The pilots backpack - Aircraft of World War II

Arneken · 02-22-2008, 09:21 AM

Imagine you're been shot down but managed to crash land and get out of you're plane.

Did pilots in ww2 had emergency packs? in case off landing/crashing on enemy territory?
And what did got in it?

I'm quessing:
A (flare) gun
Food and drink
A flashlight
and more usefull stuff.

But you guys can tell me all about it, I'm sure about that.

Greetings Arne

Krabat42 · 02-22-2008, 09:32 AM

The tropical equipment for the 109 included a 98k Rifle mounted in the rear fuselage. I've seen a picture probably from a manual once. And I read about a russian pilot who always carried a PPSh when he took of. I expect many others did that that too. Some of these things were issued (maps of europe printed on silk scarfs for allied pilots for example), some were personal.

A flare gun is always a good idea, but a revolver may not be so good. In a story about a Whirlwind pilot I read that many of them refused to take a gun with them. In case they were shot down they did not want to provoke a trigger happy (and probably nervous) enemy to kill them.

Krabat

Arneken · 02-22-2008, 10:29 AM

Krabat42 thank you for reactin so soon. Well I was doubting about the rifles and personal guns.

greetings.

plan_D · 02-22-2008, 10:31 AM

The British crews had foreign money, maps and water purification tablets if nothing else.

Arneken · 02-22-2008, 10:40 AM

So nothing more then that ? I know they were supposed to contact la resistance or the undergound movement but that they carried that little?

plan_D · 02-22-2008, 10:43 AM

I don't know, I'm sure they would have carried more than that. Possibly a knife, a language handbook and fishing line (they would be reasonable suggestions for a survival pack)

Arneken · 02-22-2008, 10:53 AM

Hm indeed those are all logical things. If I've offended you with my previous post my apologies for that.

plan_D · 02-22-2008, 11:00 AM

Of course you didn't offend me. It was a valid question, and you're right to think they did carry more than that because they probably did.

Arneken · 02-22-2008, 11:03 AM

Yeah well I'm kind of hoping to make a list off things. for different countries and then compare. I do hope it works.

but sometimes I go in overdrive to get the answer

pbfoot · 02-22-2008, 05:22 PM

Chocolate , amphetomines,

gold

glennasher · 02-23-2008, 11:02 AM

Some of the German aircraft in North Africa also carried "drillings" a break-open three barrelled gun, usually two 16 gauge barrels and a rifle barrel underneath. I've seen pictures of Luftwaffe markings on them. Supposedly in case they went down in country loaded with wildlife........ Guns and Ammo Magazine did a write-up on them, back in the 1970s. They were, by no means, common issue, though.

Arneken · 02-24-2008, 02:52 PM

hmm for shooting wild? or Tommies and yanks?

Thanks for the extra info.

Krabat42 · 02-29-2008, 04:37 AM

Another thought: If this stuff was issued, there must be regulations (in the military, regulations is everything). So why not ask the archives, for example of the RAF, Armee de'l Air etc.?

Arneken · 02-29-2008, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krabat42

Another thought: If this stuff was issued, there must be regulations (in the military, regulations is everything). So why not ask the archives, for example of the RAF, Armee de'l Air etc.?

Can you do that from Belgium? I mean by mail off course.

Krabat42 · 03-06-2008, 04:54 AM

There's museums which you could ask. The RAF museum in Hendon for example.

02-22-2008, 09:21 AM	#1
Arneken Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wevelgem,Belgium Posts: 95	The pilots backpack Imagine you're been shot down but managed to crash land and get out of you're plane. Did pilots in ww2 had emergency packs? in case off landing/crashing on enemy territory? And what did got in it? I'm quessing: A (flare) gun Food and drink A flashlight and more usefull stuff. But you guys can tell me all about it, I'm sure about that. Greetings Arne __________________ Run, live to fly, fly to live, Aces high Aces high - Iron Maiden. How long on this longest day 'Till we finally make it through The Longest Day -Iron Maiden. Hell, I'm young and I do listen allot to music and spam allot but that doesn't makes my respect smaller for those who gave there lives for the future we're living in.

02-22-2008, 10:29 AM	#3
Arneken Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wevelgem,Belgium Posts: 95	Krabat42 thank you for reactin so soon. Well I was doubting about the rifles and personal guns. greetings. __________________ Run, live to fly, fly to live, Aces high Aces high - Iron Maiden. How long on this longest day 'Till we finally make it through The Longest Day -Iron Maiden. Hell, I'm young and I do listen allot to music and spam allot but that doesn't makes my respect smaller for those who gave there lives for the future we're living in.

02-22-2008, 10:31 AM	#4
plan_D Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 11,978	The British crews had foreign money, maps and water purification tablets if nothing else. __________________ "When you go home tomorrow, don't expect anyone to know what you have been through. Even if they did know, most people probably wouldn't care anyway. Some of you may get the medals you deserve, many more of you will not. But remember this, all of you are now members of the front-line club, and that is the most exclusive club in the world." - Lt. Col. Matthew Maer CO 1st Battalion, the Princess of Wale's Royal Regiment. Camp Abu Naji, Oct. 2004 To those in that club.

