AVIATIK W.M.43 FLYING GOGGLES
AVIATIK W.M.43 FLYING GOGGLES
AVIATIK W.M.43 FLYING GOGGLES
AVIATIK W.M.43 FLYING GOGGLES
AVIATIK W.M.43 FLYING GOGGLES
AVIATIK W.M. GOGGLES
BÜCKERHAUBE
Swiss "Bückerhaube" leather flying helmet
This type of leather helmet can be identified on Swiss Fliegertruppe and Flugwaffe pictures from the 1930ies on, through WWII and well into the post war years. After its military career it saw - and is still seing - widespread use in civil aviation, especially with pilots flying vintage aircraft with open cockpits.
The origin of this helmet and the official nomenclature - if there ever was any - astonishingly is still a mystery.
It may have been designed during the initial purchase and subsequent licensed production of Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann and Bü 133 Jungmeister training aircraft.
Until we will be able to provide any officially confirmed data we will rely merely on descriptions of photographically documented and existing examples.
The basic construction consists of four segments of black leather with a chin strap buckling on the left. It is lined with a very thin and soft leather and comes unwired.
The helmet features two bottom-sewn goggle retaining straps at the rear which then are looped around a small retainer to finally snap down by means of two stud fasteners.
On both cheeks there are three wire loops secured into a leather stap in order to attach an oxygen mask. Other known specimen feature a third, adjustable central top loop for masks with a three strap arrangement.
The chin strap has a sewn-on leather tag which would bear the owner's ID ("Effektennummer", or any other code) - a common practise with Swiss pilot equipment.
Aviatik W.M.43 flying goggles
They are very similar in appearance to commercial German flying goggles (Windschutz- or Fliegerschutzbrille) of the 1930ies which were of slightly higher comfort than their Luftwaffe issue counterparts.
The Aviatik goggles feature nickle plated frames with a series of small air vents at the top and bottom. The frames are linked by a small chain working as a nose bridge and are sewn onto a rubberized one-piece face cushion with a white velveteen brim lining. The adjustable elasticized goggle strap is attached to the frames my means of screw-secured "crocodile" clamps.
The adjustment clasp of the goggle strap is embossed with "Aviatik W.M.43", indicating the manufacturer and the year of production.
See also Aviatik W.M.42
bcn2020-05-15