Showing 41 to 50 of 204 search results

The Gold Donkey Star

Aircraft & Exhibits, London, Hangar One, X001-3908

There is a long tradition of mascots associated with RAF training establishments. The first official mascot was a goat by the name of Lewis who transferred from the army to join the permanent staff of RAF Halton in 1944.

Gold metal star with light blue ribbon, © RAF Museum

Braid of an Officer

Aircraft & Exhibits, London, Hangar One, 77/U/1532

The method of displaying of Officer's rank in the RAF closely follows that of the Navy by using different sizes of lace on the cuffs.

Worn dark blue cloth tape with central light blue stripe, © RAF Museum

Combat Helmet Mark 4

Aircraft & Exhibits, London, Hangar One, 1986/1108/U

Introduced in the closing stages of the Second World War, the Mk 4 helmet continued to serve as the standard British combat helmet for over 40 years.

Dome-shaped steel protective helmet with fabric chinstrap, © RAF Museum

Playing Cards with Concealed Map

Aircraft & Exhibits, Circa 1942, London, Hangar One, 72/S/1438

Packs of playing cards concealing escape maps were smuggled into prison camps in Germany inside Red Cross parcels to help British and American prisoners of war to plan their escapes.

29 playing cards some with front layers peeled away on to reveal part of a map underneath, Jigsaw Design & Publishing © RAF Museum

Helmet of a Tactical Aircraft Refueller

Aircraft & Exhibits, London, Hangar One, X004-1088

This close-fitting helmet enables the wearing of ear defenders, essential during tactical refuelling which involves keeping an aircraft's engines running.

Domed hard protective helmet with tinted ski goggles and headphones, © RAF Museum

Service Dress Cap of a Group Captain in the Polish Air Force in the UK

Aircraft & Exhibits, London, Hangar One, 1986/0217/U

During the Second World War people from many occupied countries served with the RAF. In 1941 Polish personnel, who made up the largest Allied contingent, negotiated a level of independence which saw them adopt a variation of existing RAF uniform.

Blue grey fabric cap with gold-wire decorated hard peak, cloth band and strap and feather-shield and eagle badge, © RAF Museum

Flying Helmet Type D

Aircraft & Exhibits, London, Hangar One, 79/U/448

The Type D was the standard helmet issued in tropical climates during the 1940s. It followed the pattern of the Type C helmet but substituted cotton drill for leather and added a neck flap.

White cotton helmet with cylindrical black plastic headphones with leads fixed to sides, © RAF Museum

Windmill for DH9A Fuel Pump

Aircraft & Exhibits, London, Hangar One, X005-7429

Today the power to operate systems in aircraft, like fuel or electricity, comes from the engine. When the RAF was formed it was more common for these systems to be powered by windmills turned by the movement of air as the aircraft moved forward.

Wooden propeller with central metal fixing, © RAF Museum

Service Dress Cap of Other Ranks

Aircraft & Exhibits, London, Hangar One, 80/U/1357

The wearing of Other Ranks' Service Dress caps was suspended in 1939 for the duration of the Second World War. They were only reintroduced in 1952.

Blue grey fabric peaked cap with cloth band and strap and metal badge, © RAF Museum

Service Dress Cap of a Chaplain

Aircraft & Exhibits, London, Hangar One, 68/U/131

Chaplains wear the same blue grey service dress cap as other RAF officers but the eagle and laurel badge is replaced by the winged cross of the RAF Chaplaincy.

Blue grey fabric peaked cap with decorative cloth band and strap and winged badge at front, © RAF Museum