Helmet
Item
Title
Helmet
Description
Leather Flying Helmet Type C, first pattern, with goggles, receivers, microphone and oxygen mask. Internally, the helmet is unwired and is chamois lined with a brown velveteen sweat absorbing panel at the brow, and chamois ear cushions to reduce external noise. Goggles, Flying, Type Mk. VII , utilizes the 2-piece split lens principle, with strong blue painted metal frames and leather/chamois face cushions. A substantial grey canvas webbing elastic head strap, with adjuster, is used to secure it to the head. The brown leather nose bridge section above which is stamped Air Ministry 220/826/1856. The outer brown leather helmet has black rubber ear phone cups which have been fitted with Air Ministry 10A/12407 receivers. Both receivers are connected externally to the microphone by three individual braided cloth insulated communication cords which join to form one cord which is attached to a black bakelite bayonet 10A/10991 plug. This helmet is fitted with a a brown leather strap type harness and Bennett friction fastener. The Type E black rubber cupped oxygen mask withexpiration valve and a black metal nose bridge which is positioned just above the type 26 electromagnetic microphone REF. No. 10A/12570
Identifier
009.500.020
Provenance
The Mk. VII 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. The type E oxygen mask ws worn by the RAF on the mid war period before the introduction of the E* & G type masks.
Abstract
Good