{"product_id":"original-imperial-japanese-wwii-army-air-service-summer-flight-helmet-velvet-lined-goggles-1","title":"Original Imperial Japanese WWII Army Air Service Summer Flight Helmet \u0026 Velvet-Lined Goggles","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice original \u003cb\u003eImperial Japanese Army Air Service summer flying helmet\u003c\/b\u003e from WWII, complete with a set of original Japanese pilot's goggles. The helmet is constructed from soft tan leather and remains in very good, supple condition, showing honest signs of age and use. It is assembled from multiple separate leather panels and retains the characteristic \u003cb\u003efive-pointed Japanese Army star\u003c\/b\u003e at the front.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe helmet retains both hardened leather earcups, each with a central opening intended for the installation of communications equipment and receivers. This construction is characteristic of Imperial Japanese Army Air Service flying helmets, which were designed to accommodate the communications equipment required by aircrew. The leather body remains flexible and presents well despite evident wartime wear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll straps of the flying helmet are fully functional, all the buckles and tabs work perfectly. The helmet features a seemingly hand-stitched lining which has some heavy wear. There is a spot where a tag once was, but it’s now gone. Overall condition is very good, but does show signs of use and age. This is a true combat fighter pilot's flight helmet!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIncluded with the helmet is an original set of \u003cb\u003eJapanese pilot's goggles\u003c\/b\u003e, which are currently attached to the helmet. The goggles retain their \u003cb\u003evelvet-lined face pads\u003c\/b\u003e and remain in very good overall condition. Japanese Army aviation goggles of this period were commonly fitted with padded face surrounds to provide a more comfortable seal around the eyes during flight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are \u003cb\u003efaint kanji markings on the interior eyecup\u003c\/b\u003e, although they are difficult to read. The size marking can still be made out as \u003cb\u003eLarge\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eImperial Japanese Army Air Service summer flying helmets were produced in several variations, but examples of this general pattern shared a number of common features, including leather construction, the Army star at the forehead, molded earcups, adjustable straps, and provisions for communications equipment and goggles. Surviving helmets often show considerable variation in leather color, lining, markings, and hardware depending on maker and period of manufacture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis example is particularly appealing because it remains paired with its original-style \u003cb\u003evelvet-lined flying goggles\u003c\/b\u003e and retains nearly all of the helmet's major functional components. The supple tan leather, complete earcups, working straps and buckles, heavily worn lining, faint kanji markings, and surviving \u003cb\u003eLarge\u003c\/b\u003e size designation together make it a strong representative example of Imperial Japanese Army aviation equipment from WWII. The missing interior tag and signs of use are consistent with the helmet's age and service life, while no specific pilot or combat history can be confirmed from the surviving markings alone.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45818041466949,"sku":"ONSV26PCS253","price":895.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/158029E8-1FB0-463B-859B-3AA37EEA5923.jpg?v=1790017196","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-imperial-japanese-wwii-army-air-service-summer-flight-helmet-velvet-lined-goggles-1","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}