RAF C-type flying helmet, late pattern - history

RAF C-type flying helmet, late pattern - history

Code: H24677

SOLD

Stores reference 22c/879, size 3 (71/8 - 73/8).  The leather is very good and supple with only light wear and minor scuffing.  All of the goggle straps are very good and the studs retain virtually all of their original coatings.  Both rubber receiver carriers are flexible but the chinstrap is soiled, a little frayed and lacks elasticity.  The lining is complete and undamaged but quite heavily soiled through use.  Wired with matched type 32 receivers, a deep plum coloured 'heavy gauge' instrument cord (loom) and early brown cased type 119 jackplug (spring adrift from casing).  There are some verdigris deposits on the studs and the loom has minor fraying/soiling.  A good looking helmet that displays really well.  This belonged to Sgt. Denis Alexander Bowyer (1804018) a pilot with 39 Squadron.  Born in 1922 he enlisted in 1942 and started his training at Cambridge, followed by No.16 EFTS in Derby.  He first went solo in a DH82A Tiger Moth on 14th June 1943 and was soon posted to an ITW at Bulawayo.  On 23rd November 1944 he was posted to RAF Shandur training on B-26 Martin Marauders and early in January 1945 was posted to join 39 Squadron in Italy.  Here he flew sorties from Campomarino (Biferno) on targets in Yugoslavia including rail marshalling yards, enemy gun emplacements, harbour installations etc.  By the end of the war Sgt. Bowyer and his crew had clocked up nearly 57 hours on Ops.  Purchased directly from his nephew and comes with a lengthy pdf of Bowyer's memoirs that includes many photos, copies of log book and SRB pages etc.  Stock code H24677.