Helmet, Protective, Experimental, United States Army Air Forces
Object Details
- Manufacturer
- Shelby Shoe Co.
- Physical Description
- Experimental Protective Flying Helmet; yellow painted Type M1942 tankers hard helmet with snap attachments to Type A-11 Leather flying helmet; M1942 helmet has brown leather webbing with cotton straps with snaps to attach to the Type A-11 helmet; the Type A-11 helmet has a dark brown leather exterior with internal black rubber earphones; earphones have chamois lining; brown rayon manufacturer's tag with tan letter text "TYPE A-11, SPECIFICATION NUMBER 3189, SIZE-MEDIUM, STOCK NO. 8300-396015, ORDER NO. (33-038)44-3177A A.F., THE SELBY SHOE CO., PROPERTY OF THE AIR FORCE, U.S. ARMY" sewn on inside lining of helmet; leather chin strap; 3 snaps on for M1942 or oxygen mask on front of helmet; black rubber earphone patch cord with red plastic plug.
- Summary
- This helmet was worn during 1945-1946 by Capt. John Babel, a test pilot of the Lockheed P-80A. It was made at Muroc Flight Test Base from an Army Air Forces Type A-11 flying helmet and a Type M1942 Tanker's helmet. A hard helmet was necessary to protect the jet pilot's head becasue of the buffeting encountered at high speed while flying through rough, turbulent air. The Type A-13A oxygen mask and the Type B-8 goggles was worn with this helmet.
- Credit Line
- Donated by John Babel
- Inventory Number
- A19790676000
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Type
- PERSONAL EQUIPMENT-Helmets & Headwear
- Materials
- Helmet: Hardened Fiber
- Helmet: Leather
- Straps: Cotton
- Dimensions
- 3-D: 16.5 x 21.6 x 19.1cm (6 1/2 x 8 1/2 x 7 1/2 in.)
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- See more items in
- National Air and Space Museum Collection
- National Air and Space Museum
- Record ID
- nasm_A19790676000
- Metadata Usage (text)
- Not determined
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv941e4d35e-949c-4681-9c0a-80353d484915
Related Content
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.