Oxygen mask adaptor plate : Flight Lieutenant B J Reynolds, RAAF

Hard black plastic plate formed to the basic shape of a Type H oxygen mask, with a cut-out for the microphone. A pair of black metal swivels are mounted either side of this cut out and attach to a second swivel mounting, from which a pair of arms extend rearwards, each ending in a swivel mounted set of three snap fasteners attached to a backing plate. A turnbuckle fitting on each arm enables adjustments to be made. A maker's plate on the second swivel states 'AIRMED HARLOW ENGLAND PAT NO 779943 PATENTED IN PRINCIPLE COUNTRIES OVERSEAS RAF REF NO 6D/1910'.

Related to the service of 032564 Flight Lieutenant Bernard John Reynolds, born Goondiwindi, Queensland on 6 March 1931. Reynolds graduated from No. 2 Course, RAAF Point Cook in December 1952 after training on Wirraways. Assigned to 22 (Mustang) Squadron, Schofields, NSW, he converted to Mustang and Vampires at No. 2 Operational Training Unit (2 OTU), Williamtown in the following year. In July 1953 Reynolds transferred to 2 Squadron, Amberley, flying Lincolns and acted as co-pilot on one of three Lincolns tasked with flying through the atomic cloud generated by the British nuclear test at Emu Field, South Australia on 15 October 1953. With the rank of flying officer, he was transferred to RAAF Tengah at Singapore and spent 1954 and 1955 flying Lincolns operationally with 1 and 6 Squadrons on missions in Malaya during the Emergency. Reynolds returned to Australia in 1956, attending a Flying Instructors Course on Wirraway, Vampire and Winjeels and, promoted to flight lieutenant, served as a jet instructor on Vampire aircraft in 1957-58 at Central Flying School (East Sale). After serving as personal aide to Air Marshal Sir Frederick Scherger from 1959-60, Reynolds converted to the CAC CA-27 Sabre in 1961 and was appointed Flight Commander of 76 Squadron, Williamtown in 1962, a position he held until 1963. During the same period, he was leader of 76 Squadron's Red Diamonds Aerobatic Team, flying Sabres. Towards the end of 1963, Flight Lieutenant Reynolds was transferred to Perrin Air Force Base, Texas, USA on an exchange posting flying F102A Delta Daggers and the T33A Thunderbird trainer, the latter aircraft used by the Americans for aerobatic flying. In 1967, Reynolds was promoted to wing commander with postings at RAAF Staff College; Air Force Office, Canberra; Commanding Officer of the Mirage Operational Conversion Course at Williamtown (1969-70); Senior Air Staff Officer, IADS at Butterworth, Malaysia (1971-72) and later Air Commodore, Butterworth, 1979-83. Having served as Honorary ADC to two Govenors- General (Kerr and Cowen), and reached the rank of Air Vice Marshal, Reynolds retired from the RAAF in November 1985. He died just four months later, on 10 February 1986, of cancer. This early style of oxygen mask adaptor enabled the Type H oxygen mask to be fitted to the rigid 'bone dome' flying helmet used in jets.