Fall 2026 Militaria and Aviation Auction
Lot 391:
Description
WWII German Model 306 Fliegerschutzbrille / Windschutzbrille Flight Goggles with Original Tin Case, Cloth Pouch, and Two Spare Clear Lenses. Offered here is a cased Model 306 protective goggle set of the type issued widely across the German armed forces during the Second World War, retaining its lacquered tin storage case, cloth carrying pouch, and a pair of loose curved clear replacement lenses. No individual recipient can be identified from the surviving markings, and no separate biography has been located; the history of this example rests on its type and issue pattern rather than a documented personal narrative. Goggles of this pattern, known in German service parlance as Fliegerschutzbrille or Windschutzbrille, were among the most widely distributed protective eyewear issued to Luftwaffe aircrew flying in open or poorly sealed cockpits, and the same folding, low-profile design saw extensive parallel service among Wehrmacht motorcycle dispatch riders (Kradmelder) exposed to wind, dust, and airborne debris. Wagener has been suggested as a possible maker of the type, though no maker’s mark can be confirmed from the photographs, and the attribution should be regarded as tentative. The dual-lens system – dark tinted glass for daylight glare and interchangeable clear lenses for low-light conditions – reflects the practical, multi-role engineering characteristic of German military optical equipment of the period, while the compact enameled tin allowed the whole set to be carried easily in a pocket or kit bag. The goggles feature curved, teardrop-shaped dark tinted lenses set into painted aluminum frames with perforated ventilation along the sides and a hinged central bridge; the frames retain much of their original field-grey finish, with edge wear and scattered paint loss consistent with period handling. The rubber eye-contact cushioning surrounding each lens shows the brittleness, cracking, and surface flaking typical of aged synthetic rubber of this era, most pronounced along the contact rim. An adjustable cloth-covered elastic strap remains attached at both sides with its original buckle hardware, though the elastic has lost much of its original tension through age. The lacquered metal storage tin retains its interior divisions, with light oxidation to the surfaces and faint, rubbed dark marks inside that may represent the remnants of an old ink stamp, though these cannot be read as a legible maker’s mark from the photographs. Accompanying the goggles is the original grey cloth storage pouch, showing handling wear, and two loose curved clear replacement lenses, which appear intact and free of cracks or chips with only light surface wear. The installed tinted lenses remain intact with minor surface marks and light scratching. Overall the set presents in fair to good vintage condition, honest and unrestored, with wear commensurate with age and service use throughout. A well-preserved and complete Model 306 set – goggles, spare lenses, pouch, and purpose-made tin together – offering a tangible link to the everyday protective equipment of German wartime aircrew and dispatch riders.
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