Vintage Flying Helmets
Aviation, Military & Historical Items for Discerning Collectors
Uniforms / Hats and Clothing - British & Commonwealth
(click on pictures to enlarge)
1930s-WWII RAF Service Dress Cap for an officer of Air Rank.
Another possible Battle of Britain era item! Very nice early Air Rank officer's service dress peaked cap. High quality blue barathea with patent leather peak and two rows of "scrambled egg" bullion oak leaves. Patent leather chin strap, black mohair band and superb Air Rank cap badge. Air Rank in the RAF is equivalent to General in the Army, so these caps are rare. Some loose stitching on the interior leather sweatband which could easily be restored. No signs of moth. Satin inside the crown is sweat stained making the tailor's name difficult to read. Overall an excellent cap.
SOLD
RAF / RNZAF officer's service dress peaked (visor) cap.
Very nice wartime RAF officer's service dress cap, a recent acquisition from New Zealand which, though not attributed, was owned by an officer of the RNZAF. Shows very little wear and has a lovely shape – turned down at the sides like a "crusher" – complete with beautiful, heavily padded bullion badge and narrow leather chin strap. There a two pinhead sized moth holes on the top of the peak, and a couple of minor wear spots underneath the visor, and a couple of tiny holes on the crown - but none of these seriously detract from what is a lovely cap (and hardly show ion display - see photos). Good size 7-1/8, Roan leather sweatband, diamond shaped tailor's label (now absent). A nice example of a cap that was "there".
$275 / £210 / €250
RAAF other ranks issue sidecap named and dated 1943.
Decent displayable or wearable RAAF airman's sidecap dated 1943 and named on the label to Colman, along with his service number. There is a small repair to a 1-cm hole in the left hand side which is barely visible from a couple of feet away. Cap lacks a badge (no evidence of one ever having been fitted) but retains the two black plastic King's Crown buttons. Looks dusty in the pictures but it's just light reflecting. Apart from the one small repair, the cap is in very good and overall clean condition.
$65 / £50 / €60
Cold War era RAF Group Captain's peaked cap.
RAF Group Captain's service dress peaked cap from the early postwar years (after 1952) having a cap badge with the "Queen's Crown." Otherwise identical to the WWII types. A beautiful cap and still quite rare since this version of the officer's cap, with a single row of gold bullion "scrambled egg" on the peak, was only worn by Group Captains. Excellent condition with little wear and no damage, the only issue being a couple of small tears to the interior oilcloth lining. Tailored by Herbert Johnson of New Bond Street. Lovely patina to the bullion on the heavily padded badge as well as the peak. Patent leather chin strap and peak with green underside.
$80 / £65 / €75
RAF 1937 Pattern Frock Khaki Drill, Airmen, 1937 Pattern dated 1942.
Very good example of this often overlooked uniform item for other ranks. The 1937 Pattern khaki drill jacket (still using the parlance of "frock" on its label) is in great condition, with all original buttons. Has no insignia, including the tropical shoulder eagles which appear to have been removed a long time ago. 1942 dated label.
A good clean jacket.
$125 / £100 / €118
Superb and extremely rare Royal Flying Corps maternity tunic for other ranks.
Simply stunning example of a Royal Flying Corps maternity tunic of the type worn by other ranks (enlisted). Khaki serge wool tunic with stand up collar and wrap-over plastron front. 100% original and with original embroidered RFC shoulder tabs on black wool field. Flap pockets with buttons, fastens with buttons and hooks-snd-eyes – all present and original to the tunic. Retains 90% of its tailor's label inside the skirt: Made by
Miller Mfg Co. of Toronto. The same information is stamped inside one sleeve and there are other marks which have been obliterated (possibly laundry marks or owner's name). The condition is absolutely stunning, with the lightest signs of wear, and the slightest suggestion that perhaps "pips" were once added to the shoulder straps (a temporary field promotion maybe?). An unmessed with original that would be very difficult to upgrade. Note: pictured with field service cap and webbing belt NOT included.
$2,500 / £1,970 / €2,310
P08 British Army webbing belt dated 1916.
WWI British Army P08 pattern webbing belt with green blanco finish. Belt is dated 1916 and maker marked M.E. Co. with broad arrow property mark and size "S". Perfect display accompaniment for the RFC other ranks' maternity tunic as pictured.
$120 / £95 / €110
RAF mess dress uniform trousers, named and dated 1939.
Excellent pair of pre-war RAF mess dress trousers i fine barathea wool, tailored by Gieves for L.H.M. Hely and dated 4/39. Complete with all buttons. There is some minor moth damage; one 1/4-inch nip and a series of 5 or 6 pinhead size holes down the outside of the right leg, spaced about 4 inches apart, that are difficult to see. There is another tiny hole on the outside of the left leg and a couple of holes just below the waistline (would most likely be concealed by the jacket). None of it is very serious and practically invisible from a few feet away. Nice early date with a name to research and of course expertly tailored.
$100 / £78 / €92
WWII issue Service Dress tunic to a Warrant Officer pilot.
WWII issue Service Dress tunic to a Warrant Officer pilot. Officer quality tailoring from fine barathea wool, yet this is an issue uniform rather than privately tailored. While officers were generally expected to provide their own uniforms from private tailors, other ranks and NCOs, being less well paid, were supplied from RAF stores. Since Warrant Officers were senior NCOs who wore officers' uniforms, they were provided with officer quality materials. These were not common and don't turn up on the collector market all that often. Though not named, this Warrant Officer's SD tunic is a beautiful example of an issue "officer grade" uniform, and includes a lovely well-padded pilot wing brevet.
