Today, I would like to continue with the IJN's previously introduced Early Type Flight Helmet.
This type of flight helmet has been in use since the Taisho era (1912-1926), and it has been worn for a long time while changing. Along with the evolution of fighter planes, flight helmets have also changed.
The aviation pageant held at Haneda Airfield on September 20, 1941.
Female students from the Patriotic Children's Troupe present a bouquet of flowers to a Navy pilot.
The green circle has snaps, but the yellow circle does not.
The type introduced here is the yellow type without snaps.
IJN Early Type Flight Helmet - Simplified Type
Without fur (for summer)
With fur (for winter)
This is what it looks like with and without snaps.
These flight helmets have been slightly modified since they were made in the Taisho era.
In the days when fighter aircraft did not yet have windshields, they were worn with a mask attached to the snaps.
Around 1939, the Mitsubishi Zero was introduced into service. It was thought that the snaps for attaching the mask were no longer needed, since the Zero featured a fully enclosed cockpit.
The one presented here is one of the flight helmets that omitted this no longer needed item and was used until the end of the war.
Usually, reinforcement stitching was applied to these seams (circled in green in the image). However, towards the end of the war, the extra stitching was omitted.
That's all for today!
See you then.
※About ordering※
We manufacture the flight helmets, oxygen masks, receivers, etc. shown in the blog. Please contact us for production orders, film-related orders, etc.
Today, let's take a closer look at the IJA receiver-compatible pocket-type flight helmets!
There were two types of pocket types.
A. Outside pocket type
B. Inside pocket type
A. Outside pocket type
B. Inside pocket type
Let's start with the details of the A. outside pocket type.
These flight helmets were developed so that receivers could be easily fitted.
It is often seen in photographs from the period 1943-1945.
Unlike the hard, oval earcups seen on government-issued flight helmets, these helmets had soft pockets. Receivers could be easily inserted from the outside.
We see these flight helmets used (in period photos) by fighter pilots. The time period corresponds with planes such as the Kawasaki Ki-61, Nakajima Ki-84, Kawasaki Ki-45, and others, which were active in the defense of the Japanese mainland.
Next, let's look at the B. inside pocket type.
This inside pocket type has an area of open lining, in the rear of the helmet, that allows access to insert the receivers into the pockets.
The pocket is located between the leather and velvet lining.
Pilots of the 1st Squadron of the 70th squadron receiving instruction at Kurayama Airfield on August 20, 1944.
Most of them are wearing this inside pocket type receiver flight helmet, but an outside pocket type flight helmet is also visible.
This pocket type flight helmet had no star insignia.
However, some of them had a round base and a star mark like this, and some had only a star.
It is said that the proud army crew members specially added the stars to their helmets.
Well, I will see you again!
※About ordering※
We manufacture the flight helmets, oxygen masks, receivers, etc. shown in the blog. Please contact us for production orders, film-related orders, etc.
Today I would like to introduce an IJN Summer Flight Helmet that officially entered service in May 1940. I am restoring this helmet by request.
Here is the rare and precious flight helmet. It's condition is very deteriorated. The leather has cracks and tears. There is dirt, rust and discoloration from 70 + years of neglect.
Rear View
The button is missing for the right side goggle strap.
The overall leather is also showing signs of hardening.
The visor snap has been pulled through the leather on the male end and is still attached to the female snap. Blue/green rust has formed a bond.
Now let's take a look at the restoration！
Let's start at the visor snap.
First, the blue rust was removed, and the male snap was put back in place.
It is now able to fasten and unfastened properly.
Since most of the chinstrap was missing, a new one had to be fabricated.
Finished product after restoration.
The overall dirt and rust have been cleaned up.
Tears and cracks were also repaired.
The original appearance of IJN May 1940 officially adopted summer flight helmet has been restored.
Can you see the inner ears? The lid to cover the hole has been sewn on so as not to lose it.
The inner lid is being removed.
The beautiful reddish brown color, the original color of the flight helmet, is coming out.
Everything is integrated with the goggles.
It is really a wonderful flight helmet.
Click here to see the page about IJN May 1940 officially adopted summer flight helmet.
Today I would like to share with you an original restoration request.
We will start by showing you the finished product after restoration.
The design of this flight helmet dates back to about 1935. They continued to be worn after newer types became standard issue, and all the way through the end of the war. As the war continued along, the wearing of this type of flight helmet would immediately identify the wearer's veteran status.
This helmet is a great example of a very early IJN Winter Flight Helmet.
This flight helmet went into service at a time when the Japanese Navy used open-cockpit biplanes. Therefore, it was originally designed to be used with a simple, fur-lined, leather mask. The mask fastened to both cheeks by way of snap fasteners. When not in use, the mask would be stored on the side, with one snap on the cheek and one snap at the rear of the helmet.
This mask could be seen in use during the Japanese Navy's use of biplanes, and with the Mitsubishi A5M. When they transitioned into the closed-cockpit, Mitsubishi A6M Zero, the mask was no longer needed.
