Original 1939 Dated RAF MKIII Flying Goggles – Blenheim Pilot Attributed in Flying helmets

An original pair of Royal Air Force MK III Flying Goggles as used during the Second World War which date from 1939 and belonged to a Blenheim pilot. These goggles belonged to Cyril Jeboult Jones who was born in Plymouth on the 17th of October 1919 and joined the RAF some time in the 1930s. He was a sergeant around the time of the Battle of Britain and he flew Blenheims with 252 Squadron during 1940 (the seventh picture shows him as a sergeant around this time). He flew 32 daylight ops on Fairey Swordfish (during 1939), Blenheims and Beaufort types as well as Mosquitos. Over Italy on the 6th of January 1942 whilst flying Beaufighter T4887 with 89 Squadron, he force landed on Sicily and spent the next years as a prisoner of war in Italy and then in Germany. He is recorded as being at Stalag 357 Kopernikus – Oerbke and Stalag Luft VI Heydekrug and his POW number was 3747. After the war he worked for Rolls Royce in Derby. This pattern of goggles came into use with the RAF during the 1930s and is now today one of the iconic ‘Battle of Britain’ period goggles. They saw use throughout the war with Fighter Command, Bomber Command, Coastal Command the USAAF – amongst others. This particular example dates from the pre-war period or very early stage of WW2 as they bear a 1939 contract date to the leather strap. The goggles are British made rather than the more common Canadian examples often seen on the market. The strap features sprung metal sides which are joined by a piece of leather. This bears the 1939 contract number and other Air Ministry markings. The markings are now quite faint and were difficult to photograph but are more clear in person in the right light. The sixth picture shows Cyril wearing the goggles offered for sale here, sometime in 1939 which ties in well with the date on the leather strap. The googles are in good condition but do show some limited signs of age. The leather section of the strap is good as is the metalwork. The lenses are the originals but show signs of age and have numerous marks and scratches consistent with use. A very nice set of goggles from my personal collection which have guaranteed wartime history. Other items which belonged to Cyril Jeboult Jones can be seen here and here.