J013358 (IJA) PILOT’S LEATHER FLIGHT HELMET. The standard helmet which began use in the early 1930s and was issued through to the end of the war. The soft helmet is constructed of eight pieces of brown leather, is completely lined in olive drab cotton twill, and has its original leather five-pointed army star on a 1 1/8" diameter leather backing sewn to the forehead. The ear cups, of molded, hardened leather, each have 3/4" holes to their centers for the mounting of communications receivers (which the Japanese seldom used). To the extension beneath the right ear cup is sewn a 7 3/4" long leather strap which passes through dual brass rings to the extension beneath the left ear cup. To this latter extension, immediately beneath the rings, is perforated the kanji character designating the helmet as a size "large." Approximately 2 1/4" long straps are sewn to each side of the helmet above and behind the ear cups, with a brass snap to each of their free ends mating with corresponding studs, for securing the flight goggles (with bomber personnel the main difference between the pilot’s version and the crew helmet is the positioning of these goggle straps - the crew pattern attached directly to the ear cup, while the pilot version attached behind it). A horizontal strap proceeds from small vertical slashes to each side of the reverse of the helmet, its left side terminating in two small alloy rings, through which the other end is adjusted. This strap passes between the leather and the lining over the ear cups and along the forehead, its tightening affecting the overall fit of the helmet to the head. To the interior, the lining is heavily worn, with noticeable fraying to the rear and around the ear cups. The inside of the right ear cup has impressed kanji characters within a rectangle to it, as well as two columns of what appear to be handwritten characters. The inside of the left ear cup features an impression within a cartouche, which includes a "Showa era 18th Year" (1943) date, beneath which are obscured ink stamps within ovals, and to the right of which are two handwritten columns of kanji characters, repeating those already seen to the right ear cup. The leather exterior has noticeable chafe wear and surface scratches, but is otherwise intact, with all of its original elements, and is still supple.

To Order this item, please use one of the two e-mail addresses below to contact us. Please make sure to quote the item number in your e-mail

MILITARIA WANTED!  If you have items for sale, please contact us. We specialize in selling single pieces and entire collections. Over 3 decades in the business and we do all the work for you. Get the best return for your investment.

-E-Mail Address pawmac@nbnet.nb.ca  Or  guild@nb.aibn.com

To return to the main page please CLICK below