Original U.S. 1950s Navy Named High Altitude Full Pressure MK II MOD. 2 Flight Helmet with Visor in Scarce Original Transit Case - NASA Mercury Program
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Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. The US NAVY MK-II or Mark II full pressure flight suit was an improvement of the MK-I with improved mobility as well as more comfort than the previous naval high altitude gear. The relevant helmet offered improved visibility and new tiedown system to prevent the helmet from rising under pressure.
This is an ultra rare excellent condition full pressure United States Navy high altitude Mark II Mod. 2 flight helmet in its original extremely scarce transit case. What’s better is that this set is named on both the helmet and the case, to Commander Robert L. Abbott.
The helmet was manufactured by the B.F. Goodrich Company. The data plate on the left side of the helmet which is marked as made by the Firewel Company lists the helmet as part number GR70 with serial number 40. Features a clear glass retractable visor in excellent fully functional condition as well as a dark tinted visor which unfortunately does have a long break in the material which has been partially mended, and an added leather suspension liner with chamois ear cups. Offered in overall excellent condition, this is a very very hard to find helmet as it became an iconic look of 1960s and 70s outer space movies and television shows. There were never many produced and after the Navy moved on to a different design, the ones which weren't scrapped, were sold off to film production companies and Hollywood costume houses.
The liner is marked as size small to medium. There is a name tag attached to the skull pad reading:
CDR. R. ABBOTT
AMD - NADC
The information on the skull pad reads:
561
SUIT FULL PRESSURE
HIGH ALTITUDE MK II MOD. 2
UNIT: HEADPIECE SIZE: SMALL - MEDIUM
STOCK NO. RL37GD FFEB23-22 SM
MFG’D BY THE B.F. GOODRICH CO.
CONTRACT NO. N156-33828
BUREAU OF AERONAUTICS
U.S. NAVY
The electrical cord coming from the back of the helmet is still retained, marked U-93A/U.
The original transit case has a small tag with Abbott’s name and address at the time. The case has four latches which close to allow the case to be carried from the handle at the top. The case has a U.S. Naval aviator wing decal on the side. The case is roughly 12” tall and 13” in diameter.
An outstanding helmet in its original case. This is the first in the case we have ever offered, and the first of this exact model. Comes ready for further research and display!
Robert Lewis Abbott was born in Clarinda, Iowa, on 5 September 1916, son of Lewis F. and Maude E. (Daugherty) Abbott. He attended Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa, and was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Iowa State College at Ames, Iowa. On 6 April 1940, he enlisted in the US Naval Reserve, and as Aviation Cadet had flight training at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, where he was designated Naval Aviator and commissioned Ensign, USNR, on 15 March 1941. Through subsequent advancement and his transfer to the US Navy, he attained the rank of Commander, USN, to date from 1 July 1951.
Duty as Executive Officer of Fleet Aircraft Service Squadron 119, operating from Sangley Point, Philippine Islands, from October 1950 until February 1952, was followed by service as Commanding Officer of that squadron. He returned to the United States in August 1953, and in September again was assigned to the Bureau of Aeronautics, this time as Head of the Cruise Control Branch, Power Plants Division. He remained there until October 1956, when he became Executive Officer of the Naval Air Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Commander Abbott retired from the US Navy in July 1968.
In addition to the Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, Commander Abbott had the American Defense Medal; American Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; Navy Occupation Service Medal, Occupation Clasp; the National Defense Service Medal; and the Philippine Liberation Medal.
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