Vintage Flying Helmets
Aviation, Military & Historical Items for Discerning Collectors
Flying Goggles
(click on pictures to enlarge)
WWII wartime production RAF Mk VIII flying goggles.
Very good pair of Mk VIII goggles showing all the features of wartime production: rolled edge to the frames, high padded shoulders, separate cushions and what appears to be a faint A-crown-M emboss to the leather behind the bridge. This pair shows light use but no excessive wear and is fitted wih a good strap retaining much of its original elasticity.​
​
$250 / £195 / €230
AAF Type A-6 cold-weather / high-altitude flying goggles.
Original A-6 and A-7 flying goggles are extremely rare. These were made for high altitude and cold weather use in exposed crew positions and featured either B-6 or B-7 frames with an enlarged cushion designed to integrate with the A-6 leather oxygen / face mask. These A-6 goggles utilized the exact same frames as the B-6 but with the wide cushion. The original rubber cushions were thin and fragile and did not survive well. This pair of original goggles has been professionally retrofitted with an excellent reproduction cushion made from thin, tan coloured rubber lined with soft chamois. Excellent for display or re-enactment
​
$275 / £215 / €255
RAF Mk VII goggles with extremely rare flip-up polarizng sun screen.
Excellent pair of Mk VII flying goggles, showing light use, complete with the ultra rare flip-up/down polarizing sun screen for helping to spot the "hun-in-the-sun." Goggles are in overall very good condition, retaining their original shape and 90+% original ultramarine blue painted finish. Frames are straight, more-or-less free of dings and dents. Leather is good, chamois pads are slightly grubby and padding has hardened a little, but they display very well. Original strap has lost much of its elasticity. Screen is in good condition, straight with very slight surface warping. Mk VII goggles were mostly issued without the screens and are very rare to find with the screen in place!​
​
$1,250 / £970 / €1,155
Early WWI Royal Flying Corps goggle mask.
The perfect companion for the Cowl helmet shown above: this early goggle mask features oval laminated glass lenses in alloy frames with a chenille trimmed, velvet lined suede mask and elastic strap which still has some stretch. While definitely showing use, the goggle mask remains in good condition, it's maleable wire frame still intscat and able to be bent to fit tightly. Lenses are good and leather mask is very good. The cotton knit surrounds have split, one side showing an old repair, the other side remains torn but still functional. The chenille trim shows some loss at lower edge but overall, for a pair of goggles dating to around 1914, these display remarkably well. Clasp on strap marked JKO Co.​
​
$375 / £290 / €34
email to secure this item
​
American Optical "Skyway" goggles, modified to look like Japanese goggles (possibly a movie prop?)
American Optical "Skyway" type goggles with the rubber pads removed and replaced with a reddish-brown velvet cushion to look like Japanese flying goggles. Most likely done for an older film production. Actually very well done and in excellent condition, complete with amber tinted acetate lenses. Show very little use or wear and the elastic stretches perfectly. Chas Fischer Spring engraved details are still visible on the lower edge of the frame. ​
​
$120 / £98 / €118
​
RAF Mk VIII goggles.
Post war production Mk VIII goggles which show lots of use and character. One lens is age tinted (can be restored with care) but leather pads are good, if grubby, and strap, which is a very old replacement, still has elasticity. Price based on condition but still usable.​
​
$100 / £85 / €98
​
A good working set of AAF Polaroid variable density goggles.
Excellent example of these strange and fascinating gggles in good working order. Turning the central knob rotates the lenses in a way which darkens them until they turn full red. Rubber is soft, elastic strap still stretches like new. One of the best sets I have come across. Used for observing tracer, anti-aircraft and also atomic detonations.
​
$75 / £60 / €72
Unusual AAF M-1944 / B-8 flying goggles, boxed with extra lenses.
