US Army AAF WW2 8TH AIR FORCE FIGHTER PILOT BRITISH TYPE G OXYGEN MASK Vtg RARE

The 8th Air Force was the most potent arm of American air power during WW2, tasked with the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. Flying B-17 and B-24 heavy bombers with P-51 Mustang and P-47 Thunderbolt fighter escorts, the “Mighty Eighth” swept the vaunted Luftwaffe from the skies in epic air battles over Occupied Europe. Those daring 8th Air Force fighter pilots often wore the classic British Type G oxygen mask for its compact design and general availability. This US Army AAF WW2 8TH AIR FORCE FIGHTER PILOT BRITISH TYPE G OXYGEN MASK is in good condition, with moderate cracking to the middle top left face piece, moderate cracking around the inspiratory valve at the left side of the face piece, some cracking to the upper right face piece, a complete tear to the middle top left chamois lining, moderate drying, stiffening, and fragility to the face piece, some cracking to the upper hose, missing the copper nose clip, and with some overall age wear evident (most pictured). Otherwise, the mask is in fine shape, with no other damage to the tough grayish green rubber construction. Most interestingly, it boasts the original grayish blue canvas attachment straps with a metal hook at the right side and two brown leather backed metal “female” snaps at the left, sports the original Type 48 microphone with the traditional short wiring cord and dual “female” socket end plug, and is complete with the original black rubber oxygen hose. We have shown an iconic photo of the legendary P-47 ace Colonel Francis “Gabby” Gabreski in the ETO in 1944 wearing a similar British Type G oxygen mask. The item “US Army AAF WW2 8TH AIR FORCE FIGHTER PILOT BRITISH TYPE G OXYGEN MASK Vtg RARE” is in sale since Saturday, July 28, 2018. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Militaria\WW II (1939-45)\Original Period Items\United States\Hats & Helmets”. The seller is “abramsantiques” and is located in Claremont, California. This item can be shipped worldwide.