How are you all doing?
Today, we would like to introduce the flight helmet worn by Captain Masumi Iwamoto of Banda-tai, the first special attack unit of the Japanese Army.
Banda-tai was organized on October 21, 1944, by the Hokota Educational and Instructional Flying Division.The equipped model was the Kawasaki Ki-48. The unit's commander was Captain Masumi Iwamoto (1917 - 1944), 53rd class of the Army Air Cadet Corps. He was an expert pilot.
The sortie was conducted with four Ki-48's. Three planes being manned with pilots only, the flight commander carried one additional crew member.
Originally, Ki-48's carried a crew of four. However, for these Army-equivalent of Kamikaze(特別攻撃隊 Tokubetsukougekitai) raids, machine guns and other equipment were stripped from the aircraft. Only Captain Iwamoto carried a radio operator.
Captain 岩本 益臣 Masumi Iwamoto, commander of Banda-tai.
Iwamoto was one of the best pilots in the Army and was called a genius in navigation.
He was a leading expert in skip bomming and was opposed to suicide attacks for all kinds of reasons, but ironically, he was selected as the first commander of a suicide attack squadron.
Skip bomming
I would like to reproduce the flight helmet worn by Captain Masumi Iwamoto here.
①Flight helmet made in 1938 and eagle-eyed aviation goggles
Natural, un-dyed leather was used on this flight helmet. Notice the contrasting difference between the helmet and the dark brown ear cups.
②This is a flight helmet manufactured around 1936 and aviation goggles made by Special glass Optical Equipment Co.
③Flight helmets manufactured around 1938 and imported goggles
It is interesting to see the various flight helmets and goggles used by Mr. Iwamoto during his Army career. As designs in aircraft and flight gear evolved, we see him go from one type to the next.
That's all for today.
See you soon!
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