Looking for info on an old flying helmet

[Wigglyamps]

Hi,
I have just hoiked my late Father in laws flying helmet out of the loft and just wondered if anyone could add any information (i.e. age etc). It was used for civil flying so I don't think it is military issue but who knows.
Any information or steers gratefully received.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1500x2000/img_20210825_112112_c9aca51dc0e57668a7c4ea04fd2bebabb87d880a .jpg

Regards W

[stevef]

More photos might be useful but they look to me:
Type B flying helmet
Type H oxygen mask
Mk VIII goggles.

[Wigglyamps]

More photos might be useful but they look to me:
Type B flying helmet
Type H oxygen mask
Mk VIII goggles.
Thank you for that, i will add more photos

[Wigglyamps]

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1465x1954/img_20210825_152815_d4857ddc353387466aab0513d30249126527af53 .jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1500x2000/img_20210825_152834_d5038af606281024526a7836967cd775a42af612 .jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1500x2000/img_20210825_152857_7ceefa2aa6519368f7ee68620c82e2785ef5d28f .jpg

[stevef]

Ah, that's better. It doesn't appear to be an RAF Type B helmet now. I'd suggest it's a Fleet Air Arm Type C but others may have a more definitive answer. An interesting acquisition anyway.

[pulse1]

I am not an expert but I do have one which is similar except it has headphones. I would have thought this one is a bit of a hybrid with a combination of oxygen mask with a mic but equipped with a Gosport tube. How would that work? I acquired mine to learn to fly in a Tiger Moth in 1967. Fortunately it had an electric intercom. It has the same plug.

[Wigglyamps]

I am not an expert but I do have one which is similar except it has headphones. I would have thought this one is a bit of a hybrid with a combination of oxygen mask with a mic but equipped with a Gosport tube. How would that work? I acquired mine to learn to fly in a Tiger Moth in 1967. Fortunately it had an electric intercom. It has the same plug.
Interesting you say that, my Father in law learnt to fly on tiger moths in the 50's I think, don't quite know what to do with it, whether to sell it or not.

[sycamore]

Get some leather preservative and let it soak for a few days; same with the suede cleaner inside,or use a small wire brush/hard toofbrush.It seems to have maybe Gosport-tube fittings as well as electric earpieces..An electronics guy would be able to check it out,same with the mic.The big connector is `old` style.Sympathetic cleaning and checking ,then look on `ebay` for pricing on similar,if you want to sell.Goggles and mic clean as well. you can get,on ebay, replacement elastic,not `old knicker `stuff..Stretch it over a `head size` ball,or mannequin head....Nice memento...

[dduxbury310]

One thing not specifically stated, but implicit in the designations, is that this equipment is pretty well 100% military (RAF, although as noted, FAA had their variations). RAF would have used such equipment (thinking of goggles and helmet in particular) until early/mid 1950s, when the first of the protective helmets were introduced (Mk.1) with the version with first up/down visor (Mk.1A) introduced shortly after that. There were also other tropical helmets introduced during WW2 which were made from "breathable" (cellular cotton weave) materials, but of somewhat similar pattern, some with neck flaps to protect the skin from sunburn. The Type G oxygen mask was gradually replaced by the superior Type H from about 1944/45, but the MK. VIII goggles were "timeless" and very similar ones were also manufactured for motorcycle riders for many years. "Electric" and "Gosport" microphone/telephone fittings could only be of use in one configuration or the other, at least so far as I know! The RAF Type C leather helmet was made in the tens of thousands, and no doubt many would have been "pensioned off" by the RAF in the 1950s and ended up with civilian pilots who liked (or had no choice!) flying in open-cockpit aeroplanes, in either configuration. The original natural rubber oxygen masks had the date of manufacture inherent in the rubber, and they tended to deteriorate with age, although the Type H mask seemed to have a fairly long life. However original Type G masks would by now be in a rather sad condition; I curated quite a collection at RNZAF Museum in 1990s/early 2000s, and all but one of the "G" type were getting pretty bad by then.
David D

[Cornish Jack]

Very similar to the kit we were issued with in '53 - except for the Gosport tube. I still have the leather helmet, minus the earphones and Mk 8s.

[Wigglyamps]

Thanks very much for all the information, very useful.
W

[GeeRam]

Ah, that's better. It doesn't appear to be an RAF Type B helmet now. I'd suggest it's a Fleet Air Arm Type C but others may have a more definitive answer. An interesting acquisition anyway.

I would agree with the Fleet Air Arm Type C as being what it is most likely to be.