First of all, being ex-military, I've always known it as IPE - Individual Protective Equipment. The term PPE makes me cringe - unless it's used at my place of work when it means Philosophy, Politics and Economics.
Secondly, those face masks always remind me of the glazed nose of a Dornier 217 - they always have, even when I was about 7 and my Dad bought my the Squadron Luftwaffe Bombers in Action book. Have a look at the photographs and you'll see what I mean.
And now, for a bonus point, I see these disposable masks are living up to their name, being discarded (and full of germs) along every high street and grass verge, to join the fast food bags casually tossed out of car windows to clutter up the countryside.
Discuss...