1950s FAA flying suit colour ?

[IanHx]

Hi, anyone know what colour of flying suit would have been worn by a Seahawk pilot in the Fleet Air Arm circa 1950s ?

[Roof Rat]

Hello IanHx

This is before my time in the FAA, but to the best of my knowledge (and I stand to be corrected) they were like this:

Flying Overalls: grey/blue (as used by RAF) Boots: black, Life Jacket: yellow, Helmet: white.

Immersion Suit: used when water temperature is below a set temp, sorry don't know the temp but used a lot in home waters, worn over flying overalls: sage/olive drab green with black cuffs and neck seal, boots, life jacket and helmet as before.

I hope this has been of help, but as I said above I do stand to be corrected if someone knows better.

With regards RR

[huvut76g7gbbui7]

Hi. As Roof Rat says.

Silver also an option for the helmet.With early Bone-Domes the inner clothhelmet ,which was separate,could sometimes also be seen. It could be the aforementioned blue/grey or green.

RG

[IanHx]

Thanks for the info, just what I needed.

[John Aero]

The flying suits were more grey than blue and quite a smooth material. They also had an attached scarf which was quite a darker satin grey and worn cravat style. I seem to remember the attached inverted knife was in a fabric covered Yellow rectangular sheath worn on the right thigh had a black cross hatched handle. RAF had nearly all Silver Bone Domes.

John

[StephenMG]

Here's mine, photographed for the SAMI Modeller's Datafile on the Hunter but pretty much relevant for the Sea Hawk as well. This is the later style of flying suit (mid-50s and well into the 1960s). The earlier type (post-war to mid-50s) was a darker colour - see the second photo.