A-3A sleeping bag.

[Kwc27122]

Hello all,

  I don’t know if this is where to post this, but I was wondering if anyone can tell me about a sleeping bag that I’ve had for years. It is marked US Army Air Force and I can make out the markings A-3A. I’m sure it is WW2 era, just wanting some info and history on these bags. Thanks!

Kevin.

[Quartermaster]

Below is information posted by a member in an earlier post.

 

What you have are not a "survival" item but rather just the AAF version of arctic gear. These would have been part of the assembly for the type A-3 & A-3A Arctic sleeping bags. The assembly comprises of three pieces, a down filled sleeping bag, inner cotton sheet which ties in and a waterproof tarp that can be used as a shelter or ground cloth etc.. There is also an inflatable full length sleeping pad so you could say a 4 piece assembly.

 

These were intended to be issued to personnel stationed in arctic regions, Alaska and Greenland, as standard equipment. they were also carried aboard during ferrying flights and could be used in a emergency/survival situation but not their intended purpose.

 

Contrary to popular belief the bulk of development within the AAF Material Command in the late 1930's and early 1940's was towards arctic equipment. As part of the development and by demand of the Alaskan Command the Type A-2 series tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad were developed for use in bivouac and carried aboard aircraft. Not technically an "assembly" but developed at the same time to suit multiple purposes.