US Navy and Marine Corps fighter pilots in Korea were issued the H-4 flight helmet, consisting of a "bone dome" outer shell with a soft OD cotton "commo" helmet inside. The H-4 was made famous in the classic 1954 movie “The Bridges at Toko-Ri” starring William Holden, and saluting the heroic F9F Panther pilots of the Korean War. The Panther was outclassed by Soviet, ChiCom, and Nork MiG-15s, but could still be deadly in skilled hands. Neil Armstrong, John Glenn, and Ted Williams were just a few of the "jet jockeys" to fly the F9F in combat in Korea. This US Navy USMC Marine Korea Fighter Pilot Wired Gentex H-4 Commo Flight Helmet is in very good condition, with some scattered finish abrading to the ear phones, some scattered drying and darkening to the leather tabs at front, the leather chinstrap having been neatly removed long ago, and with some scattered age wear evident. Otherwise, the helmet is in fine shape, with no other damage to the tough OD cotton construction. Most interestingly, it boasts the original “PERMOFLUX” stamped darkened metal ear phones with wiring and end plug, sports the classic black rubber ear cups with green chamois "donut" interior ear pads, and carries the traditional “GENTEX / GENERAL TEXTILE MILLS, INC.” black and gold US Navy contract label inside. It features two darkened brass “male” snaps for attaching the oxygen mask on a brown leather tab at each side of the lower front, and is a fine example of a rare, original US Navy USMC Marine Korea Fighter Pilot Wired Gentex H-4 Commo Flight Helmet. No outer shell included.
Uniforms