Help please, what type of helmet was used by the fleet air arm during the B.O.B.

I have been to the War and Peace show today, I saw a RAF c type with the extra straps to the rear, it had an ink date stamp of 1943. Not sure if the stamp was period though as I have handled a lot of flying helmets and have never seen one in any before (or maybe never noticed before I may just have been aware of it tiday because of this thread)

Hi Brad
I don`t have a definitive date but i have an AP for the E type helmet which has the two extra straps fitted and this is dated May 1944. I have AP`s for the FAA D type helmets but unfortunately they are not dated. The popular opinion is that the last pattern FAA C helmets were produced post war and while this may well be true there is no definite proof and the AP`s i have cast doubt on this. Personally i think they may well have been produced late in the war but certainly production carried on post war. I do have a nice photo of a group of aircrew all wearing FAA C helmets. I`m sorry i can`t give you a more definite answer but i hope this helps ?

BS

There are four types of FAA C type helmet. The first ones were converted RAF C types (the slightly later C type with the three studs not the first pattern with two) which had the zipped receiver housings from B type helmets fitted. The second type was essentially the same as a RAF C type but was manufactured with the zipped ears and leather chin strap and can be recognised by the crown and anchor stamp on the neck flap. The third type is the same but with internal wiring and an elastic chin strap and fitted oxygen mask clip and the last is the same as this but with the addition of two extra straps on the back for the wiring loom.
The FAA D type had three patterns that i have seen, early with external wiring and leather chin strap, intermediate pattern with external wiring and elastic chin strap and the later version with internal wiring and elastic chin strap.

The immersion suit was made of a horrible orange material (hence the reason the helmets were cut off i imagine). I have never handled one myself but i know someone who has. I do have an AP type picture of one from a FAA manual.

Hope thishelps.
BS

Many thanks for all your reply’s,

Hi Bananasplits would you have any idea on the date of the c type you described as the (last type) with internal wiring and an elastic chin strap and fitted oxygen mask clip with 2 extra straps on the back for the wiring loom.

Regards Brad.

There are four types of FAA C type helmet. The first ones were converted RAF C types (the slightly later C type with the three studs not the first pattern with two) which had the zipped receiver housings from B type helmets fitted. The second type was essentially the same as a RAF C type but was manufactured with the zipped ears and leather chin strap and can be recognised by the crown and anchor stamp on the neck flap. The third type is the same but with internal wiring and an elastic chin strap and fitted oxygen mask clip and the last is the same as this but with the addition of two extra straps on the back for the wiring loom.
The FAA D type had three patterns that i have seen, early with external wiring and leather chin strap, intermediate pattern with external wiring and elastic chin strap and the later version with internal wiring and elastic chin strap.

The immersion suit was made of a horrible orange material (hence the reason the helmets were cut off i imagine). I have never handled one myself but i know someone who has. I do have an AP type picture of one from a FAA manual.

Hope thishelps.
BS

As already suggested elastic chinstrap would indicate not before mid ’44, though the leather helmets were made for quite a time after the war as well so it could be a lot younger than 1944. Another helmet used by the Fleet Air Arm not yet mentioned is the helmet cut from the bulky and unpopular immersion suits. They are similar in cut to the late patterns FAA C, zip covered ears, Gosport fittings, internal loom, elastic chinstrap, but made out of soft white leather. I have such a helmet but have never seen a complete immersion suit nor even a photograph of one, so if anybody here has one could they post a pic please?

I can’t give you an exact date but the elasticated chin strap suggests that it is a wired helmet so it can’t be before mid 1944.

Anne

Many thanks for your detailed reply, the helmet i have is the c type with b type ear covers. and elasticated strap.so no chance of a rough guess to the date relating to this helmet.

Many Thanks.

In general, at the start of the war and into the Battle of Britain the Fleet Air Arm used the standard RAF Flying helmet, usually the B type.

The C Type was introduced after the Battle of Britain. The Fleet Air Arm had a modified version with Leather cups over the ear pieces, same applied to the D and E type helmets. Early versions of the C Type helmet and possibly the D type were made for all the wiring to be external as per the B type, the chinstraps were leather and had a “Bennets Buckle”, again same as the B type. Later versions had an elasticated fabric chin strap with a press stud fastening and an adjuster and the wiring went inside the helmet. I deliberately haven’t given dates because the changes were introduced over a long period and some aircrew held on to their older equipment, modifying it to suit the oxygen mask they were using.