Phfly1010 Posted March 21, 2017 Share #1 Posted March 21, 2017 Started a collection a few years ago. Here are my two helmets, goggles and C-1 vest with some of the survival items I've collected so far. Already got a few more items for the vest including the ESM-2 mirror, clear plastic water bladder and Emergency Parachute uses booklet. In between the helmets is an a-14 oxygen mask 1944. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted March 21, 2017 Share #2 Posted March 21, 2017 Nice items Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Driver Posted March 21, 2017 Share #3 Posted March 21, 2017 Nice collection. Can't bring myself to get a survival vest as I can't find any evidence they were used in the ETO. Thanks for sharing your stuff with us Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phfly1010 Posted March 21, 2017 Author Share #4 Posted March 21, 2017 Have a guy around me who collects/sells USAAF stuff who knows a WWII p-51 pilot who used a c-1 while flying in the pacific. In fact, the pilot still has it. He might have gotten it from a bomber crew since the kind folks on this forum who have responded to my posts say the vests were mostly used late war by b-29 crews. Have some pics of bombers guys wearing the vests. Must tell you that once you get a vest it's easy to get addicted trying to fill the pockets, but I've seen your posts and equipment so you already knows this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustin Posted March 21, 2017 Share #5 Posted March 21, 2017 That's how collections start, one piece at a time. Once you commit to a C-1 vest it's like having a child, a long term financial succubus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phfly1010 Posted March 22, 2017 Author Share #6 Posted March 22, 2017 Yes, sir, Dustin! You know better than most and have a tremendous collection to show for it. I won't bring up the financial succubus factor. Saw two c-1 items go on ebay over the past week the reversible hat sold for $126.00'ish and the emergency parachute ration went for about $200! Have the hat, want the ration tin, the fishing kit and first aid kit, but working at a non-profit (PA VFW State HQs as Public Affairs Director) means my collection will not grow much more.Yikes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Driver Posted March 22, 2017 Share #7 Posted March 22, 2017 Have a guy around me who collects/sells USAAF stuff who knows a WWII p-51 pilot who used a c-1 while flying in the pacific. In fact, the pilot still has it. He might have gotten it from a bomber crew since the kind folks on this forum who have responded to my posts say the vests were mostly used late war by b-29 crews. Have some pics of bombers guys wearing the vests. Must tell you that once you get a vest it's easy to get addicted trying to fill the pockets, but I've seen your posts and equipment so you already knows this! Oh how true is that! Yes it is addicting. The minute you think you've finally gotten everything you want, something else pops up. Now I'm working on the bits for my pilot's Navigation Case. I write it off to my never being able to actually own my own warbird. I can at least have a pilot or two for one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhalstead1950 Posted March 22, 2017 Share #8 Posted March 22, 2017 Great collection, and thanks for sharing I love this kind of stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Driver Posted March 22, 2017 Share #9 Posted March 22, 2017 I should never have said anything. I nabbed a nice A-14 mask with radio mic installed for cheap and included was a C-1 Vest. I'm clearly doomed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phfly1010 Posted March 22, 2017 Author Share #10 Posted March 22, 2017 You have two choices: sell the vest or sell other stuff to free up funds for the c-1 items. The really hard ones to find are rather pricey, to the point that I won't pay that much and if others didn't, the prices might at least hold steady. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustin Posted March 22, 2017 Share #11 Posted March 22, 2017 What boggles my mind is the popularoty of it, I've come to the conclusion is that the vests themselves are extremely readily available so everyone has one. Now that they are in one's possession, they feel compelled to complete the unit. Its the collectors disease and is why we have a USMF. The fact of the matter is that the C-1 vest was only used on a limited basis and only for a limited time before VJ-Day, however it was used and belongs in a WWII USAAF collection. To 38Driver's point, yes, C-1 vests were sent to the ETO but to be accurate you need the first production type with slanted chest pockets with no insect repellent pocket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Driver Posted March 23, 2017 Share #12 Posted March 23, 2017 For whatever reason it was thrown in with the mask. That makes it a project in waiting. I'll be curious to see which version it is Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexRdnec Posted August 29, 2023 Share #13 Posted August 29, 2023 a $200 parachute ration sounding crazy... that's too funny not to bump this thread! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jpage Posted February 2 Share #14 Posted February 2 There's a pic on the net of an F-105 Thud pilot wearing a C-1 Vest in SEA, 1965 I believe. Would be interested to know what he carried in the vest ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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