Product Description
Original as issued condition and marked Australian WW2 RAAF issue steel helmet. Size 7. Chinstrap retainers dated 1942. Member's service number 34173 marked on the helmet under visor together with the Airman's name and rank. Issued to Sgt. GLEESON, BADEN ATHOL. Sgt. Gleeson was an Air Gunner attached to 461 Squadron that was attached to the RAF in the UK. This squadron flew various aircraft including Sunderland Flying Boats for anti-submarine duties in the European theater of the war. The Airman's details are substantially listed in the NAA (National Archives of Australia). He was the subject of a Court Martial in March 1945 for sending his British RAF Commanding Officer and obscene and threatening letter. The contents of this letter is available in the NAA archives (Page 43 of the airman's history) but is not suitable to be shown here. The letter was sent due to an incident that occurred on Christmas Night of 1944 where the airman and others were attending a dance. At 9pm the RAF Officer Commanding ordered the dance to be shut down resulting in the letter being sent to him. Sgt. Gleeson was found guilty and sentenced to 28 days of detention and reduction in rank. The Court Martial had a real "Breaker Morant" feel to it. Original used condition. The helmet in the photo is the helmet you receive. Scroll down for more photo description.
NOTE: For US buyers: Any Customs Tariffs are included in the sale price and will be paid by the seller prior to dispatch. No additional charges will be incurred when your parcel arrives in the United States. Items originally manufactured in the U.S. do not attract any tariff duty.
