This is an example of a United States Navy Type H-3 protective flying helmet. In April 1951, the H-3 became the standard issue flying helmet for the service. The helmet was an update of the Type H-2 and featured a "breakaway" protective shell to enable rapid removal from an injured aviator.
This helmet has no known operational history.
Display Status
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin
United States of America
Type
PERSONAL EQUIPMENT-Helmets & Headwear
Manufacturer
General Textile Mills, Inc.
Physical Description
United States Navy (USN) Type H-3 protective flying helmet; yellow fiberglass outer shell; cotton canvas and leather padded lining; leather and cotton canvas chin strap with steel buckle adjustment, chamois chin pad; black rubber edging; leather tabs with two steel snaps for oxygen mask attachment; boom microphone; rubber insulate patch chords with bayonet connection for both headphones and boom microphone; decal of gold naval aviator wings applied to front of helmet.
Dimensions
3-D: 29.5 × 23.5 × 29.2cm, 2.1kg (11 5/8 × 9 1/4 × 11 1/2 in., 4.6lb.)
Materials
Fiberglass, Leather, Cotton, Steel, Plastic, Synthetic Rubber
Inventory Number
A19540108000
Credit Line
Transferred from the United States Navy, Bureau of Aeronautics
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
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