Michael Nicolaou Posted July 17, 2020 Share #1 Posted July 17, 2020 I haven't seen one in this condition in a very long time. Price seems reasonable at the moment - what do other members think? https://www.ebay.com/itm/ORIGINAL-WW2-US-AAF-TYPE-A-3-SURVIVAL-RAFT-W-CARRY-BAG-5-MAN-1000lbs-CAP/143653105435?hash=item2172646f1b:g:gGsAAOSwqLBfBxhJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfixer Posted July 17, 2020 Share #2 Posted July 17, 2020 I can't say I have ever seen a A-3 offered...would like to hear what the survival folks think of the raft and scarcity.... iconic piece of gear, images of Channel ditching come to mind Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted July 17, 2020 Share #3 Posted July 17, 2020 For the record, here's what's listed: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted July 17, 2020 Share #4 Posted July 17, 2020 Here's some completed past sales for various types: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmar836 Posted July 17, 2020 Share #5 Posted July 17, 2020 That's really neat. I just don't have room for such items so they have always been down on the list for me. I do have one of the blue/yellow sails and the reversible Daisy Mae cap but... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustin Posted July 18, 2020 Share #6 Posted July 18, 2020 I guess the reality is I'm surprised any of this stuff has survived seventy plus years. These large rafts were very popular recreational items in the post war years. In one of my updates on the webpage I was going to do an expose' of vintage images of military surplus life rafts used by civilians from the 50's and 60's for fun. I have an AAF E-2 raft that i got from a family that they used for white water rafting for many many years. Butchered and sun bleached, it cannot be displayed as a WWII raft but it will serve a purpose down the road, I'm hoping. The carrying bag was salvageable with nice markings. Bulky and abused, I'm sure not many survived but they are out there. Additionally, I do not think they are in high demand to flush out more. Like stated above, they need a lot of room to display. Of the rafts posted by Bob in the completed auctions. One is the one-man C-2 raft, the other is a Navy type and the other two are USAAF but of the Amendment-A series. The top one is an E-2A, which is a monster in dimensions (12' L and 8' W), and the other is the A-3A, the successor to the raft of the original post. On pages 78-79 in Vol1, I illustrate a couple in my collection with a first generation A-3 and the last generation A-3A as a compare and contrast. The raft at the top of the page is the in between model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmar836 Posted July 18, 2020 Share #7 Posted July 18, 2020 Dustin, I'd like to see those images of civilians using surplus. Like goggles and jackets often noted in post-war hot rodding images, it's good use of quality items. Often wish I had such easy access to WWII surplus today but then it wouldn't be desirable, right? Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfixer Posted July 18, 2020 Share #8 Posted July 18, 2020 Dustin, the local orphanage/boys school closed years ago and boarded up...when it was sold, I had to go through it for official duties...on the wall was a picture of the boys, in the pond out back in a 5 man raft...most likely surplus from Dover AFB/AAF ...time period was around the late 40s-50s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustin Posted July 18, 2020 Share #9 Posted July 18, 2020 I'm working on a few new updates right now, I'll probably add that in when I do the others. It's funny cuz if you look closely at candid family images at the lake, river or beach you will often see surplus rafts. If you know what to look for. It was quite common. You almost cant go through and outdoor magazine from the late 1940's through the 1950's without seeing ads for their surplus. The very fist pararaft kit I got was a case with most all the accessories but no raft. I got it locally many many years ago from the family that had bought it surplus. The case with accessories sat around the property for decades but the raft, the family said, was long gone as they used till it was no good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfixer Posted July 19, 2020 Share #10 Posted July 19, 2020 heck, I am glad they saved the case with the accessories....I do believe the picture is still hanging on the wall, as part of the renovated school...if the office is open, I will grab a pic of the pic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustin Posted July 30, 2020 Share #11 Posted July 30, 2020 For those that may be interested, I did a new article on the webpage about USAAF life rafts. Click on link below! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmar836 Posted July 30, 2020 Share #12 Posted July 30, 2020 Well done! I stumbled on a video of a USAAF gunner walking through some of his training - a personalized, narrated training film so common back then. It told who was assigned to release the raft upon ditching and showed them training off a dock. Great stuff! Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-59A Posted November 15, 2020 Share #13 Posted November 15, 2020 On 7/30/2020 at 1:33 PM, dustin said: For those that may be interested, I did a new article on the webpage about USAAF life rafts. Click on link below! Wow!!! Well done Dustin!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulruss Posted November 16, 2020 Share #14 Posted November 16, 2020 Went to high school with a guy said his dad use to use it as a pool for the kids Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1st Minnesota Posted January 22, 2023 Share #15 Posted January 22, 2023 On 7/17/2020 at 9:45 AM, Bob Hudson said: Here's some completed past sales for various types: I have own the life raft in the top left corner. I didn’t pay that much for it. It was cheaper but I do own that one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1st Minnesota Posted January 22, 2023 Share #16 Posted January 22, 2023 Just now, 1st Minnesota said: I have own the life raft in the top left corner. I didn’t pay that much for it. It was cheaper but I do own that one I currently * own Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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