MS22001oxygen mask with British Type G helmet : Air Commodore J C Thorp, RAAF

United States Air Force MS22001 oxygen mask attached to a British Type G helmet. The helmet is made of a blue lightweight fabric and is fitted with leather covered ear cushions containing metallic receivers which connect to a fabric covered lead at the rear and rubber microphone lead running into the oxygen mask at the front. The wearer's name has been hand written in ink inside both ear cushions. A sewn tag on the inside rear of the helmet features the Defence Broad Arrowhead marking and indicates the size of the helmet as being size three. The MS22001 oxygen mask is made from green rubber with fabric straps and plastic buckles for attachment to the helmet. A corrugated rubber oxygen hose extends from the base of the mask and is fitted with a MC-3A oxygen connection at its end.

This item is associated with the service of Air Commodore John Charles Thorp. Thorp was born at Merrylands, NSW in 1923 and enlisted for service in October 1942 at Nelligen, NSW. Initially serving as a navigator with 550 Squadron, by the end of the Second World War, Thorp had attained the rank of flight lieutenant. Remaining with the RAAF after the war, in 1952 he flew out the second Canberra Bomber aircraft from Farnborough, England to Melbourne, Victoria in 23 hours and five minutes, breaking the record for flying time. He went on to serve as an air commodore and was discharged on 2 February 1977.