RAF Knife or Machete

[Fatboy Coxy]

Hi all, can anyone give me some details as to what knives or machetes were issued to RAF pilots, before and during WW2 and when. In the first instance a knife may well be required to cut parachute cords once landed, be it land or sea, but for units operating in South East Asia, a machete type would be very useful, if they had to parachute in jungle.

 

[SplitRz]

Hi all, can anyone give me some details as to what knives or machetes were issued to RAF pilots, before and during WW2 and when. In the first instance a knife may well be required to cut parachute cords once landed, be it land or sea, but for units operating in South East Asia, a machete type would be very useful, if they had to parachute in jungle.

I once had an old RAF issue dingy/parachute knife: It had a rounded tip (presumably to avoid piercing the dingy), a cork handle and lanyard. Alas, I lost it in a workshop fire. I'll have a little look via Google and see if I can find you a picture.

EDIT - here we go -

 

[SplitRz]

Hi all, can anyone give me some details as to what knives or machetes were issued to RAF pilots, before and during WW2 and when. In the first instance a knife may well be required to cut parachute cords once landed, be it land or sea, but for units operating in South East Asia, a machete type would be very useful, if they had to parachute in jungle.

.... I also have one of these (somewhere upstairs in the loft!)

This was the version being issued in the early 2000s and is designed to be stored in a pocket on a flying suit.

RAF mark iii survival knife

 

[Fatboy Coxy]

I once had an old RAF issue dingy/parachute knife: It had a rounded tip (presumably to avoid piercing the dingy), a cork handle and lanyard. Alas, I lost it in a workshop fire. I'll have a little look via Google and see if I can find you a picture.

EDIT - here we go -

View attachment 736135

Hi SplitRz, thank you for this. I think these may have came as part of the RAF K-type dinghy kit, hence the cork handle.

See RAF k-type dinghy

 

[Fatboy Coxy]

And here is a similar knife, but not for use over sea

See Title: WWII British Air Ministry RAF Aircrew Release Knife by Rodgers : Parade Antiques Online Shop UK | Plymouth, Devon, All our finest items available to purchase worldwide

 

[Fatboy Coxy]

But I also spoke of Machete's, a very different size knife (if it can be called that) and for a much different reason, hacking your way out of the jungles of South East Asia/Burma.

See Original British WWII R.A.F. Airmen's Folding Survival Machete by Butler with Rare Blade Guard - dated 1945

As they say, this is the RAF copy of the USAAF folding machete. The USAAF was introduced sometime in 1942, the RAF must have came sometime afterwards.

I have read somewhere that these were worn strapped to the chest, but cannot verify that.

 

[Fatboy Coxy]

But we also have this Australian one, again I wonder where the pilot wore it?

See Title: Original Australian WWII Royal Australian Air Force Pilot Survival Machete by East Bros with Scabbard

 

[pbehn]

The RAF issued a small knife to Mustang 1 pilots for use in case the "Mae West" inflated in the cockpit.

 

[Snautzer01]

The RAF issued a small knife to Mustang 1 pilots for use in case the "Mae West" inflated in the cockpit.

Overstreet aint complaining. So to see kinda liked it.

 

[pbehn]

Overstreet aint complaining. So to see kinda liked it.

View attachment 736259

It was very dangerous, overheated cockpit, misted canopy and many other issues.

 

[Snautzer01]

Dear i say: there was a relief tube installed for reasons.