Re: French Guenea Casque Airaile Type 11 Pilots Helmet

[chesterpiglet]

Hi all.
The missus is a French "Aide Domicile" in France & one of the ladies she looks after told her that she has a Pilot's helmet that her father took from an RAF Pilot in WW2 that he had helped. She brought the helmet home last night & it wasn't quite what I was expecting................ I knew it wasn't RAF AM issue but it turns out it is a French Guenea Airaile Type 11 Pilot's Helmet circa 1939/40(no label & the earphone covers have been cut off). So, did her father help a French Pilot in the Battle of France in 1940, did the Pilot return to the war in 1944 after D-Day(having been a member of the Free French Air Force) or is there a possibility that he was one of the handful of French Pilots who flew for the RAF(would his helmet be compatible with RAF earphones)? Quite by chance I did find this during my research- Zinszner Airaille type 11 - casque de pilote Bloch MB 174 - 1940 & thought the googles looked familiar. Mine aren't Cebe 4000 but are marked HK on the nose piece- does anybody have any ideas as to maker? Many thanks Rob

[bourguignotte]

Hello,

Nice Helmet. Not sure it is an Airaille type 11. Even if the vent were taken off you chould have 3 "lift the dot" button on each side. From what I see, you may have just one.

These were produce either by Geneau or Zinszner

Best

Bruno

I do not believe french pilotes used it in england were they were fully re equiped.

Bruno