An original WW2 USAAF Type B-4 “Mae West” life preserver, surviving in very good condition and retaining a particularly strong selection of its original fittings and wartime markings.

This type of bright yellow inflatable life preserver was issued to United States Army Air Forces personnel for emergency use when flying over water. The B-4 is one of the most recognisable pieces of USAAF survival equipment from the Second World War, and complete examples in strong condition are increasingly difficult to find.

This example is especially appealing for the amount of original equipment still present. It retains its webbing straps and metal fittings, inflation hoses and valves, both CO2 cylinders with their associated screw fittings, and the yellow life-jacket dye marker with its printed release instructions. The two CO2 cylinders are present but have been used/discharged, rather than remaining unused.

The vest also carries a very good range of period markings. These include the US Army Air Forces insignia and “ARMY AIR FORCES” marking, together with a clear date stamp of 15 September 1944. In addition, there is also a stamped inspection date reading ARP 21 1945, along with further inspection and production markings. The vest has also been hand-marked with the name “A. Robson”, or very similar, adding an interesting personal detail and a little extra character to the piece.

Condition is very good overall for an original rubberised life preserver of this age. The yellow fabric remains bright and highly displayable, with the printed markings still clearly visible. There is expected age-related wear, staining and deterioration to areas of the rubberised coating, particularly around seams, edges and the neck opening, together with some wear to the metal fittings. Despite this, it remains a very strong and substantially complete example.

A particularly attractive piece of original WW2 USAAF flying and survival equipment, made all the more desirable by its wartime dating, inspection markings, surviving dye marker and retention of both original CO2 cylinders.