Quartermaster42 Posted November 5, 2015 Share #1 Posted November 5, 2015 It's dated August of 45 so its at the tail end of the war, but just wondering if this is a correct setup for a WW2 parachute. Would I be correct in saying that this type could have been worn by a waist gunner? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quartermaster42 Posted November 5, 2015 Author Share #2 Posted November 5, 2015 more pics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quartermaster42 Posted November 5, 2015 Author Share #3 Posted November 5, 2015 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebuddy Posted November 5, 2015 Share #4 Posted November 5, 2015 Very nice, type B8 chute . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hbtcoveralls Posted November 5, 2015 Share #5 Posted November 5, 2015 The B-8 would more likely been worn by a pilot or somone who was sitting down. Gunners typically used the harness with the clip on chute for more mobility in the aircraft or in tight spaces like turrets. The B-8 is scarce and yours is a very nice example Tom Bowers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfixer Posted November 5, 2015 Share #6 Posted November 5, 2015 Nice parachute....I have read ball turret gunners wore a modified B-8...24 vs 28 ft if I recall...either way it was a smaller canopy, and did not take up as much room....parachute wear in reality was dictated by availability, space, and preference...and there might be a regulation out there stating who should wear what type of parachute...but after reading many accounts from vets...they wore what the unit had and what they preferred... so bottom line...it could fit a waist gunners rig.. nice it has the early bayonet style attachments Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWII Parachutist Posted November 5, 2015 Share #7 Posted November 5, 2015 Waist gunners required more freedom to move and generally were issued QAC harnesses with the separate chest pack. According to regs, generally either back or chest types were allowable, although this does vary depending on the type of plane, and sometimes even the model. QAC's were comfortable, but they had a significantly higher malfunction rate when compared to the B-8.However, back types were always in short supply. By the end of 1943 the shortage ran in excess of 100,000. In fact, to make up the shortage, thousands of seat harnesses in excess supply were modified into B-8s in 1944. In short, it is allowable to use the B-8 for a waist gunner, but certainly would not be the norm. Also, bayonet hardware on the B-8 actually runs opposite the norm. Initial harnesses used the snap hook hardware while late war examples use the bayonet fasteners. The drawing numbers between harnesses are actually different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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