WW2 1941 Rare & Important British Airborne "P" Type Duck...

Hammer

£10,000

WW2 1941 Rare & Important British Airborne "P" Type Duckbill Rubber Rim Parachute Helmet

rare example of the "P" Type helmet which represents the pioneering days of British Parachute Airborne operations of WW2. Original brown/maroon painted shell with lower, hard rubber rim widening towards the rear brim.  Three large brass bolts secure the alloy band, which is cushioned by the original seven, yellow sorbo, rubber edge, crash pads. The interior with the original pattern, brown leather, nine tongue lining.  Sweatband marked with the correct early style  "BMB 1941" stamp.  Interior of crown with German style, sorbo rubber padding.  Interior of rim with three alloy chinstrap hooks.  Helmet with some service and age wear, strap harness absent.

The P Type British Airborne helmet was introduced in 1941. The characteristic of the wide rubber edge banding which terminated with a “bill” to the rear earned it the soldiers' nickname the “Duck Bill Helmet”.  This pattern was used on the Bruneval raid and although the helmet was quickly succeeded by HSAT pattern in 1942, these original helmets were kept by some, and saw combat in North Africa and Operation Market Garden the Battle for Arnhem.