Original Item: Only One Available. Now this is a fantastic, hard to find example of an Imperial Japanese flight helmet, as used by the pilots and crews of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service. The helmet is in wonderful condition and appears to be complete. There is even a date stamped on the inside of one of the ear cups: 昭 十 九 年 for Showa 19 or 1944.

The Imperial Japanese Army Air Service (IJAAS) or Imperial Japanese Army Air Force was the aviation force of the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA). Just as the IJA in general was modeled mainly on the German Army, the IJAAS initially developed along similar lines to the Imperial German Army Aviation; its primary mission was to provide tactical close air support for ground forces, as well as a limited air interdiction capability. The IJAAS also provided aerial reconnaissance to other branches of the IJA. While the IJAAS engaged in strategic bombing of cities such as Shanghai, Nanking, Canton, Chongqing, Rangoon, and Mandalay, this was not the primary mission of the IJAAS, and it lacked a heavy bomber force.

It did not usually control artillery spotter/observer aircraft; artillery battalions controlled the light aircraft and balloons that operated in these roles.

The Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service was responsible for long-range bomber and attack aircraft, as well as strategic air defense. It was not until the later stages of the Pacific War that the two air arms attempted to integrate the air defense of the home islands.

This is 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 approximately eight pieces of brown leather, is completely lined in cotton twill and brown rabbit fur. A beautiful, solid example.

Comes more than ready for further research and display.