A very unusual variation of the B-8 / M-1944 goggles, which would seem to indicate that the B-8 was actually a sub-species of the M-1944. An instruction sheet with details suggests that the lenses for the B-8 version of the M-1944 are slightly smaller and require special care. See photos for details. Conditio is very good to excellent, showing light use but no damage. Extra lenses are in a specially marked envelope with specific instructions. Box is labeled as "Goggles, M-1944, Type B-8." Very interesting variant for the connoisseur of AAF flying goggles.
​
ON HOLD
WWII Italian Air Force "Protector" goggles with case.
Very good rare pair of "Protector" goggles by "La Cicogna" (The Stork) of Turin. These were popular in the 1930s with Italian racing and competition pilots and continued in use throughout the war. Well marked throughout and though the strap has lost its elasticity and the rubber cushions have hardened, they display well. Cushions have no damage and are not misshaped in any way. Complete with their original aluminium case which is also well marked.
​
$335 / £260 / €310
USN marked, 1945 dated Type M-1944 all purpose/flying goggles.
Excellent pair of M-1944 all-purpose goggles by Polaroid, marked USN and dated 1945 on the side of the frames. Rubber is good and pliable with a nice green tinted acetate lens and green strap retaining a little bit of elasticity. Favoured by pilots and aircrews serving on carriers in the Pacific.
​
$75 / £58 / €68
US Army / AAF / USN Polaroid 1021 all-purpose goggles.
​
Though issued as "All-Purpose" goggles, these proved popular with aviators in both the AAF and USN – and also with the RAF (notably RAF ace Ginger Lacey is often pictures wearing these). Very good condition; the rubber is flexible and the elastic stretches perfectly. The sponge backing is a little dry but not perished or flaking at all and still springy. Good green lens fitted.
​
$75 / £58 / €68
Original wartime used Bausch & Lomb Ray-Ban sunglasses.
​
"Ray-Ban" sunglasses fist appeared in the 1930s and soon became so popular with aviators that the Army Air Corps contracted with Bausch & Lomb to produce sunglasses under contract. This is an early example of commercial Ray-Bans, which came with a large collection of wartime AAF kit. They are well used though still intact with good hinges, clean light green lenses and all parts complete. Frames show some verdigris and oxidation and the crossbar is split (but intact and could be restored if desired) but the all important maker mark "Bausch & Lomb" clearly visible on the bridge.
​
$75 / £62 / €70
RAF aircrew "haze" screen by Kodak.
Issued to observers on maritime and other reconnaissance aircraft as an aid to spotting oil slicks, submarines, enemy aircraft etc. Each coloured filter served a different purpose depending on weather conditions. Officially recorded as flying clothing these were issued as flying goggles with the stores ref. number 22C/872.
Wooden frame is maker marked (Kodak Ltd, London). Later examples were made of bakelite and had a cut out for use with an oxygen mask. Not a common item.
​
$135 / £110 / €125
Scarce Italian Air Force issue "Protector" type flying goggles.
By far the most popular of the Italian Air Force flying goggles of WWII, these "Protector" goggles were worn by the competitive racing pilots and retained for use by combat aircrews. Plated frames with tubular rubber cushions, clear glass lenses and a silky elastic strap. The cushions are perfectly pliable and frames are without any dings or damage. Strap is slightly stretched out butu still retains its elasticity. A lovely example of these quite rare goggles.
​
$300 / £230 / €280
Luftwaffe / Heer all purpose goggles..
Very good pair of German WWII all purpose goggles, worn for dust protection in desert regions and carried in the Luftwaffe survival kits. The leather is actually really good and soft, though scuffed at the folds from storage (looks worse in the photos). Part cotton and part elastic strap still has elasticity.
​
$75 / £60 / €70
US Navy Korean War aviator's red sunglasses for night vision adaption and for observing tracer.
​
Same style as WWII US Navy sunglasses but oilcloth case is marked USN and dated 1954. Fitted with a single, red acetate lens which wraps around to block out as much outside light as possible. These were worn half an hour before night flight to acclimatize the wearer to the dark. They were also worn to observe tracer ammunition. Maker marked "Pioneer" these sunglasses have plastic frames with comfort cables and are in excellent condition. The snap fastener on the case has pulled through but still present.
