Vintage Flying Helmets
Aviation, Military & Historical Items for Discerning Collectors
Flying Clothing
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Extremely rare AAF Type A-7 shoes.
One of the rarest items of AAF flying clothing and the first pair I have ever come across. The A-7 shoes were standardized as early as 1937 and worn throughout the war. Initially developed as an insert to be worn inside the A-6 flying boots, they were often also worn alone. Made from uncoated shearling with leather seam reinforcement and felt soles with a simple drawstring tie around the top. This example shows very light use and are slightly grubby from storage. Both shoes are named. An incredible find!
$575 / £445 / €535
AAF Type A-8 quilted, down-filled cold weather flying trousers.
Standardized in 1943 and worn by heavy bomber crews from then until the end of the war, the A-8 trousers were made from heavy fabric with a quilted and down-filled lining to be lighter weight than shearling and offer greater warmth at high altitude. They were worn with the B-9 parka which was also down-filled, as well as the B-10 and B-15 jackets. This pair is in superb, unissued condition, size 38 waist. Good label and two AAF acceptance stamps to front (large and small). This pair would be very difficult to upgrade.
$155 / £120 / €145
RAF silk liners for 1933 Pattern Flying Gloves.
These scarce early silk liners came with the above flying gloves, but as can be seen, show actual wear and use. They are in very good and clean condition, except the outer layer of silk is worn through on both thumbs and one forefinger. It seems to be just the outer layer of silk which has separated and almost shredded. Many RAF aircrews, though issued gloves and liners as a set, wore only the silks (notably navigators and flight engineers) and that may be the case here – but since the liners are worn and gloves are not, they are offered separately. Size 8 and wonderful early Air Ministry markings inside.
$155 / £120 / €145
Scarce AAF Type N-2 Extreme Cold Weather/emergency/
rescue mittens for aircrews.
Actually developed for emergency use/rescue/survival, these mittens were produced in a very small quantity in June 1945 and never standardized for issue. Very simple in construction and unlined, they were intended to be worn over heavy inner gloves.
$65 / £50 / €60
Exceptional matching pair of RAF 1933 Pattern Flying Gloves.
RAF flying gloves rarely come in matching pairs because left and right gloves were produced in different factories in order to discourage theft. This a very rare opportunity to own a pair that is perfectly matched, suggesting a very early production run. Both are the same size (9), have identical markings, identical zips and pullers, identical patterns and a virtually perfect colour match – they are also in superb condition, showing no wear or use, just a little verdigris from storage. The classic "straight zip" Battle of Britain flying gloves.
$450 / £345 / €405
AAF Type Q-1 electrically-heated shoe inserts in unissued, unused condition.
Issued to combat aircrews in heavy bombers such as the B-17 and B-24 for protection against the cold at high altitude. Made by Lion Products, Inc. and well marked with AAF emblem and instruction/nomenclature labels. These were intended to be worn over shoes and inside the shearling A-6 boots. OD green cotton with snaps/press studs that carried the current from the electrically wired suits. Fantastic condition, would be very difficult to find better.
$75 / £60 / €68
Modified British Army flying boots possible USAAF use?
Very interesting pair of flying boots, which may have been tailored for a USAAF pilot/crewman or perhaps modified from a pair of British Army issue flying boots. They definitely appear to be British style and construction, in high quality brown leather, calf skin lined, and mid-calf length. The rear seams have been cut apart and WWII pattern Talon zip fasteners sewn into place, making the boots easier to put on and take off. These zips appear to have been added by a rigger. In so doing, the original height of the boots may have been cut down slightly at the back to accommodate the zips. Leather soles are original. Modification has been done well and they are a very nice pair of boots. British Army flying boots, similar to the RAF 1936 pattern boots but considerably shorter and brown leather, were issued to Glider pilots and Army Co-operation pilots.
$225 / £180 / €210
AAF Intermediate Flying Gloves Type AN-G-29.
