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 | USAAF Air Crew Cap Heavy Type D1-A - This cap is just post-WWII and is used with an A-1A flying shirt and E-1A trousers. Like most clothing from the period just post WWII, all these items came in blue, green, and sage green. The green clothing usually had no suffix, such as "D-1", the blue clothing usually had an "A" such as D-1A, and the sage green usually was "B". This example is in very good issued condition with clear AAF decal to rear and inside issue label. Size large.
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| Item 5134 Limited Edition Print signed by Group Captain Leonard Cheshire VC - We have been fortunate to purchase four limited edition prints which we are listing today, all published by 'Legends' (UK) in 1989. Each is signed in pencil by the artist J.G.Keek and the subject, in this case Group Captain Leonard Cheshire, of 617 Dambusters Squadron. The print is numbered 602 of a limited edition of the 1000 produced in total. Group Captain Geoffrey Leonard Cheshire, VC, OM, DSO with Two Bars and DFC really needs no introduction but was born 7 September 1917 and died on 31 July 1992. He became a highly decorated Royal Air Force pilot during the Second World War. He was appointed as Commanding Officer of the legendary 617 "Dambusters" Squadron in September 1943 and pioneered a unique and effective way of marking targets. The 617 crest and motto 'Après Moi Le Deluge' is shown top right of the print. Cheshire was nearing the end of his fourth tour of duty in July 1944, having completed a total of 102 Operations, when he was awarded the Victoria Cross with his citation noting : "In four years of fighting against the bitterest opposition he maintained a standard of outstanding personal achievement, his successful operations being the result of careful planning, brilliant execution and supreme contempt for danger – for example, on one occasion he flew his Mustang in slow 'figures of eight' above a target obscured by low cloud, to act as a bomb-aiming mark for his squadron. Cheshire displayed the courage and determination of an exceptional leader".He was the youngest Group Captain in the RAF and one of the most highly decorated pilots of the war, but after serving as the British observer on the Nagasaki nuclear attack he resigned from the Air Force in 1946. He subsequently founded a hospice that grew into the charity 'Leonard Cheshire Disability', and he became known for his work in conflict resolution; he was created Baron Cheshire in 1991 in recognition of his charitable work. For those who have not read his book 'Bomber Pilot' I commend it to you and it helped inspire my love of aviation back in the 1960's. This print (and the others we have purchased) came sealed in acetate and we have left them sealed to protect them. So the actual image quality is better than that shown in our listing. This print is a large size at 24" x 1`6" (60 cm x 40 cm) and would benefit from being framed sand glazed. The print is not faded in any way and the original Cheshire pencil signature is strong. Clearly a signed limited edition that can never be repeated so grab it whilst you can!
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| WWII French Air Force Mechanic's Wings - Corresponding to the RAF Flight engineer 1936 specification. Issued to mechanics after 200 hours flying service. Gold bullion wire with engineer's motif below and set on a dark blue felt background. Minor wear but a 100% genuine period example with evidence of stitching where it has been removed from a uniform tunic. Good issued condition. Measures 4" (10.5 cm)
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| 'Buzzy Bee' Logo Panel - This one is a bit of a mystery! We purchased it from an auction together with a section of aircraft fabric cut from a De Havilland Hornet Moth circa 1936. Anyone interested in such things will find it listed on page 117 of Mick Prodger's excellent 'Trending Collectables 2015 Price Guide'- if you don't yet have one in your library please get in touch as we have a few copies left. When purchased we were told the vendor had stated 'both items had come from a defunct private museum here in the UK that had closed down' and our panel had been 'cut from a 1930's racing aircraft that had crashed shortly after WWII.' We have no firm evidence to back this up although having researched the Hornet Moth canvas the story told lined up exactly as told. This panel is we believe made from aluminium and is of riveted construction. It has minor 'creases' in places but is generally flat so ideal for wall display. The 'Buzzy Bee' image is very decorative and has been sprayed against a white roundel which is 24" in diameter (61 cm) ; this in turn is set over a black and yellow background. The paint is still quite bright but has lifted in places as shown in our attached image. The metal does not have any identifying marks to help us obtain any sort of ID although the front does carry a quite crudely painted 'L471'.This could just be a collection reference number so is really no help to us. The panel needs to be handled carefully as the edges are cut metal but mounted on a wall it make a decorative talking point. Of course if any visitors to the site can assist with any additional information concerning this piece we would be delighted to hear from you. It is a slightly irregular size but the approximate measurements are 33" x 23" (84 cm x 58 cm).
