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Canadian Military Collectors Forum

Comprehensive Forum of Canadian Armed Forces History & Militaria


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    RCAF Flight Helmet

    ypres
    ypres
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    Posts : 401
    Join date : 2014-08-13

    RCAF Flight Helmet Empty RCAF Flight Helmet

    Post by ypres Sun Jan 04, 2015 11:10 am

    This helmet is missing from the main references on the topic. It always had me baffled because of the snap on the top. I always wondered if it the inside of a "Bone Dome" and the snap fastened it to the outer shell. About 10 years after I found the helmet, I found the light. It appears the light would snap to the top in case the crew needed to ditch into the ocean; I have a navy skull cap with the same feature .....  I now believe the helmet is a Canadian coastal command helmet.

    Ypres




    Last edited by ypres on Thu Mar 19, 2015 8:23 am; edited 1 time in total
    ledfut
    ledfut
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    Location : Manitoba, Canada

    RCAF Flight Helmet Empty Re: RCAF Flight Helmet

    Post by ledfut Tue Jan 06, 2015 4:30 pm

    It is a WW2 RCAF summer flying helmet.   The snap on top was for the associated externally-mounted wiring loom.  This particular helmet is referenced on pages 70 and 226 of Mick Prodger's "Vintage Flying Helmets".  According to my research, these were not worn overseas and were only worn in Canada.

    Here are a couple of pictures of the example in my collection (just recently sold), showing the oxygen mask as well as the correct wiring loom configuration:

    RCAF Flight Helmet IMG_4132_zps1bbfa2ab

    RCAF Flight Helmet IMG_4195_edited-1_zpscd61fc89

    In my example, the wiring loom was connected to the microphone on a mounted in an RCAF Gutta Percha oxygen mask.  The only thing non-original on mine was the chinstrap, as the original was missing.  

    It was a beautiful setup - and one of the nicest flying helmets in my collection.  I somewhat regret selling it,  but I needed to raise some money for some WW1 items that I coveted even more!
    ypres
    ypres
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    RCAF Flight Helmet Empty Re: RCAF Flight Helmet

    Post by ypres Fri Jan 09, 2015 5:19 pm

    Ledfut,

    Thanks for your reply. Is the light pictured in my post referenced in Prodger's book? Do you have any period references for this helmet?

    Thanks,

    Ypres
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    CampX
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    Location : Ajax Ontario

    RCAF Flight Helmet Empty Re: RCAF Flight Helmet

    Post by CampX Fri Jan 09, 2015 6:14 pm

    I have the black wire comms cord for this helmet as well as a Gutta Purcha Canadian Made Oxygem mask

    Dean O
    ledfut
    ledfut
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    RCAF Flight Helmet Empty Re: RCAF Flight Helmet

    Post by ledfut Sun Feb 08, 2015 12:25 pm

    Ypres - Still willing to consider potential trades?  Please check your email...

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