02-22-2008, 10:40 AM	#5
Arneken Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wevelgem,Belgium Posts: 95	So nothing more then that ? I know they were supposed to contact la resistance or the undergound movement but that they carried that little? __________________ Run, live to fly, fly to live, Aces high Aces high - Iron Maiden. How long on this longest day 'Till we finally make it through The Longest Day -Iron Maiden. Hell, I'm young and I do listen allot to music and spam allot but that doesn't makes my respect smaller for those who gave there lives for the future we're living in.

02-22-2008, 10:43 AM	#6
plan_D Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 11,978	I don't know, I'm sure they would have carried more than that. Possibly a knife, a language handbook and fishing line (they would be reasonable suggestions for a survival pack) __________________ "When you go home tomorrow, don't expect anyone to know what you have been through. Even if they did know, most people probably wouldn't care anyway. Some of you may get the medals you deserve, many more of you will not. But remember this, all of you are now members of the front-line club, and that is the most exclusive club in the world." - Lt. Col. Matthew Maer CO 1st Battalion, the Princess of Wale's Royal Regiment. Camp Abu Naji, Oct. 2004 To those in that club.

02-22-2008, 09:32 AM	#2
Krabat42 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Munich Posts: 305	The tropical equipment for the 109 included a 98k Rifle mounted in the rear fuselage. I've seen a picture probably from a manual once. And I read about a russian pilot who always carried a PPSh when he took of. I expect many others did that that too. Some of these things were issued (maps of europe printed on silk scarfs for allied pilots for example), some were personal. A flare gun is always a good idea, but a revolver may not be so good. In a story about a Whirlwind pilot I read that many of them refused to take a gun with them. In case they were shot down they did not want to provoke a trigger happy (and probably nervous) enemy to kill them. Krabat

02-22-2008, 10:53 AM	#7
Arneken Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wevelgem,Belgium Posts: 95	Hm indeed those are all logical things. If I've offended you with my previous post my apologies for that. __________________ Run, live to fly, fly to live, Aces high Aces high - Iron Maiden. How long on this longest day 'Till we finally make it through The Longest Day -Iron Maiden. Hell, I'm young and I do listen allot to music and spam allot but that doesn't makes my respect smaller for those who gave there lives for the future we're living in.

02-22-2008, 11:00 AM	#8
plan_D Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 11,978	Of course you didn't offend me. It was a valid question, and you're right to think they did carry more than that because they probably did. __________________ "When you go home tomorrow, don't expect anyone to know what you have been through. Even if they did know, most people probably wouldn't care anyway. Some of you may get the medals you deserve, many more of you will not. But remember this, all of you are now members of the front-line club, and that is the most exclusive club in the world." - Lt. Col. Matthew Maer CO 1st Battalion, the Princess of Wale's Royal Regiment. Camp Abu Naji, Oct. 2004 To those in that club.

02-22-2008, 11:03 AM	#9
Arneken Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wevelgem,Belgium Posts: 95	Yeah well I'm kind of hoping to make a list off things. for different countries and then compare. I do hope it works. but sometimes I go in overdrive to get the answer __________________ Run, live to fly, fly to live, Aces high Aces high - Iron Maiden. How long on this longest day 'Till we finally make it through The Longest Day -Iron Maiden. Hell, I'm young and I do listen allot to music and spam allot but that doesn't makes my respect smaller for those who gave there lives for the future we're living in.

02-22-2008, 05:22 PM	#10
pbfoot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: niagara falls Posts: 5,953	Chocolate , amphetomines, gold

02-23-2008, 11:02 AM	#11
glennasher Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 86	Some of the German aircraft in North Africa also carried "drillings" a break-open three barrelled gun, usually two 16 gauge barrels and a rifle barrel underneath. I've seen pictures of Luftwaffe markings on them. Supposedly in case they went down in country loaded with wildlife........ Guns and Ammo Magazine did a write-up on them, back in the 1970s. They were, by no means, common issue, though.

02-24-2008, 02:52 PM	#12
Arneken Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wevelgem,Belgium Posts: 95	hmm for shooting wild? or Tommies and yanks? Thanks for the extra info. __________________ Run, live to fly, fly to live, Aces high Aces high - Iron Maiden. How long on this longest day 'Till we finally make it through The Longest Day -Iron Maiden. Hell, I'm young and I do listen allot to music and spam allot but that doesn't makes my respect smaller for those who gave there lives for the future we're living in.

02-29-2008, 04:37 AM	#13
Krabat42 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Munich Posts: 305	Another thought: If this stuff was issued, there must be regulations (in the military, regulations is everything). So why not ask the archives, for example of the RAF, Armee de'l Air etc.?

03-06-2008, 04:54 AM	#15
Krabat42 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Munich Posts: 305	There's museums which you could ask. The RAF museum in Hendon for example.

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