Vietnam War US Navy Pilot Survival Life Jacket
the item featured here is a lifejacket that was issued as standard equipment to US Navy pilots
during the Vietnam war. The enemy possesed anti-aircraft weapons capable of shooting down US
aircraft. This fact coupled with the proximity to the ocean made it necessary to distribute
proper survival equipment.
The design of the lifejacket is very similar to the
Mae West vest
employed during WWII.
The bright orange color of the lifejacket is designed to facilitate detection from the air. These
were the days before GPS and beacon radios.
The vest could be inflated using a CO2 cartridge which is activated by pulling a string.
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This page is a recognition and identification guide for Vietnam war US Military collectibles.
Multiple detailed photos of a specific sample are provided. Descriptions point out clearly
defined points that should be noted.
One of the most commonly asked questions is "How much is my US military collectible worth?".
A price guide is included here to address this question. The value of the collectibles
is reviewed over a period of several years. A trend can be observed. The present worth
of US militaria in the collector's market is illustrated.
This service is provided free of charge to the visitor/enthusiast courtesy of
MilitaryItems.com,
a company dedicated to the preservation of military history and to providing quality military
antiques and collectibles to museums, institutions and the general public.
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In order to make detection from the air easier, the raft comes equipped with an orange flashlight
that has a red lense. When turned on, the flashlight procided a steady light.
The raft has several markings applied with black ink. They include the following:
397844
Date of mfg : Nov 1966
Cont N383(104)00790B
Spec MIL-L-15581
Rubbercraft Corp of AM
Property of US Navy
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This Vietnam War US military collectible may be currently
reproduced.
It is becoming more difficult to be able to tell the fake ones from the real ones because
the quality of the reproductions is improving. The collector must become familiarized with
the construction style and materials employed in the manufacturing of this item.
Attention to the details is critical in order to be able to determine the authenticity of
the collectible.
If you have an interest is seeing other Vietnam war US military collectibles, you can do so by
going to our
Vietnam War US Military Collectibles Price Guide.
Where we cover items from the Army, Navy, Army Air Force and other organizations.
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