"Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this
island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all
Europe may be free and life of the world may move
forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fall,
then the whole world, including the United States,
including all that we have known and cared for, will
sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age. . .
Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so
bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its
Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will
still say, "This was their finest hour!"
- Prime Minister Winston Churchill
island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all
Europe may be free and life of the world may move
forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fall,
then the whole world, including the United States,
including all that we have known and cared for, will
sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age. . .
Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so
bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its
Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will
still say, "This was their finest hour!"
- Prime Minister Winston Churchill
During World War Two and specifically during the Battle of Britain, the Royal Air Force
distinguished itself and was almost solely responsible for the safe keeping of this great island
nation. At the start of the Battle of Britain, which lasted from July 10th to October 31st, 1940, the
Royal Air Force was comprised of approximately 1,200 aircraft of which only 660 were
serviceable. At the same time, the German Luftwaffe was comprised of approximately 2,500
aircraft of which only 1,200 were serviceable. At the end of the battle, the Luftwaffe had lost
approximately 1,100 aircraft while the Royal Air Force lost approximately 650 aircraft. Britain's
greatest asset during this time was the invention of radar, that helped to identify incoming raids by
the Luftwaffe. The greatest set back for the RAF at the start of the battle was the lack of qualified
and experienced pilots. Many of the RAF's most able pilots had perished or been put out of action
by the Battle of France. Still, with such overwhelming opposition in both men and aircraft, the
Royal Air Force held on and kept Germany from completing the preliminary stages of what was
planned to be "Operation Sealion", the invasion of England by Germany.
distinguished itself and was almost solely responsible for the safe keeping of this great island
nation. At the start of the Battle of Britain, which lasted from July 10th to October 31st, 1940, the
Royal Air Force was comprised of approximately 1,200 aircraft of which only 660 were
serviceable. At the same time, the German Luftwaffe was comprised of approximately 2,500
aircraft of which only 1,200 were serviceable. At the end of the battle, the Luftwaffe had lost
approximately 1,100 aircraft while the Royal Air Force lost approximately 650 aircraft. Britain's
greatest asset during this time was the invention of radar, that helped to identify incoming raids by
the Luftwaffe. The greatest set back for the RAF at the start of the battle was the lack of qualified
and experienced pilots. Many of the RAF's most able pilots had perished or been put out of action
by the Battle of France. Still, with such overwhelming opposition in both men and aircraft, the
Royal Air Force held on and kept Germany from completing the preliminary stages of what was
planned to be "Operation Sealion", the invasion of England by Germany.
RAF Type C flying helmet and MKVIII
goggles. (Circa 1944).
goggles. (Circa 1944).
An updated view of my
RAF Type C flight
helmet, now complete
with MKVIII flight
goggles and a Type G
oxygen mask. Many
thanks to Geoff at
oldnautibits.com for
working so hard to find me
a Type G mask that I
couldn't resist!
RAF Type C flight
helmet, now complete
with MKVIII flight
goggles and a Type G
oxygen mask. Many
thanks to Geoff at
oldnautibits.com for
working so hard to find me
a Type G mask that I
couldn't resist!
Below are a few thumbnails showing RAF items in my collection. The flight helmet pictured is a RAF Type C flight
helmet, complete with avionics and MK VIII goggles (circa 1944). My collection also includes an almost complete set
of British War Stars and numerous other British military medals that are not shown. As indicated before, none of the
items are reproduction items, all are vintage WWII era. I am just starting to collect RAF items and hope to expand this
portion of my collection.
helmet, complete with avionics and MK VIII goggles (circa 1944). My collection also includes an almost complete set
of British War Stars and numerous other British military medals that are not shown. As indicated before, none of the
items are reproduction items, all are vintage WWII era. I am just starting to collect RAF items and hope to expand this
portion of my collection.
RAF Enlisted (L) and
Officers (R) side caps.
Officers (R) side caps.
LEFT: Col. Glenn T
Eagleston, U.S. fighter
pilot/ace, wearing an
RAF Type C flight
helmet and RAF
MKVIII flight goggles.
Eagleston, U.S. fighter
pilot/ace, wearing an
RAF Type C flight
helmet and RAF
MKVIII flight goggles.
RAF Officers Visor
Cap, complete and
original.
Cap, complete and
original.
Three RAF ceramic items. The item on the left is an original,
wartime RAF ceramic item, appropriately marked with the
wartime Minton's Company mark and RAF logo. In the
middle is another similar, wartime RAF ceramic item, also
marked with the Minton's Company mark. The Minton's
mark on each identifies the items as being wartime production.