$250 / £190 / €230
WWII RAF Air Commodore uniform tunic.
Uniform items to officers of Air Rank (equivalent of generals) are extremely rare and do not often come up for sale. This is a lovely example of an Air Commodore's tunic, with an interesting modification. The tunic is definitely of WWII pattern, with 4 equally spaced, full-size buttons down the front (the new pattern, introduced in 1947, featured 3 full-size and one flat button, concealed behind the belt). the buttons however, have been replaced—no doubt because an officer of such standing could do so—with anodized (sta-brite) type which were created in 1950 but not actually issued until around 1954 (by which time, all buttons were Queen's crown). Since these sta-brite buttons feature the Kings crown, this Air Commodore clearly wanted to be ahead of the crowd! So, to clarify: a wartime (or pre-1947) tunic with rare first generation anodized KC buttons. No name unfortunately, but it is in great condition and has a lovely set of KC pilot wings, medal ribbons (and loops for wearing a full medal bar). Tailored by Simpsons of Piccadilly.
$500 / £385 / €455
RAF 1937 pattern webbing set with belt, cross-straps, canteen, Webley holster and ammo pouch.
Very nice RAF 1937 pattern webbing set, with all components showing equal wear, with owner's service number on belt, cross-straps and canteen cover, holster dated 1943 and ammo pouch dated 1942. Canteen cover is dated 1942. Other markings are there but faded. All hardware is made of brass with a good patina. Canteen is wool covered and retains original cork. A very nice set which will display well on a RAF tunic or uniform. RAF webbing is getting harder to find these days.
$250 / £205 / €230
RAF 1937 pattern webbing belt in excellent condition.
Very nice RAF 1937 pattern webbing belt with all brass fittings, retaining much of its original blue grey blancoed finish. Large "N" to centre and maker markings visible but difficult to determine. Excellent example.
$70 / £57 / €65
RAF other ranks sidecap dated 1943.
Excellent RAF other ranks' sidecap in excellent condition, showing virtually no wear. Maker marked and dated 1943. Size 6-1/2 so may have been issued to a WAAF (they also had the option to wear these). Perfect for display and has a lovely well polished badge and correct KC buttons.
$75 / £60 / €68
Scarce RCAF KD tunic to BCATP Air Observer School.
KD service dress tunic acquired directly from a RCAF veteran pilot who spent part of his service time as an instructor at Air Observers School #8, located at Ancienne Lorrette Airfield outside Quebec. Tunic is well-marked and dated 1942 and is fitted with scarce AOS (Air Observer School) buttons. BCATP items are scarce and would be well worth researching for more details.
$125 / £105 / €118
RAF Air Ministry issue coathanger, dated 1938.
Only ever seen one of these previously, and for a uniform collector or just as a display item, they are quite brilliant. Well made and sturdy all wood coat or uniform hanger (it has the crossbar for trousers) superbly marked with the A-crown-M and contract number as well as stores reference information. Another one of those rare and unusual accessories.
$80 / £65 / €78
RAF Warrant Officer Flight Engineer's service dress jacket dated 1945.
Nice example of an issue pattern RAF service dress uniform for a warrant officer, tailored in blue barathea wool with a blue/grey satin lining, good 1945 dated label and a nicely worn heavily-padded Flight Engineer's brevet to the left chest. Worn wings always suggest use while on operations, because the parachute harness would tend to rub the silk thread (even if a mae west is worn). Jacket shows use but no excessive wear or damage. The wool has that nice "shiny" look in a few places. Sadly no name but flight engineer uniforms are not too common in my experience.
$175 / £130 / €155
RAF War Service Dress blouse dated 1945, modified to open lay-flat collar.
Quite a rare variation of the standard War Service Dress blouse. Dated 1945, this would have been manufactured and worn with a standing collar that could be fastened up to the neck. Some officers and senior NCOs would have their tailor modify the neck to an open "lay-flat" collar, which was finally introduced as standard in later, post-war patterns. This is an example of a wartime blouse which has been modified, very nicely (though somewhat roughly on the inside). It has also had some period repairs to the back, which again have been very nicely done so as to be almost invisible. An interesting and scarce modification. All good period insignia including a nice flat Navigator brevet.
$300 / £220 / €265
RCAF officer's Service Dress uniform jacket to an Air Gunner Flying Officer.
Very nice, high quality RCAF officer's Service Dress jacket to a Flying Officer/Air Gunner. Very good condition showing only light wear, with a lovely RCAF Canadian made Air Gunner brevet. Good labels inside jacket but no sign of an owner's name.
$175 / £205 / €245
WWII dated RAF PT Shorts.
A seldom found accessory for an airman's kit. Blue grey cotton shorts used with a white t-shirt for PT every morning. In very good condition. This airman had the good sense to replace the drawstring tie with elastic which retains its stretch. Size 36 waist and well marked with a 1942 date. Very good condition.
$50 / £35 / €42
British Army officer's sidecap with Royal West Kent Regt. badge.
Excellent officer's sidecap with a beautiful slider-back cap badge of the Royal West Kent Regiment. No wear or damage but some staining to the interior. Badge and GS buttons appear to be WWI era and this may have belonged to someone serving in the Home Guard 1940-43.
$85 / £65 / €73