WWII Aircraft radio headset query

Hi folks--

I have been working on researching a biography of a WWII Navy aviator who was stationed here in Maine. In early 1943, his Kingfisher crashed along the coast during one of his submarine patrols, but he survived.

I recently handled his flying helmet and am trying to be thorough and peg down some info about it. I am very interested in finding a manual for the radio headset built into it, but have been struggling with sifting through resources available and finding anything that matches.

When I saw it a few months ago, the leather was stiff with age and salt water, and I didn't want to crack it by prying it apart. Please see attached photos.

So far as I can tell, without being able to inspect the label inside it for the model number, the helmet is likely an NAF 1092. It has a Telephonics Corp cord, likely leading to a TH 47 receiver. It is this radio equipment for which I am interested in finding a manual.

The reason I am doing this deep of a dive (beyond my generally ridiculous need for thoroughness) is because when I handled it, I got zapped. I would like to know if and how it would be possible that the headset, after all these defunct decades, could still carry and transmit a charge. Perhaps there is a battery within the headset? It certainly surprised me at the time.

To clarify, it wasn't a drastic charge -- just that low thrumming of electrical current warning you through your fingertips that there is live electricity you are coming into contact with. (Anyone who has done live stage music and handled microphone/amp cords, or played with the old Addams Family Uncle Fester arcade machine will probably know what I mean.)

It would be great to clear up this little mystery and learn a little about how the headsets worked.

Thank you in advance for any assistance you can give in this WWII research,

Michelle

Just wanted to welcome you aboard. I don't have any answers for you but hopefully someone will. An interesting conundrum so I'll keep watching this space.

Might need a magnifying glass to get the info off the boxes..... OS2U "Kingfisher" Radios
Some manuals.... aafradio.org

Welcome to the site.

IIRC the earphone receivers by Telephonics Corporation of New York City used for the NAF 1092 leather flight helmet should be the TH 37. As memo serves the kind of receivers was of the permanent magnet type with the impedance of 300 Ω ( 600Ω for the pair). Not sure if there is/are capacitors inside but I doubt. Anyway the magnet coils in a variable electro-magnetic field ( which is all around us actully) could create a small but noticeable by you, electric charge. People has a different tolerance to electrical charge/ current because of the skin impedance. Additionally our clothes also could produce the electric charge when walking for instance. So it was enough to cause the current flow between you and the headphones. So .. nothing strange actually.



BTW ... just found my notes for the Kingfisher model I started years ago.... the radio-set for the OS2U consisted of the GF-11 radio-transmitter and the RU-16 receiver. Additionally there was the frequency meter model LM-21 and the radio direction finder model DU.

That's amazing. Complete with visual aids.

Crimea_River said:

Just wanted to welcome you aboard. I don't have any answers for you but hopefully someone will. An interesting conundrum so I'll keep watching this space.

Click to expand...

Thank you! I may also be popping up in other categories as I organize my remaining questions about the Kingfishers and their idiosyncracies, which appear to be many.

The Brunswick (Maine) Naval Aviation Museum has attempted to help me, but most of their material is from post-WWII era holdings, and I've been able to tell them more about the Kingfishers and early days at the base than they've been able to tell me, so far.

fubar57 said:

Might need a magnifying glass to get the info off the boxes..... OS2U "Kingfisher" Radios
Some manuals.... aafradio.org

Click to expand...

Thank you! I'll pore over this material -- looks like the aafradio site has some interesting info in its Peripherals category, and a lot of other material I can learn from.

Plus it's great to see the interior of the Kingfisher on the OS2U site linked. So far I've only seen exterior shots, so this is a treat. His son will be psyched to see the cockpit too, I'll be sure to share with him.

Wurger said:

Welcome to the site.

IIRC the earphone receivers by Telephonics Corporation of New York City used for the NAF 1092 leather flight helmet should be the TH 37. As memo serves the kind of receivers was of the permanent magnet type with the impedance of 300 Ω ( 600Ω for the pair). Not sure if there is/are capacitors inside but I doubt. Anyway the magnet coils in a variable electro-magnetic field ( which is all around us actully) could create a small but noticeable by you, electric charge. People has a different tolerance to electrical charge/ current because of the skin impedance. Additionally our clothes also could produce the electric charge when walking for instance. So it was enough to cause the current flow between you and the headphones. So .. nothing strange actually.

View attachment 805459

BTW ... just found my notes for the Kingfisher model I started years ago.... the radio-set for the OS2U consisted of the GF-11 radio-transmitter and the RU-16 receiver. Additionally there was the frequency meter model LM-21 and the radio direction finder model DU.

View attachment 805461
View attachment 805462

Click to expand...

Thank you so much. Okay, that is terrific info - and exciting to see the headset bare of its leather housing!

That's good to know about the coils -- it's entirely possible this is what happened. As you can see from the photo, the room was carpeted, so it's not out of the question that additional static charge was created just walking around (although it was summer rather than dry winter weather, when that type of occurrence is more common). Still very interesting, and definitely made me jump!