Very interesting Chris. The hand painted bird looks to have been there for a long time.
Eric
Chris, to be honest im not 100% convinced about this lid, it doesnt make a lot of sense, even by beating out the inside skirt the headset would still be restricted by the liner and the outer band, the headset wouldnt fit in between the liner and the helmet imo
Its unusual piece I have to say, however I have heard about this being done but I'm yet to see an original example. Whats to say that the liner wasnt modified too in order for a headset to be worn under the helmet?
Thanks
Danny
I really do not know anything about this helmet,tryed to find some info about it and did not came up with anything.I know the German did make a helmet for Radioman for aircraft use but even that helmet has little info.Plus that paint job on the front of it looks post-war to me looks very close to a patch the German air-force is use now.
Chris
True Chris, its a strange one!!, as for modifying the liner Danny, i cant see how you would do it other than adding extra metal into the outer and inner rings, but the helmet hasnt been done in the factory, its supposed to be a field modification, also the liner would still have to fit the users head or it would be far too loose
Is the helmet decaled?
This type of helmet is covered in Baer's book, page 342.
Since appearing there, countless fakes have been constructed and I regard this as one of them.
Worn by aircrew and the insignia is for KG53. The original resides in the IWM. The sides should be much more flared out and there should be straps and felt padding to the crown back and front.
Cheers, Ade.
Here is a genuine Luftwaffe flight crew helmet LKpW101 (Winter Type) with a correctly made steel shell (M42??) fitted over it. Note the rivets fixing the liner and straps are unique.
This was used by all bomber crewmen not just W/op's on operations over Russia in the period '42-'43 when it's use appears to have fizzled out. I have also seen photo's of something similar used by bomber crew during the Battle of Britain, but don't have them to hand, they we're in the book 'Battle of Britain-Then and Now' if I recollect.
Regards, Ned.
'I do not think we can hope for any better thing now.
We shall stick it out to the end, but we are getting weaker of course, and the end cannot be far.
It seems a pity, but I do not think I can write more. R. SCOTT.
Last Entry - For God's sake look after our people.'
In memory of Capt. Robert Falcon Scott, Edward Wilson, Henry Bowers, Lawrence Oates and Edgar Evans. South Pole Expedition, 30th March 1912.
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