The pilots backpack

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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.
 
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
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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