Monday 24 June 2019

Pilot uniforms and equipment - IJNAF

A number of very interesting pilot uniforms and equipment were recently on sale on the Japanese ebay so here are the photos. First up an IJNAF set without boots or trousers but with the fairly rare speaking tube. It's the jacket of a two piece summer uniform, the helmet is winter version.

 
 
 
 

The goggles were made by "Nichiman Kogyo KK". The company stamp can be seen in the photo below.

 
 
On the side of the rubber band is the name of the owner.








The interior lining was rabit fur.
The label on the jacket interior says "Yokosuka Gunju-bu" (Yokosuka Munitions Department) and the name of the owner, Yajima Zenjiro.
 
 



The patch above indicated that the pilot's rank was Flight Petty Officer 1st Class.
The green patch featured the name of the pilot. The inscription around the rising sun flag says "Ippachu Hicho" (one shot , one hit) usually associated with tokotai pilots.
In case you want to know, the whole set was sold for 3000$US.

2 comments:

Harold K said...

Providing these items are authentic (they look to be), I'm surprised they didn't go for US$5K. Fascinating stuff.

D. Chouinard said...

It's always amazing to see something like this that has survived the war, and the following 70+ years.