Steve Brannan Posted March 24, 2014 Share #1 Posted March 24, 2014 Recently acquired this floatation seat from a US military aircraft. Size is 16x16x4 with two handles on it. Has a stock number and "Do not remove from aircraft". On one side says US and the other side "Air Force". Is this a WWII item or later? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebuddy Posted March 24, 2014 Share #2 Posted March 24, 2014 AIR FORCE ?? could be post 47 , even though I know some wartime items were stamped US AIRFORCE , typically the Bailout bottle bag was stamped US Airforce not PROPERTY AIR FORCES US ARMY Just my 2 cents LB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Brannan Posted March 25, 2014 Author Share #3 Posted March 25, 2014 Anyone know what aircraft this would have been used in? Stearman? AT -6? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted March 25, 2014 Share #4 Posted March 25, 2014 Steve you had better put it back! You're gonna get in trouble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turmanator Posted March 25, 2014 Share #5 Posted March 25, 2014 What's it made of? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Brannan Posted March 25, 2014 Author Share #6 Posted March 25, 2014 It's not my fault. I did not take it out of the plane. It was already out when I got it I don't know exactly what it is made of, some sort of waterproofed canvas. Obviously made to be soft enough to sit on and also waterproof if needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted March 25, 2014 Share #7 Posted March 25, 2014 Steve I bet you tear the tags off mattresses! Ronnie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDK Posted March 25, 2014 Share #8 Posted March 25, 2014 WW2 seat pad / life preserver from a B-17. They sell on eBay from time to time. It is missing some of the regular markings, but that's what it is. JD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDK Posted March 25, 2014 Share #9 Posted March 25, 2014 JD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebuddy Posted March 25, 2014 Share #10 Posted March 25, 2014 Well ill be !!! that has turned it inside out then hasn't it !!!! I think a zero has been added to the resale price now !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr_lits Posted March 25, 2014 Share #11 Posted March 25, 2014 WOW... nice seat setup JDK!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Brannan Posted March 26, 2014 Author Share #12 Posted March 26, 2014 This is a great identification. Thanks so much for the help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustin Posted March 26, 2014 Share #13 Posted March 26, 2014 Steve, what does the part number say out of curiosity ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Brannan Posted March 26, 2014 Author Share #14 Posted March 26, 2014 PART No. 074272 Does that mean anything date wise? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustin Posted March 26, 2014 Share #15 Posted March 26, 2014 Actually it is odd. These seat cushions were developed and standardized in the 1930's. I do have some documents from the era discussing them but will need a little time to find them, maybe something will turn up. They were in service for many years hence the US Air Corp (pre June 1941) and US Army Air Forces (post June 1941-1947) marked cushions this helps with a basic timeline but your just being US Air Force is a bit of a quandary. Now these are just rules of thumb as wartime manufactured pieces can be found marked Air Corps. I will see what the drawing number says in my docs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Brannan Posted March 26, 2014 Author Share #16 Posted March 26, 2014 Thanks very much Dustin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustin Posted March 27, 2014 Share #17 Posted March 27, 2014 This doc probably gives the best overall info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDK Posted March 27, 2014 Share #18 Posted March 27, 2014 Interesting to see the documentation. Thanks for sharing Dustin. For interest sake, here is a couple more photos of these in use with the B-17. Slightly visible from a cockpit photo: Model cut away showing the B-17 cockpit: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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