Very good pair of AN-G-29 leather flying gloves. Unlined dark brown leather showing light use but no wear or damage. Size medium.
$110 / £88 / €102
RAF Dual Purpose flying suit (Harnessuit) by GQ - early manufacture and issue date.
Very nice early example of the GQ Dual Purpose flying suit, developed by the Irving Air Chute company as the "Harnessuit". It housed both a parachute harness and flotation device, and was adaptable as a seat-type or observer (chest type) parachute, either of which could be clipped to the built-in hardware on the suit. As with most of these suits, the hardware has long since been removed and there is no internal harness fitted. However it does retain the housing for the inflatable stole (bladder) often missing, secured by brass buttons. There are two very small holes in the side where the metal slide fitting for the seat parachute cable was seated, and one very small area where the stitching on the seam at the side has separated - no damage to the fabric - and this would be a simple repair. Of interest is the early contact/manufacture date of 1939 and the early acceptance stamp of June 1940 (most I have seen are dated September or October). Also of note is the fact that it utilizes parts from the earlier combination flying suit in blue grey fabric suggesting that wartime austerity practices were already in place this early. Overall a very good and quite unusual example of this very popular flying suit which would lend itself well to a full restoration.
$550 / £425 / €495
Scarce RAF brogue waders and boots for flying boat crews.
One of the more scarce and unusual items of flying/aircrew clothing I have ever come across! A lovely set of Air Ministry marked Brogue Waders and boots. First used in the 1920s with early flying boats, but still issued in WWII to the aircrews and handling crews of Sunderlands and Catalinas and other flying boats and seaplanes. These were also used when the RAF began competing in the Schneider Trophy races with seaplanes and the pilot had to be carried to and from his aircraft so he didn't get wet. Comprises a very sturdy pair of rubberized canvas and leather boots, size 11 and well marked, with metal studs for gripping the seabed. These were worn over thigh-length waders or bib-stype overalls made of the same rubberized canvas fabric. This pair includes thigh-high waders which are also faintly marked but less discernable. One wader is missing its strap and buckle, one has a few small holes in the foot area, but the canvas remains overall supple and flexible. The set appears unissued with just storage wear and some oxidation to the metal studs in the sole. Quite a rarity and a wonderful display item for any flying boat or Schneider Trophy competition exhibit.
$750 / £595 / €695
RAF Type D flying gloves, non-matching pair.
Excellent non-matching pair of Type D flying gloves. Near perfect match in the colour of the leather, but one is marked as a size 9-1/2 while the other is marked a size 10. However they seem to be a very close match in size and it's hard to tell when wearing them or placing them together. One has a broad arrow marked label and the other has a nice A-crown-M label. These and other gloves were often issued non-matching and I have no doubt these were always together this way (although they appear unissued).
$120 / £95 / €112
Rare Japanese Army Air Force flying gloves.
Fantastic pair of extremely rare Japanese Army Air Force flying gloves, made of soft brown suede, with knit wool linings and trimmed with rabbit fur. Each glove is well marked with nice crisp stamping and has a leather thing tightening strap. These show very light wear, and there is a tiny split on the left hand index finger, and a very small seam separation on the middle finger. Very hard to find and a more beautiful example.
$450 / £355 / €415
Complete panel of an early wartime silk parachute / scarf.
Hard to tell if this is from a US or British made parachute, but it is silk, not rayon or nylon, and the only marking is the panel number 15. Measures about 12' (365cm) long by about 3' ( 92cm) at it's widest end, going down to 6" (15cm) at the thin end. Clean, excellent condition and would make several great scarves or could be used to wrap the packing on an actual parachute.
$125 / £100 / €115
Original replacement knit waistband for an A-2 flying jacket.
Original knit waistband for the A-2 flying jacket. New, old stock medium brown wool knit waistband, unused and in perfect condition, with no moth nips or snags. If you have a A-2 jacket with a tatty waistband (as many are) this will bring your jacket back like new.
