A Most Rare Original WW2 Imperial Japanese Aircraft Carrier Naval Pilot's Helmet Type II. These Fighter Pilot's Helmets Are Very Rarely Indeed Ever Seen in Europe, as Very Few Returned as Souvenirs at The Close of WW2

Made in fine brown leather with chamois lining and two maker labels. The Summer pattern, in excellent condition with original strap just lacking buckle. Most frequently used by the aircraft carrier fighter pilots in the A6M Zeros. Made and used in WW2 until the surrender of Japan in 1945. Photo in the gallery of Ace Masao Asai aboard the carrier Akagi
The Aircraft the Akagi carried:
66 (+25 reserve)
21 Mitsubishi A6M Zero,
18 Aichi D3A,
27 Nakajima B5N (7 Dec 1941)[1]
Service record
Part of: First Air Fleet (Kido Butai)
Commanders:
Isoroku Yamamoto (1928?29)
Ryunosuke Kusaka (1939?40)
Kiichi Hasegawa (1941?42)
Taijiro Aoki (1942)
Operations:
Second Sino-Japanese War
World War II, Pacific War:
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Invasion of Rabaul
Bombing of Darwin
Invasion of Java
Indian Ocean raid
Battle of Midway
Akagi was an aircraft carrier built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), named after Mount Akagi in present-day Gunma Prefecture. Though she was laid down as an Amagi-class battlecruiser, Akagi was converted to an aircraft carrier while still under construction to comply with the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty. The ship was rebuilt from 1935 to 1938 with her original three flight decks consolidated into a single enlarged flight deck and an island superstructure. The second Japanese aircraft carrier to enter service, and the first large or "fleet" carrier, Akagi and the related Kaga figured prominently in the development of the IJN's new carrier striking force doctrine that grouped carriers together, concentrating their air power. This doctrine enabled Japan to attain its strategic goals during the early stages of the Pacific War from December 1941 until mid-1942.

Akagi's aircraft served in the Second Sino-Japanese War in the late 1930s. Upon the formation of the First Air Fleet or Kido Butai (Striking Force) in early 1941, she became its flagship, and remained so for the duration of her service. With other fleet carriers, she took part in the Attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 and the invasion of Rabaul in the Southwest Pacific in January 1942. The following month, her aircraft bombed Darwin, Australia, and assisted in the conquest of the Dutch East Indies. In March and April 1942, Akagi's aircraft helped sink a British heavy cruiser and an Australian destroyer in the Indian Ocean Raid.

After a brief refit, Akagi and three other fleet carriers of the Kido Butai participated in the Battle of Midway in June 1942. After bombarding American forces on the atoll, Akagi and the other carriers were attacked by aircraft from Midway and the carriers Enterprise, Hornet, and Yorktown. Dive bombers from Enterprise severely damaged Akagi. When it became obvious she could not be saved, she was scuttled by Japanese destroyers to prevent her from falling into enemy hands. The loss of Akagi and three other IJN carriers at Midway was a crucial strategic defeat for Japan and contributed significantly to the Allies' ultimate victory in the Pacific.


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Code: 21631