Warbird Information Exchange

My neighbor recently acquired some of her Grandfather's WWII Items including his flying jacket, and a "captured" German flight suit and helmet. She wants to keep it all and preserve it if she can. The German flight suit is black leather and is in really good shape except that it is starting to dry out a little. The helmet is in like new condition and is complete. The bomber jacket is pretty rough and has a sleeve that is pretty tattered. I know nothing about this stuff but was hoping to get some info for her. How do you preserve it and is the jacket worth fixing? Is there someone who specializes in this? Also, who would have worn that type of flight suit and helmet? I'm curious.
Helmet:





Flight Suit:


Jacket:




Thanks

Lets try this again as the WIX site got dumped a few minutes ago-
Check your local phone book for dry cleaners who specialize in cleaning/treating leather, is there a TANDY store near you? A saddlery? Talk to a shop that does antique auto restorations, check with custom car interior fabricators/hot rod shops, if all else fails, go to POOP BOYS and find LEXOL cleaner and LEXOL protectant leather treatment-I've used LEXOL for years on my motorcycle seats and the leather stays soft and supple and waterproof and it's pretty cheap too -

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

Another vote for Lexol.

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Those who possess real knowledge are rare.

Those who can set that knowledge into motion in the physical world are rarer still.

The few who possess real knowledge and can set it into motion of their own hands are the rarest of all.

The flight helmet is an LKpW101 winter weight flight helmet. It is one of the typically issued Luftwaffe flight helmets.
It is most commonly seen being worn by bomber crew members. It's probably worth about $400-$500. Not rare, there are numerous examples out there.

The leather suit is a bit tricky. I don't believe it was an official Luftwaffe issued piece. Pictures of it being worn are pretty rare. I've only seen a couple pics of it in use by the Luftwaffe (usually in the 1935-1940 period) and even in Panzer (Tanker) use. I've heard mechanics wore it as well.
I've seen asking prices anywhere from $300-$1200. Most Luftwaffe collectors aren't looking for this type of flight suit for thier collection. Not that rare, but unfortunately not that desirable to most collectors.

The jacket is an Army Air Force AN-J-4. I've seen them available on ebay in the $300-$600 range. Wouldn't spend a ton of money trying to fix it.

As a collector, sometimes cleaning products hurt the value.

Regards,
Mike

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45-47=-2

i had the same flight suit, it had a gray wool flannel lining as this 1 does, i sold it a few years ago. as for the flight jacket it's toast. unfortunately you can't stop leather dry rot once it has started & is near impossible to mend or sew in that condition. i would think a dry cleaner wouldn't even touch it. the helmet is sweet & near cherry condition!! i'm very careful about old leather flight gear, it has to be kept in an atmosphere of good ventilation & not alot of heat.

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!