Figure 9. Other versions of the ‘Cork Helmet – Aviation’. Left, a South African made example with that country’s signature 1930s – WWII polo helmet, with top button. This helmet was made domestically by SAPHI. These helmets were adopted in 1934 by all branches of the SA military and civil authorities. It appears that the SAAF converted them to flying helmets in the same way the Charles Owen & Co (Comfortilet) model was by the RAF in Britain. The middle image shows a ‘Bombay Bowler’ (see Ref. 1 & 7) made in the UK by J. Compton Sons and Webb Ltd. It is marked 80 Squadron and appears to have been converted for flying by adding lightweight leather earflaps with a simple elastic strap and hook; the original leather chinstrap is still attached and looped over the front brim. Left, another Bombay Bowler with RAF flash and military general purpose ear phones (DLR No.2) in rather large Type A style earflaps; but the real pith shell is a commercially made Indian item, by Wahee & Wahel, Fyzabad Cantt, Uttar Pradesh.