Pair of chamois flying gloves : Flight Lieutenant J N Hannan, RAAF

Pair of natural chamois gloves with stitching around the thumb and between each finger. Three raised ridges are stitched in the leather down the centre of the back of each glove. The gloves fasten at the wrist with a metal press stud. The inside of the left glove is marked 'HANNAN' in black ink and faintly stamped 'A.K.'. The inside of the right glove is marked '8 1/2'.

This type of glove was worn by aircrew in cold weather conditions in combination with silk inner gloves and outer leather gauntlets. 403137 Flight Lieutenant John Newman Hannan enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in December 1940, and after training became a fighter pilot, flying Hurricanes and Spitfires. In 1944 (at which time he was a Pilot Officer) he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for gallantry in operations in the Middle East and Italy, while flying with 238 Squadron, RAF. Late in the year he returned to Australia, and ended the war as an instructor at 8 Operational Training Unit, Parkes.