US Aircraft escape Ax - Aircraft of World War II

Micdrow · 12-02-2007, 06:23 PM

Found this picture on the net labeled US Aircraft Escape Ax. I never heard of such a thing. Was there such a thing? If so was it used during WWII.

Link I found picture here
US WWII Aircraft Escape Axe

Matt308 · 12-02-2007, 06:37 PM

Escape axe were issued to allow for the potential need of a horrific escape from a crashed airplane and the need to hack through the aluminum skin in short order. To the best of my knowledge they were issued through the early 60s to bomber and transport crew. An aeronautical version of a fireaxe.

Micdrow · 12-02-2007, 06:50 PM

Hi Matt308,

Do you know if they where very effective? I would think cutting through a aircraft even with a ax would be very difficult and time consuming.

Matt308 · 12-02-2007, 06:58 PM

I don't think they issue them anymore. Perhaps Adler or others might know, but I think they went the way of the Do-do. Effective? Perhaps with lots of energy and room to maneuver. But most post crash scenarios are not so conducive to great physical feats requiring lots of time and concentration.

Reminds me of the modern day automobile tools that they sell claiming that one end can slice through your seatbelt and the other can shatter a windshield for those unforeseen accident scenarios. Now where do you think that tool will be after a 80G accident? Yep, either in the trunk where the driver stuck it or wedged under the seat/dashboard post accident. A better tool to kill yourself and put the victim out of his/her misery.

HoHun · 12-02-2007, 07:04 PM

Hi Micdrow,

>Escape Ax. I never heard of such a thing. Was there such a thing? If so was it used during WWII.

In the Mosquito FB.6 Pilot's Notes, I found the following mention:

"69. Emergency Equipment

...

(iii) Crash Axe

This is stowed at the back of the pilot's seat."

No idea what a crash axe would look like, though.

Regards,

Henning (HoHun)

Micdrow · 12-02-2007, 07:26 PM

From the look of the thing, I bet the guys in the pacific loved it for cutting coconuts. The thing looks like a beast. I wouldnt want to get hit by it.

FLYBOYJ · 12-02-2007, 07:41 PM

I used to do aircraft salvage - give me that axe and a few minutes and I'll bust out of any aircraft - even quicker if I saw fire!

No kidding - we used regular axes and circular chain saws to cut up aircraft. Once you know what you're doing and know where to cut, you could demolish a fair size aircraft pretty quickly.

Micdrow · 12-02-2007, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLYBOYJ

I used to do aircraft salvage - give me that axe and a few minutes and I'll bust out of any aircraft - even quicker if I saw fire!

No kidding - we used regular axes and circular chain saws to cut up aircraft. Once you know what you're doing and know where to cut, you could demolish a fair size aircraft pretty quickly.

Joe, any idea on how long it would take you to get out of an aircraft say the size of a B-25 from the inside to out. Trying to take into persespective if you crash landed in enemy territory and had to get out fast but the exits where blocked.

Matt308 · 12-02-2007, 08:43 PM

If you look on airplanes from the 50s and 60s you might notice a red outlined square with the "corners" indicating with text "CUT HERE" for rescue purposes. These axes were the 'inside' version of rescue equipment.

FLYBOYJ · 12-02-2007, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micdrow

Joe, any idea on how long it would take you to get out of an aircraft say the size of a B-25 from the inside to out. Trying to take into persespective if you crash landed in enemy territory and had to get out fast but the exits where blocked.

If i wasn't wounded I would say within a miunte if I was were there was plexiglass - 5 to 10 minutes within the fuselage.

Just a wag....

FLYBOYJ · 12-02-2007, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt308

If you look on airplanes from the 50s and 60s you might notice a red outlined square with the "corners" indicating with text "CUT HERE" for rescue purposes. These axes were the 'inside' version of rescue equipment.

Yep - and if you sliced away aw those areas you usually had a chunk of the airplane exposed pretty quickly.

Micdrow · 12-02-2007, 09:32 PM

Thanks Joe,

It just sounds wild if you ask me. Ive been in B-25's, B-17's, B-24's, and a Avro Lancaster and it just doesnt sound like a easy job.

Will take your word for it though. I diffentlly would not want to have to try it. I could see it in a mosquito because its made of wood but didnt think you could cut aluminum that fast with an axe. Especially the ribs of the aircraft. The skin would be easy but I thought it would take a while to make a whole big enough to get a man outside. Sounds alot easier then I thought.

I just didnt think you could cut through and aircraft so fast with an axe.

Thanks again guys for the replys.

FLYBOYJ · 12-02-2007, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micdrow

I just didnt think you could cut through and aircraft so fast with an axe.

You'd be surprised how fast a fire axe goes through .032 or even .060 aluminum.

