In four short years, the US Army Air Forces grew from a small air service to a mighty armada that swept the Luftwaffe from the skies, and was capable of projecting force on a global scale. AAF pilots of WW2 were issued the classic A-11 capeskin leather flight helmet for wear in intermediate weather. This US Army AAF WW2 Pilot Named & Wired A-11 Capeskin Leather Flight Helmet is in Good condition, with some spots of scuffing at the upper left front crown and the middle front “bill”, some scattered edge nicking to that front “bill”, a small hole in the lower middle left back body, some scattered spot fraying to the wiring, missing the nomenclature label from the inside, and with some scattered small nicks and age wear evident. Otherwise, the helmet is in fine shape, with no other damage to the tough brown capeskin leather construction. Most interestingly, it boasts the original “ANB-H-1 / SHURE BROTHERS” black bakelite receivers/ear phones with “Y” loom wiring culminating in a “PL-354” red plastic end plug, sports the original black rubber ear cups with chamois “donut” interior ear pads, and carries the name “E.O. GiLMORE” artfully hand marked in black at the upper front crown of the fine chamois lining. It bears the classic “winged star” outline decal of the “ARMY AIR FORCES” at the left crown, shows another “winged star” outline stamping at the front right crown lining, and features the original leather chinstrap with a fully intact darkened brass closure buckle, strips of 4 brown leather backed darkened brass “male” snaps at the lower front, along with a single “male” snap at the lower left side, size adjusting strap at the lower back crown, and three brown leather goggle retention tabs at back. A fine example of a rare, original US Army AAF WW2 Pilot Named & Wired A-11 Capeskin Leather Flight Helmet.
Uniforms