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| RAF Type H Oxygen Mask - First issued in early 1944 the H mask replaced the earlier G pattern and it remained in RAF service, with minor modifications, for the remainder of the 20th century. This example Stores Reference 6D/2244098 is broad arrow marked and was manufactured in March 1985 and has never been issued. When purchased it came complete in its original packaging with attached documentation that confirmed it was declared 'Serviceable' by 16 Maintenance Unit Stafford when last checked in December 1997! This example is marked 'Small' and is fitted with an Amplivox 13100 microphone and mint communication cord and female plug. A full elastic harness is fitted, again in unissued condition, with snaps and clips to use with RAF C, D & E pattern flying helmets as well as the later G. The harness also features the reversible 'quick connect' loops for use with the later metal oxygen mask hooks. If the mask is required without the elastic webbing harness please contact us for a separate price. Despite now being 31 years old this example is effectively as good as they come and is in factory fresh condition. Like all items offered on the site this is for sale as a collectable only, although subject to the correct checks we feel it is highly likely it is still in working condition but we can't guarantee this. These masks are no longer in production so grab the opportunity now to purchase one of the last genuine 'mint and boxed' examples whilst our very limited stocks remain.
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| Aircraft Access Panel Ex USAAF Base Grafton Underwood - On offer are further relic items from our Grafton Underwood collection. Firstly we have an access panel, again probably from a crashed B-17. This still has the majority of its olive drab paint to the outside as well as Northamptonshire mud. The items has clearly not been touched since it was recovered from the ground. The mud still attached to the unpainted inside indicates this part was unbolted from larger section of airframe after it came down. The remains of stencilling is shown on the inside face. Not easy to distinguish now but we presume it identified the location of the panel. Included with this lot are two aluminium frame parts of curved form and again showing original olive paint and evidence ground recovered. One is tamped 930 in a box. The final item in this grouping looks more like a BBQ spit rather than an aircraft part! However it marking 41-8184 seems to confirm otherwise. It is made from stainless steel but function and location on the aircraft is a complete mystery The larger panel section measures 30" x 10.5" (76 cm x 27 cm)
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| Aircraft relic from 384 Bomb Group Grafton Underwood - Another item from our Grafton Underwood collection. We are unsure what part this is although we speculated could have formed part of the control column linkage as the central shaft twists which in turn rotates the drive via a 90 degree link at the base. It also moves forward and back. One thing for sure it is profusely marked and the fact it is clearly stamped 'Boeing' leads us to surmise, like the other parts we have listed today, this was another crash relic recovered from a B-17 Fortress. In addition to the Boeing l stamp it is marked BE and 43-8755 and elsewhere 43-8743, 43-8756, ALCOA-157R, U 995 and others stamps. So if any visitor to the site can confirm what and where this came from on the aircraft we can add a more authoritative description! Condition is generally good and the mechanism still works and one of the bolts is still wired. Measures 29" (74 cm)
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| Outfit First -Aid For An Airborne Lifeboat - On offer is a scarce wooden case complete with most of its original wartime contents which formed an important part of the standard contents of the RAF's airborne lifeboat system. These were designed by Ufa Fox in 1943 to be dropped from the carrying aircraft (Lockheed Hudson and later Vickers Warwick) to aid the rescue of allied aircrews downed at sea. The lifeboat was 32' in length (10M) and was a wooden canoe shaped craft which came complete with sails and a 4 horsepower engine. When released from the mother aircraft at 700' (210 M) its decent was slowed by six parachutes. On hitting the water these were jettisoned and coamings were inflated to make the boat self-righting. The lifeboats carried a wide range of rescue/emergency equipment including a Gibson Girl transmitter, waterproof suits with insulated linings, rations, signalling devices and of course the first aid kit. Our set is in its original grey painted wooden case which measures 12" x 12" x 4.5" (30 cm x 30 cm x 12 cm) with stencilling to lid 'First Aid Outfit' Stores Reference 9A-02420, a red cross and below 'Airborne Lifeboat'. Whilst the set contains what looks to be the original wartime issue contents we understand this would have been sealed in an inner galvanised lining to protect the medical supplies from the elements. This is now missing but does not detract from a display point of view. Many of the items are wartime dated and carry stamps such as 'H.M.Government March/June 1939' or 'Air Ministry Medical Department January 1944'. The comprehensive contents also include malaria tablets, sun screen and lip salves, essential sea sickness tablets clearly marked 'for Military use only' and much else besides. The inside lid of the case is stamped AM with a Kings Crown and when opened the smell reminds me of my late Grandmothers medicine cabinet! In a lifetime collecting I have never seen another and this is very much a museum grade artefact which most specialist museums would love to own. We can only imagine today the feelings of a downed Bomber Command crew on seeing an airborne lifeboat floating down and it must have felt as close as they could get to the biblical 'Manna from Heaven'. Grab it whilst you can as it certainly won't be with us long!
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| RAF Type H Oxygen Mask - First issued in early 1944 the H mask replaced the earlier G pattern and it remained in RAF service, with minor modifications, for the remainder of the 20th century. This example Stores Reference 6D/2244098 is broad arrow marked and was manufactured in March 1985 and has never been issued. When purchased it came complete in its original packaging with attached documentation that confirmed it was declared 'Serviceable' by 16 Maintenance Unit Stafford when last checked in December 1997! This example is marked 'Small' and is fitted with an Amplivox 13100 microphone and mint communication cord and female plug. A full elastic harness is fitted, again in unissued condition, with snaps and clips to use with RAF C, D & E pattern flying helmets as well as the later G. The harness also features the reversible 'quick connect' loops for use with the later metal oxygen mask hooks. If the mask is required without the elastic webbing harness please contact us for a separate price. Despite now being 31 years old this example is effectively mint and boxed and is in factory fresh condition inside and out. Like all items offered on the site this is for sale as a collectable only, although subject to the correct checks we feel it is highly likely it is still in working condition but we can't guarantee this. These masks are no longer in production so grab the opportunity now to purchase one of the last genuine 'mint and boxed' examples whilst our very limited stocks remain.
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| RAF G type Flying Helmet - Receivers, ear pads and wiring loom fitted. Marked size 2 but fits bigger. 1980 dated, very good condition inside and out.
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| RAF 'C' type Flying Helmet - 2nd pattern with an internal wiring loom introduced into RAF service in 1944. In excellent original condition and named on the elastic chin strap to Fl. Lt. Saunders and again on the inside of the lining, which shows some service staining. It is stamped size 2, 6 7/8 - 7. The loom is in near perfect condition with the correct wartime bell shaped jack plug. Receivers are marked 10A/13466. Overall an excellent example of this classic RAF helmet.
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| Microphone Assembly - RAF WWII, Type 48 10A/14381 AM marked, original stores label. Unissued.
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| RAF Type H Oxygen Mask - First issued in early 1944 the H mask replaced the earlier G pattern and it remained in RAF service, with minor modifications, for the remainder of the 20th century. This example Stores Reference 6D/2244098 is broad arrow marked and was manufactured in March 1985 and has never been issued. When purchased it came complete in its original packaging with attached documentation that confirmed it was declared 'Serviceable' by 16 Maintenance Unit Stafford when last checked in December 1997! This example is marked 'Small' and is fitted with an Amplivox 13100 microphone and mint communication cord and male plug. A full elastic harness is fitted, again in unissued condition, with snaps and clips to use with RAF C, D & E pattern flying helmets as well as the later G. The harness also features the reversible 'quick connect' loops for use with the later metal oxygen mask hooks. If the mask is required without the elastic webbing harness please contact us for a separate price. Despite now being 31 years old this example is effectively mint and boxed and is in factory fresh condition inside and out. Like all items offered on the site this is for sale as a collectable only, although subject to the correct checks we feel it is highly likely it is still in working condition but we can't guarantee this. These masks are no longer in production so grab the opportunity now to purchase one of the last genuine 'mint and boxed' examples whilst our very limited stocks remain.
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| Flight Equipment of the RAF 1920-1945 This booklet is described as 'A Quick Reference Guide for Collectors' and was put together by Kevin King & Dave Humphrey and Edited by A.J.Marriott-Smith. It is fully illustrated with 66 black and white photographs and it also has an invaluable section covering RAF Stores Clothing issue numbers from 22C/1 (Belts, Life Saving, Self Inflating, Type A) through to 22C/1070 (Backpack for Overall, Flying, Lightweight) which of course is more commonly known as the Beadon Suit. Whilst in no way is this meant to be a comprehensive listing it is a most useful booklet for any serious collector of RAF flight clothing to have on his shelf. I was chatting to Kevin King a while back about his book and he told me it was now so scarce even he did not have a copy himself! Sadly these now change hands for significantly more than the 1990 published price as the issue has become a collectors item in its own right. Grab yourself a copy whilst you have the chance! This is a second hand example but is in excellent used condition.