AlloySkull · 12-03-2007, 02:53 AM

Wow, that's one neat looking axe. I'd like to find one of those, to have in my militaria collection. Anyway, I do know the power of axes, the sheer weight carried by the head gathers up momentum quick and when handled correctly an axe can tear through just about anything.

Soundbreaker Welch? · 12-03-2007, 04:35 AM

I think you're right about the coconuts!

Good drinking.

12-02-2007, 06:37 PM	#2
Matt308 aka Dickcheese Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Washington State Posts: 13,386	Escape axe were issued to allow for the potential need of a horrific escape from a crashed airplane and the need to hack through the aluminum skin in short order. To the best of my knowledge they were issued through the early 60s to bomber and transport crew. An aeronautical version of a fireaxe. __________________ "Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the [U.S.] Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan Master of Duplicate Posts

12-02-2007, 06:50 PM	#3
Micdrow “Archive” Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 4,852	Hi Matt308, Do you know if they where very effective? I would think cutting through a aircraft even with a ax would be very difficult and time consuming. __________________ "Valor does not mean Hero."

12-02-2007, 06:58 PM	#4
Matt308 aka Dickcheese Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Washington State Posts: 13,386	I don't think they issue them anymore. Perhaps Adler or others might know, but I think they went the way of the Do-do. Effective? Perhaps with lots of energy and room to maneuver. But most post crash scenarios are not so conducive to great physical feats requiring lots of time and concentration. Reminds me of the modern day automobile tools that they sell claiming that one end can slice through your seatbelt and the other can shatter a windshield for those unforeseen accident scenarios. Now where do you think that tool will be after a 80G accident? Yep, either in the trunk where the driver stuck it or wedged under the seat/dashboard post accident. A better tool to kill yourself and put the victim out of his/her misery. __________________ "Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the [U.S.] Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan Master of Duplicate Posts

12-02-2007, 07:26 PM	#6
Micdrow “Archive” Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 4,852	From the look of the thing, I bet the guys in the pacific loved it for cutting coconuts. The thing looks like a beast. I wouldnt want to get hit by it. __________________ "Valor does not mean Hero."

12-02-2007, 07:41 PM	#7
FLYBOYJ IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 16,050	I used to do aircraft salvage - give me that axe and a few minutes and I'll bust out of any aircraft - even quicker if I saw fire! No kidding - we used regular axes and circular chain saws to cut up aircraft. Once you know what you're doing and know where to cut, you could demolish a fair size aircraft pretty quickly. __________________ "IF ITS RED OR DUSTY, DON'T TOUCH IT"

12-02-2007, 07:04 PM	#5
HoHun Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,765	Hi Micdrow, >Escape Ax. I never heard of such a thing. Was there such a thing? If so was it used during WWII. In the Mosquito FB.6 Pilot's Notes, I found the following mention: "69. Emergency Equipment ... (iii) Crash Axe This is stowed at the back of the pilot's seat." No idea what a crash axe would look like, though. Regards, Henning (HoHun)

12-02-2007, 08:43 PM	#9
Matt308 aka Dickcheese Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Washington State Posts: 13,386	If you look on airplanes from the 50s and 60s you might notice a red outlined square with the "corners" indicating with text "CUT HERE" for rescue purposes. These axes were the 'inside' version of rescue equipment. __________________ "Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the [U.S.] Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan Master of Duplicate Posts

12-02-2007, 09:32 PM	#12
Micdrow “Archive” Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 4,852	Thanks Joe, It just sounds wild if you ask me. Ive been in B-25's, B-17's, B-24's, and a Avro Lancaster and it just doesnt sound like a easy job. Will take your word for it though. I diffentlly would not want to have to try it. I could see it in a mosquito because its made of wood but didnt think you could cut aluminum that fast with an axe. Especially the ribs of the aircraft. The skin would be easy but I thought it would take a while to make a whole big enough to get a man outside. Sounds alot easier then I thought. I just didnt think you could cut through and aircraft so fast with an axe. Thanks again guys for the replys. __________________ "Valor does not mean Hero."

12-03-2007, 02:53 AM	#14
AlloySkull Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Houston, Texas. Posts: 87	Wow, that's one neat looking axe. I'd like to find one of those, to have in my militaria collection. Anyway, I do know the power of axes, the sheer weight carried by the head gathers up momentum quick and when handled correctly an axe can tear through just about anything. __________________ Prick your finger, it is done The moon has now eclipsed the sun Angel has spread its wings The time has come for bitter things

12-03-2007, 04:35 AM	#15
Soundbreaker Welch? Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 1,893	I think you're right about the coconuts! Good drinking. __________________ "His motor's conked out!" "What's the differance, they're all Nazis!" "Luke, shut up!" "Fear the hook!" "Oh.....I wanna fly." "You mean the kind that go under water and fly up the stairs?" "What you doing? Oh Nooooo!"

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode