P-series helmets in Royal Danish Air Force

Message 61, 26 November 2003
Hi all,
Today I received a number of ALSE related pictures from one of our air force photo labs. When I ordered them I only looked at negatives and those of you who have tried it know that you might overlook some of the details in the pictures.
One of the pictures was chosen because it showed a pilot strapped into a Martin-Baker Mk.2H ejection seat. He was wearing a P-3 helmet but my main reason for picking the picture was the seat. Now that I have received the picture it turns out that his helmet is a P-4 with a P-3 visor, and to my big surprise it also had the Hardman retention system. This is the first time that I have ever seen the Hardman receivers and christmas tree bayonets in Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) service.
I do not know whether this a blessing or a curse. It is very interesting to find new information like that but now I have to locate a complete Hardman retention system, not the kind of item you come across every day. Mount the horses and let the hounds loose!
Cheers, Bluelight

Instructional picture of pilot strapped into Martin-Baker
Mk.2H ejection seat. 8 March, 1961. © RDAF

Message 2078, May 4, 2001
Hi all, Yeaterday I was browsing through some of my books on the Royal Danish Air Force in order to more clearly identify which helmet types were used in which timeframes. I stumbled over a very interesting combination. A pilot in a British-built Meteor NF.11 all-weather fighter was wearing a P-3 helmet together with an RAF Type H oxygen mask. Makes sense in a way because the P-series helmets had taken over from the RAF Type C helmet as the RDAF standard fighter helmet from 1951 onwards, but so had the MS22001 mask vs the RAF Type H mask.
Bluelight thinking, "Considering the origin of the Meteor, it might be logic to continue with the RAF Type H mask instead of modifying the MS22001 with a microphone interoperable with the Meteor's British-made radio".
Bluelight wondering, "Hmmm, what about interoperability between an American helmet and a British mask?. Impedance and plugs are the obvious problems but what about a simple thing as British studs on an American "Pull-The-Dot" post?".
Bearing in mind earlier postings discussing the non-compatibility of USAF and USN studs and posts I simply had to try. Guess what? The RAF Type H oxygen mask studs fit perfectly onto the "Pull-The Dot" posts. This must be a coincidence. I know about the rivalry between USN and USAF over the years but even taking that into consideration, when two American organisations cannot or will not coordinate things like this it would seem more unlikely that the USAF and RAF should. Just look at the comms plugs. There is no way that a standard RAF male plug would fit the US female microphone plug on the P-3. How the comms were adapted to play together still remains for me to find out. Unfortunately the photo was of marginal quality so no hints there. Another point on my list of things to remember when I visit the RDAF Historical Collection later this year.
Cheers, Bluelight

Message 1136:
Hi Zipper One, Sorry, I just mixed up two helmet photos. Yours do not show the plug. Cheers, Bluelight 14

Message 1135:
Hi Zipper One, So you're the one who got the P-3 helmet! Congratulations, these helmets are very difficult to find - not only in the eBay sense but in reality. I knew that there used to be one of these at the flight gear shop at Karup AB and I wondered where it had gone. As I have mentioned before I am going on a round-trip to the major RDAF air bases in March to see what I might be able to find. I was kinda hopin' that the P-3 was still there. Maybe they have one at Aalborg or Skrydstrup?? The P-3 with the modified visor bar with the leather handle (or any other P-3 for that matter) was to the best of my knowledge never used on Draken, but on F-86D, F-104, F-100, RF-84F and T-33A. I am 99% sure that the HGU-2A/P-D helmet was introduced together with the Draken. The communications plug on your helmet also suggests that this particular helmet was never used in a Draken.When I return from my round trip I hope to be able to post a photo of a HGU-2A/P-D comfigured exactly as used by our Draken pilots. By the way, GENTEX and General Texture Mills are the same. I guess they just got tired of writing the long name all the time. Cheers, Bluelight 14 [Later studies have revealed that this helmet in fact was used in Danish Draken initially 1970-72]

Message 1134:
Hi Bluelight 14, Another part of my story is my acquisition from the Danish Airforce of a Saab F-35XD Draken from Karup.  Whilst I was there I exchanged an RAF helmet and mask for one used by the Danish Airforce whilst flying the Draken. Here are some shots for you and everyone to see. The cloth label inside says it is of Gentex Manufacture but the paper label says otherwise.  Is this helmet a P-3 configured one? Regards, Zipper One.