The pilots backpack

[Arneken]

i'm still waiting on feedback

[mkloby]

I'm just guessing here - but I would think a lot of it is still the same as today. We don't carry a whole lot on our vests while we fly. Knife, flares, a little water (that looks 45 years old), water purification tablets, and some other stuff. A .45 as well. I would think that they are taught how to live off the land as we are also, eating certain plantlife, roots, bugs and such. If you need water take it from a cold, clear creek. That sort of stuff.

[Krabat42]

Found something about this in Peter Weston's bio:

Peter Weston, No. 26 O.T.U., Lancaster Radio Operator/Radar Navigator, Squadron 186, Stradishall, 16 O.T.U. WWII & Post War

Interesting read.

Krabat

[Arneken]

Indeed. thank you. I will read it more thoroughly when I find some time.

[Arneken]

Finally recieved word back. So all thanks to the RAFmuseum for answering:

Dear Mr. Vangheluwe,

Thank you for your enquiry. Items carried by RAF aircrew flying over
enemy territory included their two identity disks, survival equipment
(e.g. parachute, life jacket and whistle) and escape aids (e.g. maps,
compass, emergency rations, foreign currency and passport photographs
for use in forged documents). For further details and photographs of
some of these items I would recommend the book Luftwaffe vs RAF: Flying
equipment of the air war, 1939-1945 by Mick J. Prodger (ISBN
0764302493). The dinghies carried in larger aircraft contained further
survival items, e.g. flares, radios, food and water). Sometimes they
also carried blood chits (messages in local languages urging civilians
not to mistreat downed aircrew and return them to the British
authorities). These are described in Last hope: The blood chit story by
R.E. Baldwin & T.Wm. McGarry (ISBN 0764302221).

Aircrew were encouraged not to take any documents with them as they
might have revealed information to the enemy if captured:

"Don't carry or allow anyone else to carry any papers, official or
private, on a flight. An envelope may give away information. Everything
gives something away, even an old Tram Ticket or a bill. Don't forget
to turn your pockets out before going up as a matter of routine even if
you don't intend to go over enemy lines." (Sub-Air Publication 1548;
Instructions and guide to all officers and airmen of the Royal Air Force
regarding precautions to be taken in the event of falling into the hands
of an enemy; 1940)

greetings Arneken.

[Flyboy2]

That's definatly interesting.
If it helps at all the Japanese usually carried the Type 94 8mm pistol. However, the aircrews where not fond of the gun because it would go off if the left side was pushed to hard which is especially bad during heavy manuveuring where the G's stack up.
The US pacific pilots usually carried stuff like Inflatable life rafts, Mae West life preservers, solar stills, dye marker, shark repellant, and fishing kits.

[slaterat]

Tropicalized hurri IIs carried a survival pack in the fuselage containing rations food ect.

Slaterat

[Glider]

IIRC RAF pilots had a backpack that was worn with the parachute so if they jumped they had a kit with them. It was locally designed and produced but I don't know what it contained.
I will dig around a bit and see what I can find

[Maestro]

Was the dinghy in the RAF carried with the parachute or was it placed somewhere within the plane ?

I think I once read somewhere that pilots of Fighter Command had the dinghy packed with their parachute, but I'm not sure.

[Glider]

Did some digging and found this quote that seems to cover what I was thinking of

Allied airmen shot down in Burma had to contend with the hostile Burmese jungle as well as the possibility of capture by the Japanese. Their survival equipment included maps, rations, basic first aid kits, jungle knives and cotton flying helmets designed especially for the tropical climate.

During 1942-1943, when Squadron Leader ‘Monty’ Cotton DFC, was commanding officer of 17 Squadron RAF in Burma and India, pilots were issued with an escape kit, which included the kukri. Squadron Leader Cotton ordered that a fabric harness be made for his pilots to enable them to carry this equipment without it obstructing their movements in the cockpits of the Hurricane IIc fighter aircraft they flew.

The kukri could be used to hack a way through the jungle if the plane was forced to land or the pilot had to bale out. Many of the aircrews also carried a 'blood chit' or message, written in various Burmese languages. The message asked for assistance in escorting airmen to safety and offered a reward to anyone who did so.

[Arneken]

great info everybody. Thanks.

[genkideskan]

look here for german equipment.

http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/avi...ifle-8724.html (Bf-109 with Rifle)

[Arneken]

Originally Posted by genkideskan

look here for german equipment.

http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/avi...ifle-8724.html (Bf-109 with Rifle)

great !!!!

[ChrisMAg2]

All german airmen had a survival and first aid equipment in their suits or within their aircraft.
Fighter pilots carried the most of them on their suit. The rest was in a compartment on the plane (first aid kit) or within the dinghi (water, emergency rations,signal dye etc.), that was attached to the parachute.

All other pilots and crew members only carried only the very immediate (life vest, parachute, personal equipment i.e. knife, gun etc) equipment with them. The majority was somewhere within the plane.