BACKGROUND: With the advent of military aircraft in WWI most of the early pilots soon discovered that appropriate protective headgear was a necessity due to the cold and the all too frequent occurrence of oil leaking into the slipstream and covering the pilot. Originally the German military was caught unprepared and no specific headgear or uniforms for pilots were available. This resulted in the pilots utilizing commercially produced motor car helmets. These tight fitting, soft leather helmets proved to be ideal and future flight helmets were basically modified versions of the early motor car helmets. During WWII the Luftwaffe utilized no fewer then ten slightly different models of flight helmets with the main modifications being helmets issued for summer or winter wear and helmets with or without integral radio communication fittings. The introductory regulations of the protective flight helmet cover remain uncovered but photographic evidence indicates that they were manufactured and worn. The protective flight helmet covers were designed for day time flight crews and were manufacture in bright yellow, white or red fabric and they served double duty to reflect the sunlight away from the dark flight helmets assisting the wearer to remain cool and also to act as a visual aid for rescuing downed airmen. The protective flight helmet covers were manufactured in two slightly different patterns with one pattern designed to partially cover the earphone mounts while the other pattern was contoured to fit around the earphone mounts. Of Note: A photographic example of the protective flight helmet cover in wear can be seen in J. R. Angolia & A. Schlicht’s book, Uniform & Traditions of the Luftwaffe, volume 3, page 220 or A. Skötte’s book, German Luftwaffe Flight Headgear of WWII, pages 63 and 64.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Reversible, six panel, light weight, dual-ply, mottled tan cotton and bright red, cotton/rayon blend construction protective flight helmet cover with machine stitched seams. One side of the cover is in bright red, cotton/rayon material while the other side is in mottled tan cotton. The cover has two, small, forward and back triangular panels and two larger, unique shaped side panels all with machine stitched seams. The side panels of the cover each have downward extended, semi-circular contours to fit over the earphones mounts. The red side of the cover is well marked with the black inkstamped size, "Gr.2", (Medium). Scarce protective flight helmet cover.