British Type C flying helmet : RAAF

British issue brown leather Type 'C' unwired flying helmet complete with earphones, cord, plug and oxygen mask. The helmet has a brown leather chin strap with a 'Bennett' friction fastener, and black rubber cups protecting the external radio receivers. The receivers are marked in raised letters '10A/12443' below the letters 'A M' (Air Ministry) and the King's crown. Below the radio receivers on each side of the helmet are three chromed metal snap fasteners to receive the Type 'E*' (E Star) oxygen mask. At the rear of the helmet is a single buckle strap and four brown leather snap fastening tabs to secure the flying goggle straps. Above the brow is a faint and indecipherable marking (which appears to be numerals) in white paint, and at the rear above the buckle strap are the letters 'K.S.', also in white paint. Internally, the helmet is chamois lined and has chamois ear pads to reduce external noise. There is a velveteen sweat absorbing panel at the brow and inside the chinstrap. loom wires emerge from the rear of the helmet and combine to form a 1.8 m insulated cable which ends in a large black bakelite plug. As the electrical cord from the radio receivers connects directly to the microphone of the oxygen mask, (REL/17908.002) the two can only be separated by disconnecting the wires from one or the other.

The Type 'C' unwired leather flying helmet was used by RAF and RAAF aircrew in temperate and cold climates during the period 1941-1945. It was progressively replaced by modernised versions (circa 1944 onwards) manufactured with an internal wiring loom for radio receivers and a built-in microphone plug connector on the left hand side.

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