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NAF1092

 

NAF1092 leather flying helmet, Swiss modified

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Most foreign helmets "adopted" into the Swiss Fliegertruppe inventory came from the Luftwaffe, USAAF or the RAF.

 

The NAF 1092, being a naval flying helmet, represents a rather exotic choice. As the exact provenance and the number of specimen acquired is unknown to us, it remains kind of a mystery.

It may have arrived with an SNJ Texan which was then duly converted into a Swiss AT-16, but this is just an educated guess.

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This specimen is lined with chamois and equipped with TH-37 receivers, including rubber Y-cord with appropriate extension cable and plug, in sewn-on / stud-secured leather pockets.

The leather chin strap buckles to both sides.

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Two strap/cord retainers are present at the rear on the lateral leather sections, but these are sewn on very tightly. In an effort to reduce the impact of sunlight and heat under a perspex canopy of an AT-16 or the bubble canopy of the P-51 Mustang, it received an overspray in white color and was professionally punched with a systematic series of holes. While the white paint reflects the rays of the sun, the holes provide some aeriation.

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The flying goggles are Type M-1944 manufactured by the Pioneer Scientific Corporation and embossed "US" and "1951", indicating the year of manufacture.

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The display is completed by a Type A-14 oxygen mask with microphone.

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The punched holes could have some negative side effects, though. The following story is not officially certified, but it seems that one sunny day one of the bolder and balder pilots of the Fliegertruppe went on a mission in his P-51 without wearing a cloth cap or hood under such a modified helmet. So far, so good.

Only, when he took off the helmet after landing, his comrades noted the dotted appearance of his bald head and swiftly had a new nickname for him: Fliegenpilz (i.e. fly agaric).

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