Manufactured by
Gentex Corp., American
Owned by
Maj. Gen. Bolden, Charles F. Jr., American, born 1946
Date
1998
Medium
graphite, nylon, styrofoam, leather, cotton (textile), polyester, canvas, sulfone polymer, silicone, rubber, metal, polycarbonate
Dimensions
2014.243.35.2ab On form: 35 3/4 × 10 × 12 1/2 in. (90.8 × 25.4 × 31.8 cm)
Visor Cover, flat: 5 × 10 1/4 × 1 1/2 in. (12.7 × 26 × 3.8 cm)
Caption
Charles F. Bolden graduated from the Naval Academy in 1968 and become a Marine Corps aviator, flying more than 100 combat missions over Southeast Asia. In 1980 he was selected a NASA astronaut and flew four space missions. Bolden was eventually appointed the 12th Administrator of NASA. He retired in 2003 as a major general.
Description
A pilot's HGU-68/P TACAIR flight helmet (2014.243.35.2a) and MBU-12/P oxygen mask (2014.243.35.2b) owned by Maj. Gen. Charles F. Bolden Jr. The helmet is a graphite and nylon composite shell with foam interior and a camo patterned canvas cover. At the back of the helmet just above the neck is a white label with printed black text reading [MAJ. GEN. BOLDEN]. The helmet has a tinted visor that is covered with a detachable gray visor, which has [BOLDEN] written in black ink along its lower edge. The oxygen mask locks into the front of the helmet with several buckles. The oxygen mask is a hard gray polysulfone shell with a flexible gray silicone rubber air hose. The mask comes with several communications wires and acessories attached. On either side of the mask [Bolden / CB5603] is handwritten in black ink.
Classification
Tools and Equipment
Type
helmets
protective equipment
Topic
Aeronautics
Military
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Maj. Gen. Charles F. Bolden Jr., USMC (Ret)
Object number
2014.243.35.2ab
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd50ada7a2e-33cc-4770-a30a-6d0562b974db

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

Share this page