The four photos below show the mask being worn, and also the mask being stored on the side.
Let's quickly take a look at the restoration part of this flight helmet while learning about its features!
Before restoration
(1) The snap of the eaves has come off, and the convex and concave parts are stuck together.
(2) There is a lot of mold and rust.
(3) One of the buttons on the back of the head that goes through the rubber band for goggles is missing.
(4) The entire leather is peeling off. (The original color of the leather remains on the inside of the ear covers, so we will match it to the original color.）
(5) The hair part is torn or almost all of the threads are detached.
(6) The chinstrap is shredded.
Incidentally, the maker tag on this flight helmet is made by Takashimaya Iida Co.
After restoration
The hairs are sewn onto the chinstrap of the early model.
Barely a few hairs remained. The shredded part was regenerated. Only one of the dove fittings is from that time.
The buckle hardware was originally wrapped in leather but had been stripped and rusted, so it was reclaimed.
Before restoration
After restoration
Before restoration
After restoration
The leather quality and leather color have returned to their original color. On the right side of the head, the lower thread of the name cloth is visible.
On the name cloth,
"攻七〇三(Attack Squadron 703 by name)・萬元(ManGen by name)・上飛(Chief Petty Officer by rank) " is written.
Before restoration
After restoration
The ear cover has been opened. The original leather color is clearly visible on the back of the ear cover. A beautiful dark brown color remains.
Before restoration
The name is also faintly visible on the back of the head.（Name is Mangen＝萬元） We have decided not to touch the area around this name at all.
After restoration
The missing buttons have also been reproduced.
We have also repaired all the torn fur and threads.
Now that the restoration is complete, let's put on the eagle eye goggles!
Carefully, I bounced them up. The fur is thinner, but it still looks good.
The line of the eaves and the V line of the goggles are perfectly aligned. You can feel the power of a real flight helmet.
Snaps on both cheeks, a characteristic of early flight helmets. The middle one is for winter use, so it is vertically aligned. Both sides are lined up horizontally because it is for summer.
In this photo, the fur on the initial flight helmet is cut cleanly. The piping keeps the rabbit fur from sticking out.
Saburo Sakai in his Mitsubishi A5M in 1939.
The real flight helmet worn by Mr. Saburo Sakai.
Captain Yukio Seki.
He is wearing the same type of flight helmet.
Ensign Matsuo Hagiri.
He is wearing the same type of flight helmet.
By the way, this flight helmet is the type without piping.
Thank you very much for ordering the restoration of this very valuable flight helmet.
We sincerely hope that this flying cap will be handed down to future generations.
That's all for today.
See you soon.
※About ordering※
We manufacture the flight helmets, oxygen masks, receivers, etc. shown in the blog. Please contact us for production orders, film-related orders, etc.
Today, I would like to introduce "Aerial Battle Model" which was used in the Japanese Army at that time.
This wooden model was used during the war to illustrate piloting techniques and to study the art of war.
In a conversation with an acquaintance of mine, we talked about this model. So I decided to try to make it the same way as it was made back then, using a small knife to cut the wood.
Ki-61, Ki-45, Ki-84
And B-29.
In making this model, an acquaintance of mine asked Ensign Iwao Hosoi (98 years old) about his experiences in those days.
（Photo: Bottom row on the right is Mr. Hosoi.）
He said nostalgically, "In those days, we used to call them 'aerial battle models'!" He told us.
He said that when he was a member of an educational flying squadron in Chiran (specializing in fighter training), he made an aerial battle model by cutting and assembling wood into the shape of a fighter plane by himself.
At first, no one would give them to him, so each of them made them by themselves.
They painted the wings and fuselage "Hinomaru" in green paint, and Mr. Hosoi, who loved airplanes, also made a propeller.
After that, many of the aerial battle models in other air forces were painted in solid green.
Now, let us introduce each fighter plane！
The question was how big to make them before we started production.
I thought about the comparison with the B-29.
I cut the wood with a small knife.
(You don't see them today, but they were in my pencil box until I was in elementary school (^^))
I painted the color with paint.
I did not attach a propeller this time.(It was sometimes there and sometimes not.
The grain of the wood is visible, and the paint gives it a rustic look.
The Japanese flag was also painted by hand with a brush.It is full of handmade feeling.
Ki-61
Ki-45
Ki-84
B-29
On the back side, there is an inset stick.
Image Photo
B-29 on the left hand and Ki-61 on the right.
Is this a Ki-45?
It is a fine aerial battle model with propeller and U.S. markings！
In the early days, it was quite elaborately made.
This is a production scene of those days, and it looks like the Douglas A-20 Havoc is being made.
It was made like this.
Douglas A-20 Havoc
Pilots of the 244th squadron of the flight conduct aiming training with the Type 100 firing sights using a model B-17.
There is a very beautifully made aerial battle model hanging in the trainee's classroom.
That's all for today!
See you again!
※About ordering※
We manufacture the flight helmets, oxygen masks, receivers, etc. shown in the blog. Please contact us for production orders, film-related orders, etc.