The item on the right was issued by the Royal Air Force War
Relief Society. Proceeds from the sales of these ceramic cups
helped to aid the victims of the London Blitz. If anyone has
any additional information regarding any of these three items,
specifically the two RAF Minton's items, I would love to hear
from you.
wartime RAF ceramic item, appropriately marked with the
wartime Minton's Company mark and RAF logo. In the
middle is another similar, wartime RAF ceramic item, also
marked with the Minton's Company mark. The Minton's
mark on each identifies the items as being wartime production.
The item on the right was issued by the Royal Air Force War
Relief Society. Proceeds from the sales of these ceramic cups
helped to aid the victims of the London Blitz. If anyone has
any additional information regarding any of these three items,
specifically the two RAF Minton's items, I would love to hear
from you.
Observers and Air Gunners Flying Log Book
that belonged to William Lyons. Also shown is
a wireless operators sleeve patch, Wireless Air
Gunners wing and several RAF paybooks.
that belonged to William Lyons. Also shown is
a wireless operators sleeve patch, Wireless Air
Gunners wing and several RAF paybooks.
Photograph showing a RAF Lancaster Heavy
Bomber. This is the same type of aircraft that
William Lyons flew in as a Wireless Operator and
Gunner during the war, in the China Burma India
Theater.
Bomber. This is the same type of aircraft that
William Lyons flew in as a Wireless Operator and
Gunner during the war, in the China Burma India
Theater.
Original wartime era, British War Stars. From left to
right: The Italy Star, The France and Germany Star,
The Pacific Star, The 1939-1945 Star, The Atlantic Star,
The Africa Star, The Burma Star. The only war star
missing from my collection is the European Air Crew
Star.
right: The Italy Star, The France and Germany Star,
The Pacific Star, The 1939-1945 Star, The Atlantic Star,
The Africa Star, The Burma Star. The only war star
missing from my collection is the European Air Crew
Star.
Original, wartime
issued Royal Air Force,
New Testament Bible,
Service Edition.
issued Royal Air Force,
New Testament Bible,
Service Edition.
Pictured above (middle) is a complete kit relating to the A.R.P. (British Air Raid Protection) from the British home-front during the war. Pictured is an original Air Raid
Warden's helmet and gas mask as issued, both correctly marked as having been manufactured in 1942. The helmet shows very minimal wear while the gas mask shows
almost no wear and appears unissued. Accompanying the gas mask is its original issue bag in excellent condition. Also pictured is an A.R.P. issued whistle (marked J.
Hudson and Co., Barr St., Hockley, Birmington), and an original 1943 issued dimming cloth container with original dimming cloth still inside, both well marked. Also
pictured is an original pair of WWII British fireman's goggles and a small, A.R.P., silver hallmarked lapel badge issued to and worn by the air raid protection wardens. All of
these items come from an estate in England. The helmet and the strap of the gas mask are clearly marked to "H. Freeman." A little history from the vendor indicates that
these items were all issued to a female A.R.P warden who served as an air raid warden during the war. The name of the original owner is Hillary Freeman. It should be
noted that in conjunction with the figures above, at the end of the Battle of Britain alone, approximately 22,000 British civilians had been killed by aerial bombings, with
another 32,000 civilians having been wounded. There is no doubt that these figures would have been much higher had it not been for the courageous service of the A.R.P.
Warden's helmet and gas mask as issued, both correctly marked as having been manufactured in 1942. The helmet shows very minimal wear while the gas mask shows
almost no wear and appears unissued. Accompanying the gas mask is its original issue bag in excellent condition. Also pictured is an A.R.P. issued whistle (marked J.
Hudson and Co., Barr St., Hockley, Birmington), and an original 1943 issued dimming cloth container with original dimming cloth still inside, both well marked. Also
pictured is an original pair of WWII British fireman's goggles and a small, A.R.P., silver hallmarked lapel badge issued to and worn by the air raid protection wardens. All of
these items come from an estate in England. The helmet and the strap of the gas mask are clearly marked to "H. Freeman." A little history from the vendor indicates that
these items were all issued to a female A.R.P warden who served as an air raid warden during the war. The name of the original owner is Hillary Freeman. It should be
noted that in conjunction with the figures above, at the end of the Battle of Britain alone, approximately 22,000 British civilians had been killed by aerial bombings, with
another 32,000 civilians having been wounded. There is no doubt that these figures would have been much higher had it not been for the courageous service of the A.R.P.
Click on Kilroy and
email me.
email me.
