British Type G oxygen mask (with wooden bung) : Warrant Officer L W Candy RAAF, 31 Squadron RAF

Type 'G' green rubber oxygen mask with wooden bung fitted in place of the microphone. The mask is lined with brown chamois leather, and has blue/grey elastic straps for attachment to a flying helmet. The left hand cheek of the mask has a mesh covered valve to allow the passage of ambient air. Raised markings on the mask read 'A M MEDIUM' (size) and 'DETACH TUBE HERE' with an arrow indicating the location point. Below the wooden bung, on the base of the mask, are inlet and exhaust valves for the oxygen supply, but the black rubber oxygen hose which should attach to the inlet valve is not fitted.

The Type 'G' oxygen mask entered RAF service in 1943. Its main advantage over earlier masks was in the channeling of cool fresh oxygen into the upper part, while carrying warm exhaled air out at the bottom. Together with the new chamois lined rubber construction, this largely alleviated the condensation problems experienced with earlier masks. The Type 'G' was extensively used by RAF and RAAF aircrew for the rest of the war, and remained in service well afterwards. This mask is associated with 50074 Warrant Officer Len Candy, RAAF, who enlisted in Janaury 1942 as a Flight Mechanic and trained at 7 SFTS Denniliquin (Wirraways). Posted to the United Kingdom, he sailed aboard the 'New Amsterdam' in January 1944. He converted to Oxfords and was posted to Transport Command. He was then posted to Karachi followed by the OTU at Chaklala. Candy joined 31 Squadron RAF and flew Dakotas in India until his discharge in April 1946.