RAF - Flying Helmets
Item view Item name / description AM Ref. Size Manufacturer Date

Helmet, Flying, Type B

The Type B Flying Helmet was introduced in 1935.

22C/65 1
2
3
4
- F. BRYAN Ltd.
- G. WADDINGTON & SONS Ltd.
- B. STERLING & Co. Ltd.
- J. COMPTON & SONS WEBB Ltd.
- BEDNALLS
1939,1940
1941
1939
1940

 
Helmet, Flying, Type C, 1942 Pattern

First issue Type C Flying Helmet. This helmet had a leather chinstrap and external wiring loom and microphone jack.

Le premier modèle du serre-tête Type-C a été introduit en 1942. Il est équipé d'un câblage radio externe et d'une mentonnière en cuir.

22C/449
22C/450
22C/451
22C/452
1
2
3
4
   




Helmet, Flying, Type C, 1943 Pattern

The Type C Flying Helmet, Second Pattern, was introduced in 1944. This helmet differs from the early version in that it had a gray elastic chinstrap and internal wiring loom and microphone jack.
Often worn by USAAF pilots, it was equipped with US wiring loom, plug and RAF or US receivers.
C-Type helmets remained in RAF service until the early 1960s.

Le second modèle du serre-tête Type-C a été introduit en 1944. Il diffère du modèle précédent par l'intégration des câbles radio et de la prise micro dans la doublure et par la présence d'une mentonnière en élastique bleu gris.
Le serre-tête Type-C était aussi porté par les pilotes de l'USAAF. Il était équipé alors de câbles radio avec des prises américains et des d'écouteurs anglais (AM 10A/7063, 10A/12443 ou 10A/13466) ou américains (R-14 ou ANB-H-1).
Le Type C resta en service dans la RAF jusqu'au début des années 60.

22C/877
22C/878
22C/879
22C/880
1
2
3
4
   



Wiring Loom
Plug, Microphone
Jackplug
Earphones

Wiring loom and plugs for the internally wired RAF C-Type and Royal Navy C-Type leather flying helmets.

Câblage radio du serre-tête Type C de la RAF ou de la Royal Navy.

10H/4887
10H/14206
10H/10991

10A/7063
10A/12401
10A/12443
10A/13466

     
RAF - Caps
Item view Item name / description AM Ref. Size Manufacturer Date

RAF, Cap, Officer   6-1/2
6-5/8
6-3/8
7-1/8
7-1/4
7-3/8
7-1/2
   
RAF, Side Cap, Officer   6-1/2
6-5/8
6-3/8
7-1/8
7-1/4
7-3/8
7-1/2
- SILBERTON & SONS Ltd
- J. COLLETT Ltd (London)
1945
1942,1945



RAF, Side Cap, Enlisted Men   6-1/2
6-5/8
6-3/8
7-1/8
7-1/4
7-3/8
7-1/2
- SILBERTON & SONS Ltd
- S. & P. HARRIS Ltd (Glasgow)
- J. COLLETT Ltd. (London)
1943
1945
1943
RAF - Oxygen Masks
Item view Item name / description AM Ref. Size Manufacturer Date


Oxygen Mask, Type D
Connector, hose, Pattern 1941

The Type D oxygen mask was made from cloth. It is equiped with a cotton covered rubber cable and a hose connector.

Le masque à oxygène Type D est tout en tissu et équipé d'un tuyau de caoutchouc gainé de tissu terminé par une prise spécifique.

 

6D/117
6D/101
    1935
1942

1941



Oxygen Mask, Type E

The Type E oxygen mask was worn by the RAF in the mid-war period before the introduction of the E* & G masks. This is the pattern without the expiratory valve and is fitted to the helmet by a leather strap type harness and Bennett buckle adjuster and not the webbing harness like the E* mask. Fitted here with a Type 26 microphone, unwired.

Le masque à oxygène Type E équipait les pilotes de la RAF en 1941 et 1942 avant l'introduction du Type E* et G. Il ne possède pas de valve d'expiration et se fixe sur le serre-tête à l'aide d'une sangle en cuir réglable contrairement aux modèles suivants qui seront équipés de sangles en coton.

      1941
Oxygen Mask, Type E*

The Type E* oxygen mask (sometimes referred to as the Type F) was an upgraded version of the Type E. The Type E was the first rubber oxygen mask to be supplied by the British Air Ministry, in 1941, (its predecessor, Type D, was made from cloth). It suffered from a number of design faults and was soon superseded by the E* which had an improved breathing system and harness arrangement. It was found to be a vast improvement over the cloth masks (which couldn't seal around the face), and laid the path to all future aviation respiratory equipment technology.
Interestingly, both the MkVII goggles and the E* oxygen mask, were used as much by the U.S. Army Air Force as they were by the RAF. When the first contingents of USAAF personnel arrived in Britain, they shared many of the bases with the RAF.
Subsequently, they were often issued with Air Ministry equipment, particularly when their own supplies did not suffice. Even when supplies of their own equipment were available, many of the Americans chose to carry on using their Air Ministry gear. This was particularly so of the 56th Fighter Group.

