construction.Most interestingly, it's lightly stamped a Size "3" at the interior lower right front, making it a British Size 7 1/8 to 7 3/8, US Size 7 1/4 to 7 1/2, boasts the original US HS-38 headset consisting of ANB-H-1 ear phones by RADIO SPEAKERS INC. ", fully intact "Y" loom wiring, and a "PL-354" red plastic end plug, and sports the original black rubber ear cups, brown finished metal "glove" snap closure gray canvas chinstrap, and chamois "donut interior ear pads.
It features all of the original straps, snaps, and buckles throughout, bears an elasticized gather at the back lip, and exhibits the traditional chamois crown lining. An honest example of a very rare, original US Army AAF WW2 8TH AIR FORCE FIGHTER PILOT BRITISH WIRED TYPE C FLIGHT HELMET. We have shown a LIFE Magazine photo of the legendary General Robin Olds in WW2 wearing a similar RAF Type C flight helmet. GOVERNMENT at the left front. The item "US Army AAF WW2 8TH AIR FORCE FIGHTER PILOT BRITISH WIRED TYPE C FLIGHT HELMET" is in sale since Saturday, February 22, 2020.
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.