100% Authentic World War 2 US Army Air Force BOMBER CREW M5 FLAK HELMET ~ USAAF

Description: 100% Original USAAF World War II Bomber Crew M5 Flak Helmet NOT REPAINTED or REPAIRED! You may be assured this is NOT some doctored up version of a WW2 helmet, but rather the genuine article. It has never been owned by a militaria dealer before, and has never been to the MAX Show or other militaria show in the US or abroad in the years we have owned it, and we doubt it ever has been. We bought this helmet at a local auction some years ago along with a nice, genuine M3 flak helmet and a fine original owner-identified A-2 jacket which we subsequently sold. This is an American made World War II M5 flak helmet, a very special type of helmet that was worn by United States Army Air Force bomber and other air crew members flying against the Nazi Luftwaffe and Imperial Japanese forces. The helmet is entirely different from the standard M1 GI combat helmet in that it is made with steel ear flaps that are hinged to fold down over a communications headset that crew members wore. Inside the back of the helmet, just above the small hole near the rim, the manufacturing number 1226A is stamped into the steel. The main part of the helmet is stamped from usual non-magnetic American helmet steel with a narrow steel rim running around the edge. The edge of the helmet is cut out on both sides so that the wearer’s ears are only covered by the hinged ear flaps. On each side of the helmet there is a rounded ear flap welded to a hinge that is welded to the helmet. These flaps come down to cover the radio headset on the ears of the crew member wearing the helmet. There are remnants of the original adjustable tan leather chinstraps attached to each ear flap. In a quick internet search we found replacements to be available. Inside the helmet there is a woven cloth lining somewhat similar to the lining of a standard M1 helmet. On this helmet the “headband-hammock” assembly is complete and in good original condition, except that both ends of the front leather part of the headband are detached from the main woven headband, as shown in the picture below and our last two pictures. As you can see in our excellent pictures, the steel rim around this helmet and the outside of the helmet itself still have virtually all of their original fuzzy OD paint. The inside of the helmet has most of its original ordinary OD paint. The entire outside of this helmet has a soft “fuzzy” feel and none of the rough coating like that which can be seen on a M1 combat helmet. We are told and have read that when this helmet was issued it had its fuzzy flocked surface to prevent the wearer from freezing his skin if he touched the very cold metal at high altitude. The helmet weighs just over 3 pounds. All of our photos show the actual 75+ year old original World War II American USAAF M5 bomber crewman helmet offered for sale. If you know a helmet collector who doesn’t have one of these, we can assure you he would appreciate knowing about this auction. Have a look at other original WW2 collectibles in our eBay store! We have been selling rare military history books and collectibles for more than forty-five years (25 years on eBay!), and have received over 6200 positive feedback responses from satisfied customers! CONDITION: exactly as shown. QUESTIONS: we do not accept returns so if you have any questions about this rare WW2 flak helmet, be sure to ask before you click the Buy It Now button, NOT after you have purchased the item. You are responsible for reading the full item description, including shipping costs and accepted payment methods. SHIPPING: this rare helmet will be shipped in a sturdy package and we are happy to combine shipping of multiple purchases. We do not charge a handling fee and will refund overpayment of postage as soon as a combined order has been shipped. FOREIGN BUYERS: we ship to most foreign countries at additional cost, however all foreign customers are responsible for any VAT payments, import duties and customs clearing fees. International buyers are required to submit their telephone number along with their shipping address. DELIVERY: we photograph every parcel we ship by USPS or by the public carrier specified by the buyer. We e-mail that photo and any applicable tracking number to the buyer as proof of mailing or shipping. Delivery responsibility is then in the hands of the USPS or of any other public carrier selected by the buyer, and does not involve Rapidapolis in any way. Communications about, and responsibility for the delivery to the buyer must be between the buyer and the public carrier, and can not include Rapidapolis on eBay. RETURNS: because of eBay’s approach to returns nowadays we no longer represent anything as being suitable for use for any specific purpose. We sell everything as a surplus curio or relic “as is-where is”, with no implied or other warranties of any kind given, and which may or may not be useful for its original or intended purpose. What you see is what we have photographed and what we will ship. RAPIDAPOLIS has a long history of selling on eBay since 1999, and of customer satisfaction with the items we sell and with our shipping. We encourage buyers to examine our listings carefully, review our many thousands of feedbacks and buy with confidence.

Price: 299.99 USD

Location: Rapid City, South Dakota

End Time: 2024-11-29T19:23:55.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD