Original Imperial German WWI Luftstreitkräfte Pilot Helmet with PRYM Snaps & Facial Goggles

Original Items: Only One Available. This is a rather interesting example of a WWI Imperial German Luftstreitkräfte pilot’s helmet. This appears to be a private purchase item and after a closer inspection on the interior, the snaps are marked PRYM / 4, denoting German WWI manufacture.

The helmet is in lovely condition, and the strap and buckle are in great functional order. There are no stamps or markings other than the PRYM on the snaps. The flight helmet is complete with all the intended buckles, snaps and chin strap.

The included goggles remain unidentified but are certainly of WWI manufacture, with great unscrewable lens frames for easy replacement of broken lenses. There are no markings present, and the goggles have elastic straps which connect to a buckle on the back. Unfortunately, the straps have come off of one side of the helmet, but they could be pushed back in or even glued back into place with some work. They are not torn, but the glue holding them to the one side has come off. Each side has three straps, the bottom of which on each side is completely gone, so only four remain.

An outstanding set, ready to restore and properly display.

The Deutsche Luftstreitkräfte known before October 1916 as Die Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches (Imperial German Flying Corps) abbreviated to Die Fliegertruppe—was the air arm of the Imperial German Army. In English-language sources it is usually referred to as the Imperial German Air Service, although that is not a literal translation of either name. German naval aviators of the Marine-Fliegerabteilung were an integral part of the Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine). Both military branches operated airplanes, observation balloons and airships.

The Imperial German Army created an experimental balloon company inspired by the American balloon corps they had seen while observing the American Civil War, with varying forms of organization from 1884 to 1901 until a Balloon Battalion was finally formed. The rapid development of aeronautics led to trials of airships and the choice of rigid types built by Zeppelin and Schutte-Lanz. The first military aircraft to be acquired by the German Army entered service in 1910 and the first five aviation battalions were established on 1 October 1913. The Imperial German Air Service (Die Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches) and other branches concerned with air matters such as anti-aircraft, home defense and air intelligence were unified in the Luftstreitkräfte on 8 October 1916.

The duties of such aircraft were initially intended to be reconnaissance and artillery spotting in support of the armies, just as balloons had been used during the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871) and as far back as the Battle of Fleurus (1794) during the French Revolutionary Wars. The French Aviation Militaire (army air service) was created in 1909 and became the Aéronautique Militaire in 1912.[6] The Air Battalion of the Royal Engineers, with two companies, was established in November 1911. The Royal Flying Corps, RFC with a military wing and a naval wing was formed in February 1912.