RAF type H oxygen mask

Size medium.  Dated 3-56 (3rd quarter of 1956).  The facepiece retains very good shape other than the lower edge folding inwards.  Whilst the rubber is quite clean and very pliable, it has cracking on all stress points like the harness  retaining lugs, microphone, nose etc.  The pearl grey suede lining is complete and really quite clean and soft.  Fitted with a type 57 microphone and a black coloured loom with 2-pin socket, 10H/14207 (connector type 3800).  The webbing harness is also good, retaining strong colour and good elasticity.  It has the later smaller socket but is otherwise near identical to a wartime example but significantly cheaper.  This belonged to Flying Officer Vincent Lithune DFC.  Linthune joined the RAF in 1935 and qualified as an AC1 Armourer serving with 201 Squadron before being remustered to become an airman pilot in June 1938.  Having completed his training he was promoted to Sergeant and again remustered as a pilot armourer in April 1939.  Following the outbreak of war he was posted to 233 Squadron on Hudsons operating off the coast of Norway.  He was wounded in May 1940 following an attack by 2 Bf109s.  He then had a period of instructing at Cranwell before moving to 93 Squadron flying Havocs.  He was commissioned in February 1942 and joined 25 Squadron in February 1943 as a Flying Officer on Mosquito fighters.  He claimed his first victory, a Ju88 on the night of 3rd/4th October, a Ju188 followed during March 1944 after which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.  In July of the same year he destroyed a V-1.  In November he was forced to ditch a Beaufighter that he was ferrying to Morroco and was interned in Portugal for a while.  After the war he served with the Fighter Command Communication Squadron, as Commanding Officer (CO) of the 2nd TAF in Holland and CO of 96 Squadron flying Meteor night-fighters.  Later he served as Flight Commander with 219 Squadron flying Venoms until he retired in 1957.  This mask came to us directly from his daughter with other items of WW2 and postwar kit.  Stock code O17698.