​
$65 / £52 / €60
RAF anti-dim cloth in tin as issued with the Mk VIII goggles.
​
A hard-to-find accessory: the small tin containing anti-dim cloth as issued with every pair of Mk VIII goggles. The cloth impregnated with a compound that, when moistened, was rubbed on the lenses and prevented them from fogging up in flight. Excellent condition, some patina to the tin but cloths inside are perfect. A few available.
​
Price each
​
$25 / £20 / €23
WWI—1920s Triplex flying goggles.
​
An unusual and well-made pair of early flying goggles of American manufacture but using British Triplex lenses made under license. The lenses are typical Triplex design - laminated glass (showing minor signs of delamination) but fitted in nickel plated frames with green cotton surrounds and faux fur trim. Long elastic strap has lost its elasticity and needs tidying up to fit, but overall a very nice and unusual set of goggles, perfect for a Great War display.
​
$185 / £150 / €170
WWII US Navy Willson General Purpose goggles.
Often mistaken for flying goggles because of their resemblance to the "Rubber Frame Flying Goggles" also made by Willson. These were general purpose goggles issued to US Navy personnel such as gunners, observers and submarine crews for protection and visibility in hazy conditions. All rubber construction with an acetate lens and multiple vents to prevent fogging. Excellent condition, with original strap retaining its elasticity. Not easy to find!
​
$95 / £80 / €90
Post WWII USSR flying/general purpose goggles.
Glass lenses, light alloy frames and one-piece rubber pad with a green elastic strap. These goggles are identical to the type issued during WWII and which remained as standard issue throughout the Cold War. The only visible difference is that wartime flying goggles had raised vents on the frames. Unissued condition and will serve as a filler until a pair of wartime production goggles can be found.​
​
$35 / £30 / €32
1944 dated Polaroid variable density goggles for observing tracer, atomic detonations etc. issued overseas, possibly Croatia?
Standard type variable density goggles by Polaroid, with central knob for adjusting darkness of tint and red flip shield for observing tracer ammunition and other incendiary devices. Very good condition, the rubber pliable and the strap retaining most elasticity. The knob, though a bit stiff, works fine and the lenses do darken nicely. The red screen is undamaged. Though marked US and dated 1944 to the front, these goggles are also marked with a crown and the initials HV. Never seen this before. HV is the national abbreviation for Croatia (Hrvatska) and the crown appears to be that of the Coatian aristocracy from 1939-43. Perhaps these were captured or procured by Croatian forces? Interesting. If anyone has more information, please don't hesitate to share!
​
$75 / £68 / €75
Replacement visor for the rare RAF Mk 2A bone-dome flying helmet.
Size LARGE replacement or spare visor for the Mk 2A bone-dome. This is has never been used (the holes are not drilled all the way through). Some very minor surface scratching but overall excellent example, rose smoke tinted with the clear half moons at the bottom. A very rare accessory for an extremely rare jet flying helmet.
​
$190 / £165 / €190
Replacement lenses for RAF Mk II goggles.
These will work for the RAF Mk II goggles (Goggles, Flying, Lightweight) and also the WWI Goggles Mask Mk I and II. Precision, laser cut acryllic/plexiglas/perspex lenses in a light smoke tint intended to make the goggles display well or safer for wearing. How many times we come across goggles with cracked or broken lenses - or delaminated. These are not intended to fool anyone but they look the part. They come as a pair, left and right, with protective plastic cover in place, in a small velverteen pouch with a cleaning cloth.
​
$35 / £33 / €37
WWII replacement lenses for the AAF B-6, B-7, AN6530 + USN Mk II and Mk IV flying goggles.
Various available. Email to ask about green, amber or clear:
USN contract American Optical lenses clear (paper wrapped, unopened):
Per pair $35 / £33 / €37
​
A few loose (unwrapped) pairs and a few singles. email your needs.
​