Gueneau 316G
Last updated 15 February 2010

The Gueneau 316G was the German version of the French-made Gueneau 316 flight helmet. It differed from the original French version by having a chin strap, a different communication setup and different shaped visors, to allow use of "T" bayonets on the MBU-5/P oxygen mask. The chin strap was either black with a British style closure or a white HGU-26/P type. Photographic evidence suggests that the helmet entered service around 1974 and was used till around 1990.



Gueneau 316G helmet used until 1989 in JaboG 49 (Jagdbombergeschwader) , based in Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany. The Jabog 49 squadron was the first Luftwaffe squadron to use Alphajet aircraft, from 1980. Photos © Chameloon


Gueneau 316G named to a pilot called Birkbahn from JG 71 Richthofen. It was last inspected by the JG 71 lift support guys in 1989. Initially all Gueneau 316G helmets were white as the one shown above but in the 1980s the majority helmets were painted grey like this one. The MBU-5/P is a German version with a black hardshell as opposed to the standard US dark green hardshells. The helmet is equipped with a US standard comm system as evidenced by the plugs on the mask communications cord and the female plug on the left side of the helmet (see picture to the far right). Photos © Bluelight.


Gueneau 316G used by a pilot from the Kommando F-104 of the Luftwaffe VersorgungsRegiment 1 at Erding, north-east of Munich, Germany. Its tri-colour artwork matches the Norm 83 'Lizard' colour sceme applied to most Luftwaffe tactical aircraft from the mid-1980s, including a small number of F-104s. This helmet is fitted with an American HGU-26/P style chin strap. Photos © Simke.