CWS Adastra flying helmet

I was delighted to pick up what appears to be a 1930s flying helmet at a carboot-cum-antique fair a few weeks ago.

It’s not in terrific condition but appears to be complete and, by it’s size, I would guess it might be a ladies helmet. It is made of light canvas/heavy cotton and is a pale brown/beige in colour.

Inside is a label with “Adastra”, a red star, a winged symbol and “registered trade mark”. Only today I got a magnifying glass to look at the label more closely and find that in the centre of the winged symbol is what appears to be the CWS badge (in white on a red background). CWS = Cooperative Wholesale Society.

I’ve done a bit of googling and found that the CWS had a quilt manufacturing factory at Pelaw, Gateshead that also made clothing and produced flying clothing during WW2 (the adjoining cabinet works built gliders). However I think this predates that period.

Are there any flying clothing experts out there than can tell me more?

Roger Smith.