Message 2206, Apr 7, 2004
Daniele, For lack of a better term, the helmet you are alluding to is nominally referred
to as a transitional helmet and it is just what it looks like: a standard A-11 or AN-H-15
with the top part of a T-1938 tank helmet attached. One of the forums members (Maggot)
wrote a really great article in Air Classics on the P-80 and included a number of photos
of this helmet in use.
Doc Boink has actually gone to the trouble of building one of these and he paid meticulous
attention to detail. I think you might be able to get the Doc to send you a couple of
photos.
I have found a number of photos of these helmets being used and I think they were used
more extensively than originally thought. I think there are 2 original ones at NASM.
Interesting thought: since Doc used period materials and processed, is his helmet a
reproduction or is it authentic? I say it's as authentic as any other carefully restored
flight helmet. In fact, Doc has been helping me with my build up of one for my collection.
That's why I was looking for the tank helmet. Doc or anyone else want to weigh in on this
one.
FYI: there were some other efforts at hardened helmets leading up to the P-1..... Sweeting
details a few in his book on USAAF flight gear.
Cheers, FIGMO
Message 2201, Apr 7, 2004
Hello! Sometime ago I saw a picture of a post-WW II hard shell flight helmet derived from
a WW II tanker helmet. It looked quite weird: just imagine a tanker helmet with a M-6A
boom mike and B-8 goggles...
Well... I can't find this picture anymore and I was wandering if any of you has the
vaguest idea of what am I talking about...I'd be very pleased to have any possible
information about such kind of early attempts for a solid flight helmet as I would like to
rebuild it.
Thanks!! Slick
Message 5047, Sep 23, 2001
Hello Group, Of interest to those who follow the early days of jet aviation (as they
developed in the US, UK, and other 'western' nations), would be the helmet assembly
pictured in the attached images. This assembly, which had no formal US Army Air Force
technical order designation, was a unique and specific construction put together to
provide pilots of the first operational Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star squadrons with
additional head protection against the sort of more severe cockpit buffet typically
encountered in early jet aircraft operations.
First, let me once again draw attention to Maggot's (Gerry Asher) excellent article in the
September 2001 issue of AIRPOWER MAGAZINE, titled 'Odyssey: The First Mass Cross Country
Jet Flight' (the cover of this magazine features a special painting done by Gerry of the
412th Fighter Group's P-80s overflying Washington DC in May of 1946), in which valuable
background on 1946 jet aircrew flightgear is peripherally sketched. The helmets worn by
the pilots in that article's photographs show members of the 39th, 445th, 29th, and 31st
Fighter Squadrons of the 412 Fighter Group all wearing the sort of put-together assembly
shown in the images attached to this message.
Essentially, the headgear in reference consisted of a fabric or leather flight helmet
(photos show the USAAF A-11 winter helmet, the late model RAF "C" helmet, and
the USAAF AN-H-15 summer flying helmet in actual use, as part of these assemblies), over
which the hard protective molded-pulp shell from a WWII vintage US Army 'tanker helmet'
had been affixed. M-44 or B-8 goggles and either an A-13A or A-14 oxygen mask completed
the assembly (both are shown being used in the photos used with Gerry's article). The
tanker shells were painted with a uniform white crown, while sides were painted with the
particular squadron's identifying solid color (455th sqdn = yellow, 29th sqdn = royal
blue, 39th sqdn = red, and 31st sqdn = white). Of special interest is the manner in which
the shells were attached to the fabric or leather flight helmets. This system comprised a
snap fastener on both right and left front, with a leather band (somewhat like the
P-series nape strap) passed through the shell and run under the underlying helmet's goggle
straps (beneath the rear carapace of the external shell), then snapped to the underlying
helmet on both sides.
Standard ANB-H-1 helmet headset receivers are in evidence, with typical WWII type phone
jack plug-in connector, on all of the assemblies. Of exceptional interest in one
particular picture (showing 31st FS commander Maj. Rex Barber somewhat incongruously
seated on a child's bicycle) in Gerry's article is evidence of the WWII style H-2 bailout
bottle connector (situated midway between the A-13A mask facepiece and its breathing hose)
still being used in 1946 (the MC-3 type bail-out connector did not arrive on the scene
until the early 50s, after the US Navy initially introduced the design).
At any rate, with this background in place, I set about the task of recreating an example
of this earliest of protective 'jet pilot' helmets. As you can see from the attached
images, the result is satisfactory. Keep in mind that this is not a completed display
piece, as there are several details that require finalisation; these include addition of
the requisite headset com-wire and connector, use of the original early A-13A type OD
cloth mask suspension straps, and a few last touch-ups to the paint.
However, this is as accurate a recreation as is possible, given the available references,
of a typical 29th Fighter Squadron (Lockheed P-80A Shooting Star, 1946) protective helmet.
Maggot indicates he has re-created several of these most interesting early jet helmets and
I have been attempting to get him to take some photos of his specimens so as to share them
with us, also.
One last word, unless specifically stated, anyone on the forum may use my images as they
see fit; I only ask that they be properly credited, if they are used.
Best to all from Doc(recreational)Boink
Message 3436, Jul 14, 2001
That's LTC Don Hillman, CO of the 94th FS at March - I have a couple of copies of that
issue since I'm a P-80 fanatic. I can't tell you any more about the helmet than what
you've already described, except to say that many P-80 drivers were using modified surplus
Army tank helmets (one preserved example is 445th/71st FS pilot John Babel's helmet at the
NASM just outside the "Jet Aviation" Gallery). There was another variant around
which had a similar shape - and I think that's what Hillman is wearing. I have a very poor
image which I will scan and post in a few days (as soon as I can dig it out) which may be
of some use.
Maggot
Message 3432, Jul 14, 2001
Hi Figmo and others, In my Friday evening post-work stupor I wrote "1946 photo of an
F-86 pilot". DUH! Sorry for this glitch. As everyone knows, the F-86 didn't even
complete its maiden flight until some time later. This aircraft pilot is not standing in
front of an F-86!
At any rate, thanks for the information on the "buffet helmets". I was aware of
this transitional period (and the use of US Army tanker helmets modified, etc.), but since
there is not a lot of information written down on this subject, your remarks are
appreciated. Thanks. Perhaps today my thoughts will not be as muddled.
Cheers, DocBoink
Message 3430, Jul 14, 2001
Chris, In all likelyhood, you are looking at what is termed a transitional jet helmet. In
the period 1944-47, USAF pilots came up with an interesting variety of hard shells
attached to A-11s. I have been collecting pictures of these and Glen Sweeting has a couple
of photos in one of his books. The helmets are either modified tank helmets or in at least
one case, a fiberglass mine helmet with the Bill or visor removed.
At one point in the F-80 program, the test team received a batch of US Army tank helmets
in response to complaints about the buffeting in the aircraft. The photo appears in one of
the histories of the F-80.
cheers, FIGMO
Message 3424, Jul 14, 2001
Hi folks, Check out the attached photographic image of a USAF F-86 Sabre pilot in 1946.
This picture was displayed on the cover of a LIFE magazine of that year. Note the unusual
helmet worn by this pilot. It seems to have earphone cushions identical to the A-11 and
AN-H-15 type "soft" helmets and is worn with what appear to be either M-44 of
B-8 goggles. Note the strange, riveted-on reinforcement band across the brow and the
suggestion that the upper part of the helmet is covered with a hard shell of some sort (or
am I imagining this?). The photo, unfortunately, was taken by someone who caught the
reflected glare of his camera flash in the image, so the details are indistinct. However,
I am hoping that someone may be able to identify this helmet. Any guesses?
Cheers, DocBoink
