Item Description
Original Items: Only One Set Available. This set is comprised of the following items:
- WWII USAAF Leather flight helmet type A-11 made by The Selby Shoe Co. Size Large offered in very condition. it comes complete with avionic receivers and is marked GATES in ink on the interior lining.- WWII USAAF Oxygen Mask Type A-14 manufactured by the Ohio Chemical Mfg. Co offered in good condition and comes complete with original cardboard box (box shows some damage).
- U.S. Army Air Force Bausch and Lomb Aviator sunglasses were the precursors to Ray Bans. This pair offered in very good condition retain about 90%% of their original nickeling with some light oxidation in the usual spots. The celluloid nose pads and sweat bar are an even caramel color and are free of any visible cracks and are fully intact. The lenses are in very good condition with no chips, heavy pits, or heavy scratches, each lens shows normal ware consisting of very light cleaning abrasions from years of use. The lenses are tight in the frames and do not rattle. The glasses come with their original AN-6531 Aeronautical aluminum flight case with the tan felt liner. The case is in very good condition. The interior felt liner is in good condition and shows some light honest wear and age. Case opens and closes with a tight snap. All around a solid and complete set. The interior of the case is marked in ink:
CPL. CHARLES H. GATES
A.S.N. 39577433
Gates from Riverside County, California, enlisted in the Army on February 23, 1944 at Ft MacArthur in San Pedro, California. According to the National Archives, he was sent to the hospital in March 1944 for "disease" and released back to service sometime in April 1944.
The Type A-11 intermediate flying helmet was standardized on August 6, 1943 and became one of the most popular and widely utilized helmets during World War II. There were numerous but minor changes relating to the oxygen mask attachments made during its production run but continued to keep the A-11 designation. The rubber earphone mountings were designated for the Type ANB-H-1 radio receiver. The helmet remained in Air Force service during the Korean War. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) continued to use the helmet in high altitude training through the mid-1970s.
Physical Description:
United States Army Air Forces Type A-11 Intermediate Flying Helmet; seal brown cape leather exterior shell with black rubber earphone cups; missing black rubber earphone plugs or Type ANB-H-1 Radio Headphone Receiver; chamois lining and ear pads; cap leather and chamois buckle chin strap; turn down brow flap; three brass snaps for oxygen mask located on the left and right chin of the helmet; leather buckle strap on the back nap of the helmet to adjust the helmet size; three leather straps on back of helmet to hold the flight goggle's strap; double reinforced seam on each side of helmet; dark white sewn in manufacturer's tag on inside back neck of the helmet with embroidered red letter text; white stenciled Army Air Forces winged star insignia with white letter text "ARMY AIR FORCES" below insignia on left exterior side of helmet.
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