Le masque à oxygène Type-E* (parfois appelé Type-F) est une version améliorée du Type E. Le Type E était le premier masque à oxygène en caoutchouc fabriqué pour le ministère de l'air en 1941 (son prédécesseur, le Type D étant fait de tissu). Il souffrait d'un très grand nombre de défauts et fut remplacé par le Type E* lequel avait un meilleur système de respiration et de fixation.

       




Oxygen Mask, Type G

The Type G was a rubber oxygen mask. It was introduced into R.A.F. service in about 1942 and became the standard issue for Fighter and Bomber crews.

Le masque à oxygène Type-G, tout en caoutchouc, fut introduit en 1942 et devint le masque à oxygène standard des pilotes de chasse et des équipages de bombardiers jusqu'à la fin de la guerre.

6D/643
6D/644
6D/645
Large
Medium
Small
  1942
1945
  Clip, Oxygen Hose, Type MkIV 6D/526      
RAF - Microphones
Item view Item name / description AM Ref. Size Manufacturer Date
Microphone, Oxygen Mask, 1941 Pattern

Black painted alloy microphone for  used in D-type mask and introduced in October 1940. 

Micro se fixant sur le masque à oxygène Type D. 

 

10A/11994     1940
Wireless Operator wearing a G Type mask at his station in an Avro Lancaster. Microphone, Oxygen Mask, 1943 Pattern

Microphone used for type E, F and G. It is equiped with a brown cotton covered cable and a bakelite two pin plug to connect to the Flying Helmet wiring harness. 

Micro se fixant sur les masques à oxygène du Type E, F et G. Il est équipé d'un câble gainé de tissu marron et terminé par une prise mâle qui se connecte sur la prise logée dans le serre-tête.

10A/12570     1943
RAF - Flying Goggles
Item view Item name / description AM Ref. Size Manufacturer Date
  Goggles, Flying, Type MkII

The MkII goggles have a aluminium frame with fur face mask and glass lenses. Introduced in 1928, this pattern was obsolete long before WW2 began, but they were used by some pilots during the Battle of Britain.

Les lunettes MkII possèdent une monture en aluminium. Introduites en 1928 et obsolètes avant le début de la seconde Guerre Mondiale elles sont tout de même utilisées par quelques pilotes durant la Bataille d'Angleterre.  

      1928
Goggles, Flying, Type MkIII A

These are metal frames with two piece clear curve plastic lenses, brown leather & brown velveteye padding & brown leather nose bridge. The elastic web head strap is in brown cotton.

 22C/62      
  Goggles, Flying, Type MkIV A

The MkIV A goggles have a metal frame with glass lenses and flip sun shield. Cord side straps were connected in rear to an ajustable elastic strap. They were made of Bakelite in an effort to save weight but were too fragile and short-lived.

22C/111     1940

1941

Goggles, Flying, Type MkIV B

The MkIV B goggles have a metal frame with glass lenses without flip sun shield. 

22C/167      

Goggles, Flying, Type MkVII

The MkVII goggle was made for the British Air Ministry as an RAF issue item. It came into service around the beginning of 1941, superseding all other marques that went before. It was immediately popular, as it allowed better vision and was much more comfortable than any of its predecessors.
It utilises the 2-piece split lens principle, with strong metal frames and leather/chamois face cushions. A substantial elastic strap, with adjuster, is used to secure it to the head. The nose bridge section is stamped with the Air Ministry A.M. mark.

Les lunettes MkVII ont été fabriquées pour le ministère de l'air pour les pilotes et les équipages de la RAF. Elles entrèrent en service au début de 1941 et supplantèrent toutes les autres lunettes de vol car elles offraient une plus grande vision et étaient plus confortables que ces prédécesseurs.
Elles sont constituées de deux verres entourés d'une armature métallique bordée elle-même de cuir et de chamois. Un élastique réglable permet de les maintenir sur la tête. Le marquage du ministère de l'air A.M. se trouve entre les deux verres.

22C/826     1942

1943



Goggles, Flying, Type MkVIII

These are metal frames with leather face cushions and glass lenses. The back of the cushions are chamois lined. The lens are made up of two pieces of glass in blue-gray metal frames for each side. The MKVIII goggles were issued from 1944 to 1970.

22C/930     1944

Goggles, Gunnery, Night Simulator

Black rubber frame with density lenses. These were used by pilots during daytime to simulate flying during the night.

22C/932     1942

1945