British Type C leather flying helmet : Flight Lieutenant H L Britton, 460 Squadron, RAAF

British issue brown leather Type 'C' unwired flying helmet. The helmet has a brown leather chin strap with a 'Bennett' friction fastener, and black rubber cups to protect external radio receivers (the receivers are not present). Below the rubber cups on each side of the helmet are three chromed metal snap fasteners to receive the Type 'E*' (E Star) oxygen mask. The two lower right hand snaps have a wide metal hook screwed into them, this modification allowing the Type 'G' oxygen mask to be used. At the rear of the helmet is a single buckle strap and two brown leather snap fastening tabs to secure the flying goggle straps. Another pair of snap fastening tabs for the same purpose are located at the temples. Internally, the helmet is chamois lined and has chamois ear pads to reduce external noise. There is a brown velveteen sweat absorbing panel at the brow and inside the chinstrap. Inside the helmet in black ink is written: '460 SQDN - 1943 - GERMANY/ITALY GIRONDE (1) COLOGNE (2) (1).TURIN (2) (1).MILAN (2) HAMBURG (4) HANOVER (4) BERLIN (2) KASSEL (1) MUNICH (2) NUREMBURG (1) MANNHEIM (1) LUDWIGS-HAVEN (1) PEENE-MUNDE (1) RUHR VALLEY DUSSELDORF (1) LEIPZIG (1) FRANKFURT (1) CENTIS (1) (MODANE) J.U.88 ME.109 FW.190 ME.110/210 HE.219 SAVOIA MACCETTI ITALY.' Below this is written: 'No1. SQDN. TENGAH 1950 SINGAPORE/MALAYA. 30 STRIKES.'

Worn by 413523 Flight Lieutenant Henry Luke ('Harry') Britton DFC, an Air Gunner (rear gunner) who served with 460 Squadron RAAF in Europe, flying in Lancaster bombers, and again in the 1950s with 1 Squadron RAAF in Malaya, flying in Lincolns. On 20 October 1943, Flight Sergeant Britton (as he then was) flew as rear gunner on a mission to Leipzig in Lancaster W4783 'G for George', the aircraft now belonging to the Australian War Memorial. This raid, Britton's 25th, was carried out in appalling weather, and was not considered successful.