Question on WWII pilots helmet

[hugh]

I have tried for a long time now and can not find the meaning of the red star on a WWII leather pilots helmet, just wondering if some one can tell me about it.

[Sensuikan San]

Something that I too, have been intrigued with for a long time!

The 'star' also figured on most WWII Japanese steel helmets that one sees; but wether or not it was actually "Red" is up for grabs. Most of the time it seems to have been a rivetted fixture in bronze or some (presumably) cheap alloy. I haven't actually seen an example of a truly, authenticated "red" one.

I think it may have been (perhaps individually - by pilots) painted on the flying helmets in red, as a convenient or appropriate color, against a leather base.
The one thing that does become apparent is that it would be an Army rather than a Naval insignia! (That would display an anchor.) The star appears to have been a traditional army symbol.

You have no idea just how opposed the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy were!

Rest assured ... it has nothing to do with Communism!

Still researching this one - but not quite so straightforward as it might seem ...!

ジョン

[kaigunair]

FYI, the Star on a wwii japanese flight helmet would indicate it was for an Army pilot. However, navy pilots did not use an "anchor" the navy symbol on their helmets.

Why exactly the army marked their helmets and the navy did not has to do with background and tradition. The japanese army was modeled after the german army while japan's navy was modeled after England's navy (both powers were scene as the top ranked militaires of their day, respectively).

The army was perceved more highly during the war; Tojo was an army general and the army was seen as an extension of the old samurai class as this is most of the "old guard" when during the meiji restoration. The navy was seen as second class in that they always received less funding, less draftees, etc. However, the navy airforce was a much more selective of its pilots and training standards was much higher (and so was the drop off rate, at least before the last years of the war).

Compared to the army, most of the pilots of the navy were from higher class families and in general, they held themselves to be better pilots than those of the army. They also had a tendency to purchase their own gear (made to mil specs). Helmets were also modeled after British helmets (the early type 30's are almost an exact replica) which had no visible insignia.

Army flight helmets were more standard with less variations. They appear to have been made to more exacting specs by military contractors since they were issued and not the private purchase ones made by taylor shops.

FYI, the attack at pearl harbor was by navy pilots, and the very first "kamikaze" corps were of navy pilots. Too often I see the japanese army pilot's helmets displayed in pearl harbor attack dioramas (for example, at the Pearl Harbor Memorial museum display in hawaii -I'm not kidding!). I guess this is because people more easily identify them as being japanese pilots.

Anyhow, navy pilot helmets are much rarer than their army counterparts. I collect them instead of the army because I find them more interesting. I originally began collecting them b/c I was interested in understanding what drove these pilots to crash their fighters, and I figured it would be easier than finding japanese-american (442nd 100th, mis) items. I could go on and on, but I hope this helps.

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

I do not know a red star of a pilot helmet.
December 22, 1870
The first military dress code of Japanese empire Army was made
The army adopted a French way at first
Embroidering a star type on the top of an army cap was defined.
In 1886, a German style becomes military organization.
In addition, a dress regulation became a German style, too
http://www.konanmachi-stm.ed.jp/oboegaki/gobousei.htm
A combat uniform of Japanese empire Army
http://tksu1co.fc2web.com/gunsouhin.html

[kaigunair]

I agree that the 5 pointed star on the army helmets isn't really "red". In the 3 examples I have, one star on a very dark leather helmet is a dark brown, probablly a reddish brown. The other star, on a light tan colored helmet is a darker brown star. The third, the star was removed but the stiching on the red circle where the star is placed shows a 5 pointed star.

I think they did manufacture the helmets so that the leather of the star was a different shade than the rest of the helmets. However, it is not red and had no connection to communism.