Odd helmet - P-40 at Torokina

[hbpencil]

Hi all,
While looking through the Air Force Museum's photos I had a look at a photo of NZ3148 (the first Gloria Lyons, file PR2686) and when I zoomed in after downloading the high res I noticed something strange about the pilot's helmet... is it just me or has it had parts cut out so the pilot's hair is visible? If so I assume it wasn't common and was for cooling purposes?

Cheers,

HB

[Dave Homewood]

That is one of the cotton tropical helmets, made specifically for Pacific conditions, I think. Not all the pilots liked them and preferred to retain their leather helmets, and I think from memory the cotton ones rotted from the sweat. I am sure David Duxbury has written on the forum about them before, but my recollection might be wrong.

[hbpencil]

Cheers Dave, I'll see if I can find any more about it on this forum.

[davidd]

Yes, this is the first standard RNZAF tropical helmet, introduced in about early 1943 (although not in wide scale use until later in that year so far as I can make out). However there is one at the RNZAF Museum with date October 1942 on it, which I presume is genuine, but I think it must have been very slow getting into full production, as it was the older-style all-leather helmets usually shown in photographs being worn by RNZAF aircrew through most of 1943 (and these were resented by aircrew because they were too hot, much like the equivalent Japanese helmets in use in the Solomons - have you seen the photographs!) In about late 1944 an "improved" type of NZ tropical helmet was introduced for aircrew serving in tropical areas, which did away with the large cut-outs (which were a hazard to the follically challenged members of aircrew, and was only remedied by introduction of a lightweight "skull-cap") which could be loosely stitched into the crown by those individuals. The "Improved" helmet had its own problems and ultimately at least three versions were produced, which tried to improve the fit and comfort of these helmets. I am certain that the NZ tropical helmets were an attempt by NZ Govt to increase the amount of locally-made flying equipment in service, so as to reduce dependency on US-made (or imported RAF) equipment, although so far as I know, we never attempted to locally manufacture such items as oxygen masks, Mae Wests, dinghies or parachutes; we just did not have the basic industrial infrastructure, or machinery and specialised materials to undertake these more complex items, even if we had wanted to. Our aircrew had to put up with a lot in the Pacific campaigns in the way of these often less-than-satisfactory items, but I am fairly certain that the later versions were at least roughly equivalent to contemporary US or RAF types, even though we were always seemed to be scratching around to get sufficient supplies of good quality metal attachments and the like, including zips (often from Australia, I think). New Zealand was just not industrialized enough (except in some items in demand in our primary industries) at this stage of its development to really get into the advances being made in personal flying equipment for military use, and this included the lack of a pool or really good machinists for sewing machines, although NZ did make a large amount of military clothing in local factories, and even had some of this issued to other Allied forces. Of course all cotton, silk and linen materials had also to be imported from overseas. After WW2, in about the late 1940s, the RNZAF disposed of its holdings of the locally made flying helmets, and I think many of them ended up at Aero Clubs, to do with them what thy could, do not think they were very popular. The late John Wright (of Blenheim, SAFE-Air pilot) told me that a large carton of these helmets arrived at the Marlborough Aero Club in about 1949/50, and members were told that they could have them if they wanted, I think they all went in a flash, but few actually used them when more comfortable types could be purchased. Fortunately at least a dozen (from memory) eventually turned up at RNZAF Museum (somebody did not even recognize them as flying helmets, thought they were for rugby!), as well as a feew of the later "improved" helmets.
David D

[Dave Homewood]

Were the early tropical helmets as seen here copied from an overseas design? Or where they designed from scratch in NZ?

Jan 9, 2021 9:45:05 GMT 12 davidd said:

although so far as I know, we never attempted to locally manufacture such items as oxygen masks, Mae Wests, dinghies or parachutes;

I suspect if they could have made them from wool the Kiwis would have given them a go. New Zealand had a massive industry churning out woollen serge for battledress and making blankets. The New Zealand produced serge was considered the best in the world and made the most comfortable battledress. Some foreign Allied generals managed to acquire NZ-made battledress for themselves apparently.

Jan 9, 2021 9:45:05 GMT 12 davidd said:

although NZ did make a large amount of military clothing in local factories, and even had some of this issued to other Allied forces.

New Zealand industry made millions of pairs of leather boots for our own men and women, and for the US Forces, the Indian Army, some British Forces and others. It was one of our most productive industries and contributed hugely to our reverse lend lease arrangements, along with supplying food to the Americans in the Pacific and in NZ.

Jan 9, 2021 9:45:05 GMT 12 davidd said:

Of course all cotton, silk and linen materials had also to be imported from overseas.

Yes that is likely to have been the major stumbling block for not attempting to make our own parachutes, rafts, life preservers, etc, is the supply of things like silk, rubber, cotton, etc which would all have to be shipped in bulk. It was more economic to ship the finished items.

But I wonder about the actual headset items in these local helmets, i.e. the microphone and ear pieces and cables and plug, would that have all been imported as a finished item and installed or were they locally manufactured? I know Scott Industries were big suppliers to the RNZAF, making radio and electronic equipment in the USA (a company owned and run by a Kiwi there).

[hbpencil]

Thanks for that davidd!

[davidd]

New Zealand did manufacture some complete radio (ZC-1, this for Army, in the thousands) and radar sets, etc, but I think they still had to rely on overseas sources for many items and components which could not be manufactured locally, for one reason or another. I think parts for some of the "ear phones" (for flying helmets) were NZ-made, but only for the "Gopsport Tube" applications! (That is, NOT electric) Australia and Canada were way ahead of NZ in manufacturing industries, so were a source of some items, including even complete aircraft (Small batch of 20 Tiger Moths, plus certain airframe and engine parts from Australia, including all our beam gun mounts as well as quite a lot of the radio gear for Hudsons and Vincents; 34 Catalinas and 3 Harvards from Canada). New Zealand even considered (briefly) the possibility of manufacturing Fairchild Cornells (PT-26) by DH to replace our Tiger Moths, but quickly gave up the idea at a very early stage as probably a step too far. NZ commercial firms did supply locally made piston rings and tappets (for Cheetahs fitted to Oxfords), and distributor caps and other plastic parts for American-type aircraft engines, but only for RNZAF use. Another locally made aircraft parts included the pneumatic bladders (capsules I think they called them) for Oxford brakes, as well as wooden propellers for Oxfords, Walrus, light aircraft and possibly for Hinds.
David D

[Dave Homewood]

Wow that is fascinating about the idea of building PT-26's here. I'd never heard that. Of course you simply cannot replace a Tiger Moth, haha.