WWII Helmet 2

Mark I steel helmet with shrapnel damage worn by David Campbell. Strap but no internal fittings. No internal markings. Graffiti on top of helmet. Campbell joined the Royal Australian Air Force on 6 November 1939. He qualified as a pilot at Point Cook,and was commissioned on 17 February 1940. He served in Australia and completed several courses before being sent to Port Moresby in December 1941 as station navigation officer. On 6 February 1942 while piloting a Hudson on a photographic reconnaissance flight over Rabaul, New Britain a Japanese fighter attacked the aircraft. The plane was extensively damaged and he and three of his crew were wounded. Despite a shattered left wrist and a severed little finger Campbell managed to bring the Hudson some 500 miles back to the Darwin base. The sharapnel hole on his helmet is evidence of this attack as it was lying near him in the plane. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was promoted in April 1943 to temporary Squadron Leader and from December that year he commanded Squadron 1 and then Squadron 2 on bombing operations from Darwin. He was promoted again in July to temporary Wing Commander and awarded a Bar to his DFC for "exceptional energy and leadership". He was discharged 3 October 1945.