Luftwaffe LKpW101 Winter flying Helmet

A classic example of the standard pattern, which was introduced into service in 1938 and then served throughout WWII. The brown goatskin leather shell is in excellent condition and remains supple with all it's original finish intact and the goggle retaining straps are in perfect condition. This pattern features the characteristic double chin straps ; the metal buckles and 3- point oxygen mask clips show none of the normal tarnishing or rust and are therefore likely to be the nickel-plated examples. The avionics are complete and the helmet is fitted with the early round Mi4C throat microphones coded bxo, an indication this helmet is from an early production. This seems to be confirmed by the woven fabric label that states the makers name Deutsche Telephonwerke und Kabelindustrie AG who were based in Berlin. The factory manufacturers code was allocated as bxo, but clearly this fairly early war label was made before the coding system was introduced, so an added bonus.

Inside is equally clean and is fitted with a lamb's wool interior lining, which shows signs of very light service use, commensurate with its age. The label also carries a clear BAL inspectors stamp as well as the size detail which is 58. A final detail on the label is the date is marked as April 1941, thus confirming our speculation this is an early wartime manufactured helmet. Another bonus is both the Perspex receiver sound plates remain in situ. These are often missing or damaged on these helmets; both of these are stamped with the code Ln26602. The helmet is of course fully wired and is fitted with a long communication cord and four-pole break coupling that is marked BLKvFL27560.

In summary a super example of an increasingly scarce pattern and more so in this condition. We rate this one as a 9.5 out of 10 that ticks all the boxes and matches the collector's maxim of always buy the best example you can afford. We have not had one of these in for some times and we had to pay a serious price to acquire it, but believe it still represents good value for money and we don't anticipate It will be with us long!