Luftwaffe vs. RAF

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This second volume closely examines the development and use of personal flying equipment issued to Luftwaffe and Royal Air Force combat personnel during World War II. Illustrated with over 500 photographs—450 in color and featuring detailed close-ups—this work showcases an exceptional array of rarely seen combat gear. It covers a variety of items, from compasses hidden in tunic buttons and floating rations to suits with built-in parachutes and box-kite radio antennae. The book discusses all types of parachutes, harnesses, life preservers (including the origin of the "Mae West" nickname), inflatable boats, survival tools, self-defense weapons, and personal items carried by airmen from both air forces. It highlights the sophisticated rescue and survival equipment available to Luftwaffe crews, as well as the clever devices that allowed many RAF flyers to evade capture, with some eventually making their way home through occupied Europe. This volume serves as an invaluable reference for artists, collectors, modellers, living history re-enactors, and military historians, appealing to anyone interested in the human aspects of twentieth-century military history. Mick Prodger is also the author of Vintage Flying Helmets: Aviation Headgear Before the Jet Age.