Pages: 19
Cover: Soft
Author: Kevin King & Dave Humphrey
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| Aeronautica An Illustrated Reference Guide for Collectors A small but useful guide covering Military and Naval Air Force collectables from 1914 to 1984. The book is written by A.J.Marriott-Smith and was published in 1989. It provides 64 pages of information and is interesting in providing a guide to the values current a quarter of a century ago! The book is fully illustrated with a mass of photographs and covers everything from flight clothing and equipment, escape items, ephemera, badges, aircraft parts and even an RAF Fire Streak missile! This copy is in excellent condition and despite its age is a good general guide to anyone setting out on collecting aviation memorabilia.
Pages: 64
Cover: Hard
Author: A.J.Marriott-Smith
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| Sotheby's Historic Aircraft & Aeronautica Auction Catalogue A good used example relating to Sotheby's classic aviation sale held at Summers Place, Billingshurst on 26th & 29th November 1994. This covers a wide range of aviation collectables with some good photographic illustrations including a 1940 scramble bell, a sector clock, a fighter grip, log books, medals and even a full size relica V-1 flying bomb! The aircraft section with photographs in colour and black and white details some classic airframes including Harvard, Canberra, Hunter and an airworthy ex PRU Spitfire Mk X1X of the Battle of Britain Memorial flight. The estimate was £350, 000- £450, 000. How values have changed over the last 21 years! A great reference catalogue to have on the bookshelf. The pages are all in clean condition and the catalogue has not been written in. Sales estimates are shown but we do not have a record of prices realised.
Pages: 92
Cover: Soft
Author: Sotheby's
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| USAAF Shoe-Insert - Flying, Electric type AAF Q-1. To fit inside flying boots in cold conditions in conjunction with the F-3 and F-3a electrically heated suits. Fully stamped, mint unissued condition.
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| Luftwaffe K-33 winter Flying Helmet - this was the standard WWII unwired helmet for use by aircrew for primary training as well as for combat crew positions where no communication was necessary. These were also used by single engine fighter pilots early on during the Blitzkrieg in 1939/40. It is interesting by mid war virtually all crew positions required radio contact this helmet but is documented in manufacture certainly until 1943 with later examples carrying the provision for attaching two and three point oxygen mask. This helmet is of the latter type but has had the rear oxygen mask adjusting strap removed with the brow oxygen mask clip locked in position. This may have been an in-service modification. The leather is in excellent condition with no issues and both the goggle snaps are in place and working. The chin strap buckles show minor rust Inside carries fur lining. No makers label appears to have been fitted to this helmet but it is of a medium size. Generally this helmet would represent an excellent addition to a Luftwaffe collection at an entry level price
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| Luftwaffe LKpS101 Flying Helmet - First introduced in 1938, this is the Summer Luftwaffe flying helmet made from the salt and pepper material as used for the Fliegerkombi. The helmet is in very clean condition although whilst the receivers are in place the wiring loom and throat microphones have been removed from the helmet at some stage. This could be replaced as a restoration project or alternative provides an excellent entry level display helmet in its current form. It fitted for a 3 point oxygen mask, and all snaps an buckles are in place. Inside the silk lining is in good clean condition but exhibits some wear in the brow section. The helmet carries a maker's label named to Siemens with a BAL ink stamp and is clearly dated 27th June 1938 so is clearly from the very first batch of production. The lining also carries a further label reading Bekleidungswerke Neumünster Grüße 56 which we understand refers to 'Clothing Works Neumünster'. LKpS101 helmets are new becoming hard to source so despite the modifications, it makes an excellent display helmet at an entry level price.
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| RAF WWII Hand Embroidered 'Whitley' Table Cloth - A totally unique and beautifully worked example and despite being 75 years old still in very fine condition. Sadly the history of the item has been lost down the years but fortunately we know exactly who made it and when! It is finely embroidered to the bottom edge 'Mrs Main, Edinburgh' and dated in blue '1941'. We can only surmise Mrs Main had a husband or son serving as aircrew in WWII and probably on a Whitley Squadron. We deduce this as table cloth features two slightly naive depictions of an Armstrong Whitworth A.W.38 Whitley which was one of three British twin-engine, front line medium bomber types in service with the Royal Air Force at the outbreak of the Second World War. It took part in the first RAF bombing raid on German territory and remained an integral part of the early British bomber offensive until the introduction of four-engine "heavies". On the alternate corners the cloth is further embroidered with a fine RAF crest with Kings Crown and 'Per Adua Ad Astra' legend below and opposite a winged roundel device. The table cloth measures 33" x 33" (84 cm x 84 cm). This wonderful souvenir from the early years of WWII could be used as intended on a small occasional table although it would look even better being framed and mounted behind glass and so form the centre piece of an RAF collection or display. We will however leave the final decision on that to the new custodian. It would of course make a wonderful present for the aviation collector in your life and something you will never find on any high street!
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