ONE LEFT IN STOCK.
$75 / £60 / €70
US Navy Air Gunner's mittens
Absolutely superb pair of US Navy Air Gunner's mittens with separate "trigger" finger in outstanding condition. High quality black leather with beautiful gold foiled USN tp both gauntlets and tab indicating size 9. Leather lined gauntlet and fleece lined mitten. They show very little wear. Superb quality.
$135 / £110 / €125
AAF Type A-12 Arctic weather / High-Altitude flight mittens.
Very good used pair of AAF high-altitude, extreme cold (Arctic) mittens for wear over other gloves for flight and ground crews. Olive drab green cotton mittens with leather palms and heavy alpaca lining in the hand section, with a friction tightening strap at the wrist. These would typically be worn withe the B-9 or B-11 Parka. Both still have their tags attached and are dated 1944.
$75 / £62 / €70
WWII US Navy flying gauntlets for an air gunner.
Very good used pair of flying gauntlets as issued to US Navy air gunners in the European theatre. Dark brown leather with fleece lining, designed as mittens with a separate trigger finger. One small nick (1 cm / 0.5") in the right hand thumb. USN in a box stamped on the back of both hands. Curiously, like RAF gloves, not quite a perfect matching pair, but very close, with a very slight colour variation. Both are marked Medium size. Zips in good working order. Super high quality leather and quite a scarce item.
$135 / £110 / €125
Early Luftwaffe 2-piece winter weight Channel Suit for wear over water.
Blue grey suede Channel suit comprsing shearling jacket and matching "Channel" trousers which has seen plenty of action. Suit remains in fair to good condition, the jacket showing the most wear. The main zip has been replaced (period) but has a break in the tape. It can be closed carefully. Sleeve zips are stiff but working though the pullers are broken. Waistband has been replaced (again, this appears to be period and new waistband shows plenty of use). Collar is worn and has a tear but could be repaired. With care, this jacket could most certainly be restored. The trousers are in better condition, with original functioning zips and all pockets complete with loops, tabs and flaps for storing survival kit. The leg/flag pocket is missing part of the snap fastener and there are a couple of very neat repairs (and one not so neat which could be field repair) but are otherwise in very good condition. Zips are an unusual maker, marked DePe and Czechoslovakia. The label inside the trousers is also unusual and has an open ended early date (193_). It's possible the suit was made in Czechoslovakia, which is an interesting variation. Overall it's a perfectly displayable example of a used suit, priced according to its condition.
$1,100 / £875 / €1,030
RAF Mosquito Boots dated 1944.
Well above average, very good clean pair of RAF Mosquito boots in brown suede with drawstring ties to keep out mosquitoes and other pests. These boots were originally intended for ground crews in desert conditions, but were quickly seized by pilots and aircrews, notably fighter pilots, who recognized their immense value. The boots were produced in both green and brown suede; this pair is brown, which seems to be the less common. They are well marked, size 8 UK (9 US) with Air Ministry crown and broad arrow. They are also marked inside the foot (impossible to get a photo but very clearly visible) with the maker's name: John White, and a date of 1944. Original soles and heels all in excellent condition and very light wear overall. As nice a pair as you will find.
$575 / £480 / €545
RAF Mk 14 Flying Suit/overalls named to a Hawk pilot with pilot wings and squadron patch attached.
Dating from 1992-1994, this flying suit was worn by a pilot of 234 squadron, No. 4 (Advanced) Flying School at RAF Valley in North Wales flying British Aerospace Hawk. Unusual in that the suit still has the owner's named pilot wing patch, Hawk shoulder patch and 234 Squadron patch attached. In excellent condition - and still has the handwritten pre-flight checklist and flight data inside the thigh pockets. All zips in good working order, no wear or damage. A great modern era flying suit.
$175 / £135 / €160