Hi
It`s a turret rotation handle, I have one exactly the same which came from a 264 Squadron Defiant.

If the covering just has damage I always repair mine with milliput. Once applied it takes a good while to harden and so cam be fashioned to match the original covering. I have done a good few grips now and you would be hard pushed to tell I had touched them. It always breaks my heart when you see a grip with damaged covering and the owner strips it off and covers it with string or electrical type tape.

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

Air gunner badge

I have two of these badges, one with two lugs and one with three and to be honest they both look the same to me but a military dealer friend of mine tells me that the two lug versions are repro`s but i must admit badges aren`t my strong point but suffice to say that a badge with one of the wings missing isn`t worth anything. Having said that i will probably be proved wrong and it will sell for loads.

BS

Typhoon grips

The AH 8005 was used in the Typhoon and Tempest (which also used the AH8090) but i think with that type of firing button it was more likely to have been used in a Typhoon.I believe Tempest`s used the selectric type button.Rocketeer would be the best person to ask to confirm or deny this.

With regard to my Typhoon grips, the one in the centre of the picture is in it`s original configuration with the added button whereas the one on the right came from an unknown crash and was missing the plastic covering. The fact i have no specific history to it i decided to replace the plastic covering to improve the look and i added the extra button housing as this is in keeping with this type of grip. I have a couple of these type of button housing`s with different button configurations. Although not visible in the photo the remains of the sheared off control column are still attached to the grip and the fire/safe ring is seized in the fire position.

Hurricane grips were all pneumatic.

BS

dINGHY PACK

Hi

What you have there is a WW2 RAF K type dinghy pack which was used with a seat type parachute harness. The contents varied depending on what type of aircraft was being flown and what crew position it was being used in. The pack was used instead of the cushion.
The connector you have shown attached to the users Mae West.
You are correct about the instruction languages, post war ones had Dutch on them.
Price wise i would think maybe £100-£150 but i might be out of touch.
Hope this helps ?

BS

Grips

Ian

I have had the poster a long time now, i bought it at Tangmere aerojumble. The column i got about five or six years ago, it was an absolute steal on ebay. I don`t collect American gear but i do like your P38 grip.

Tony
I take your point but i don`t have an early Spit grip/column to put in front of the Spit poster or a Hurricane poster to put behind the Hurricane column so you see my problem.

A couple more pictures for you. Sorry about the quality, i`m shocking at taking photo`s.

Spitfire, Typhoon, Typhoon relic (the covering was completely missing on this so i had a go at doing it myself).

Later Hurricane grip.

Hope you like them 🙂

Defiant columns

Thanks.
Both have the holes drilled in them for the call light box so i`m assuming that the Dunlop grip was a Mk1 Defiant which was converted to a nightfighter ?
It would be nice to get a call light box but i haven`t had any luck finding one so far but i live in hope.

BS :rolleyes: