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Some of my flight helmets and oxygen mask set ups

Edward

Well-Known Member
ya I found one without receivers and a mask snap is slightly pulled out of the leather and they want $725.

which by the way for anyone else reading... if you have an antique WW2 leather item with snaps do not, DO NOT try to unsnap anything that is attached. the leather is weak and you will most likely pull the snap right off the cap. I did not have to learn the hard way.. read this on another forum. makes sense.
 

Carl

Well-Known Member
oh, well, I didn't place the order for the Class 13 and personal equipment guide. I just ordered the Combat flying clothing and Combat flying equipment used by the USAAF for now and kept the other two on save at amazon. but... I would love the PDFs if you don't mind!
The best way ifound is to use DROPBOX

Hey. Ditto. If that’s an option.
Great shots of your collections, guys. Edward, I like that case you have the one setup in. Looks cool.
Dave
As i said to Edward Dave . I use DROPBOX to transfer the files
 

Carl

Well-Known Member
I quit actively collecting several years back and was off and on before that. If I had focused I would have had quite a collection. Then again, I’m happy I have all the other interests too.
Finally found one of these I could afford. Not the greatest shape but a representative example as is all my collection.
View attachment 8226

Yes , i was lucky sometime ago to pick my unissued AN-H-16 up for what seemed like
a mere pitance i think it was £60 sterling
 

Carl

Well-Known Member
Pics of when i first received it
DSCF3469.png
DSCF3468.png
DSCF3471.png
 

dmar836

Well-Known Member
A nice helmet for sure. I use a blunt blade as well for snaps.
I’m not very tech savvy so might take me a bit to figure that out.
Dave
 

Carl

Well-Known Member
A nice helmet for sure. I use a blunt blade as well for snaps.
I’m not very tech savvy so might take me a bit to figure that out.
Dave
Dont worry Dave ! Its easy to do ! :) im a bit of a technophobe , but i managed it ok :)
 

Edward

Well-Known Member
Edward , i have sent you the Class 13 PDF and the first 7 chapters of the Personal Equipment Officers guide (PEO ) if you can clear those files off your Dropbox account , i can send the remaining chapters .
sadly I'm showing nothing in my folder. :( are they still uploading? I know that drop box can be painfully slow at times
 

Officer Dibley

Well-Known Member
So Carl, ever thought of loaning some of you kit to a local museum if there's one near you ? You have a shit tonne of cracking stuff that many would appreciate seeing.
Or charge admission to your house on the weekends :D
 

Carl

Well-Known Member
So Carl, ever thought of loaning some of you kit to a local museum if there's one near you ? You have a shit tonne of cracking stuff that many would appreciate seeing.
Or charge admission to your house on the weekends :D
I doubt anyone would want to take the drive to my place Dave ! i live in the middle of nowhere up here in Northumberland . I havnt a clue where the nearest museum actually is that would want to show it off ????
 

Carl

Well-Known Member
That's true. Sadly not much up your way. You need to re-locate to down here in the middle of where the AAF were based !
If only we could afford to Dave , the cost of living and house prices prevents that , im only a joiner ! Anyway , tey are still dealing in sheep and Shekels up here ! :D
 

dmar836

Well-Known Member
Ah... museums. I have donated to a local CAF group's museum. They have a decent little WWII aviation museum and appreciate the history of these items but lack the knowledge and the obsession required to display these things well, IMO. They mix in civi stuff(shoes, gloves, etc.), mismatch gear, periods, theaters, allow a disproportionate amount of plastic jet models to be displayed, etc. Just not as great as it really could be with some focused attention. This is understandable as they have many other things going on but when I (then, a member and one they asked WWII uniform advice from) have offered to keep a rotating display going with fresh items, placards, etc., they declined saying the headquarters of the org insists that items must be given and not loaned to these local chapter museums. I'm unable to give things I paid a lot for just because they have no motivation to acquire them themselves. Perhaps the UK is different but even most larger museums not only insist on this same no-strings-attached donation but often shelve items, trade them, or even sell them for other items of interest. Don't think there isn't a lot of back door dealing either - something I have had to ethically struggle with. In addition, think about it - even the IWM and Hendon don't really have decked out and comprehensive AAF or RAF uniform/equipment displays though they likely have had plenty donated. They see no need nor have the interest in getting too detailed. They too have too many displays to maintain. For that reason alone I hate hearing a family or vet say "they will donate their items to a museum some day." even when it's a non-military collection they have. It seldom has the great legacy effect they assume. There are lots of ethical issues with museums if you search them out.
I have set up displays in the past and have offered frequently but seldom get interest - never expecting any sort of compensation during say small WWII plane shows or throw-back hangar dances. One would think it would be a welcomed, "value added" display to groups interested in WWII aircraft and desiring to draw interest and often financial support from the public. It's weird how we all know how historically valuable and interesting these items are and how they should be shared with today's youth but you almost have to beg to be allowed to haul, set up, tastefully display, and guard these items for the benefit of others. I will only beg so much.
Dave
 

Edward

Well-Known Member
thought I'd add this interesting pic to this thread.
1941 USAAF Cadets Try on early A-8 Oxygen Masks. Maxwell Field Louisiana

1941_a8.jpg
 
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