WWII flight gear question

[Luther Moore]

What Company made the flight clothing for the RNZAF during WWII? Was it an Australian Company?

[Dave Homewood]

Various manufacturers were involved in making RNZAF clothing, most of them being New Zealand companies. They tendered for specific batches just as they do now. The serge battledress was all New Zealand wool cloth of course.

A great deal of the knitted woolen accessories like socks, mittens, gloves, balaclavas and scarves were knitted by the Air Force Relations group, a nationwide network of knitters. Originally started by wives, mothers and sisters of airmen away overseas as a way of both doing their bit and also getting together for rgular sessions that were also like a support group for the ladies who were missing their men, the Govt supplied the wool and specific patterns. They made thousands of garments, mostly sent to the UK for RNZAF airmen there to be issued.

I'm not sure but I think the Irving leatehr flying jackets, trousers and helmets were all were imported from Britain. In the pacific a certtain amount of US flying kit (and general kit) was issued too. The kiwis generally ditched they rubbish India pattern topee helmets and grabbed the much better US made ones.

Air Force hats were made by the famous and now defunct milliner Hills Hats. Air Force shoes were made by Delta in NZ.

I cannot think of anything that might have come from Australia. others may know more details.

[Dave Homewood]

Also officers got their everyday work suits (Service Dress) and shirts tailored too of course.

If you look at RAAF uniforms they are a darker blue than RNZAF and RAF, etc.

[Luther Moore]

I was thinking that they would of been made in New Zealand until I found in my gloves it said 'Aust made patented' and 'Zipp' Now i'm not sure if that's the name of the company that made the zipper or the whole glove??

[Dave Homewood]

I'm not sure Luther. Others on here are more into the flying clothing history and maybe can tell you mroe.

[davidd]

Luther,
As Dave H says, normal uniform items were generally made in NZ (Officers and all early WAAF SD uniforms tailor made, later WAAF non-officer uniforms were made in standard sizes). Flying clothing was frequently NZ-made, including helmets, gauntlet gloves, and Irvin jackets and trousers, as well as tropical flying helmets of two basic types, but as Dave H says, a lot of American flying gear was also used (mostly US Navy types), and we also relied on RAF goggles of at least two types (MK. IIIA and Mk. VIII), and US Navy goggles were also sometimes used (cannot recall designation unfortunately, something like AN 6330). Oxygen masks were either RAF or USN types, as well as one Canadian type used in 1943/44. Mae Wests were usually RAF 1941 pattern, but some also used US Navy types, and I believe we also received some Australian Mae Wests in 1942 (some were in use at the School of GR at New Plymouth December 1942.) It was not unusual for "hardware" for flying and other clothing to be imported from UK or Australia as it was not manufactured locally, such as slide fasteners (Zips!), also other types of fasteners such as the press type, and and fastening buckles for flying helmets, etc, also most uniform buttons. Some of this information was covered on this board only recently - should not be too hard to find.
David D

[corsair67]

Jan 10, 2013 21:03:48 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Air Force hats were made by the famous and now defunct milliner Hills Hats.

Hills Hats still exists - unless there was another Hills Hats:

www.hillshats.co.nz/

[Dave Homewood]

Well I'll be jiggered, a few years ago there was an item on the news saying they'd gone under after losing big contracts to the military and police, etc who were sourcing cheaper offshore. I'm pleased to see they didn't!

Thanks for that Craig!