Goggles
Item
Title
Goggles
Description
RCAF MK III Flying Goggles, circa 1942 Clear perspex lenses, with brown leather face mask and a brown leather sprung back strap stamped "R.C.A.F. 22/397 C.C.B. 1942". R-173547 is printed in black ink on the inside of the leather strap
Identifier
008.500.235
Format
Provenance
This pattern was introduced in 1935, issued to the RAF and RCAF, it is synonymous with the Battle of Britain. When Great-Britain entered the war, most of their flight gear was outdated and intended for wear in open cockpit aircrafts. Some pilots chose to buy their own flight gear and that is a reason why Battle of Britain period pictures show non-military issue flight gear. This was certainly the case with helmets and goggles, for example Luxor was a civilian manufacturer but the Luxor goggles soon became well known among aircrew. The RAF issue flying goggles were much heavier and not as comfortable as the Luxor goggles and soon the AM started to alter their goggles according to the pilots needs. So the goggles started to change from heavy and large face-covering goggles to lighter and less covering goggles later on.
Abstract
Fair
Date Created
1942