Original Item. Only One Available. This is a very nice British WWII Royal Air Force Emergency Flying Ration Mk II tin, retaining a substantial assortment of its period contents. Intended for use by aircrew in survival situations, particularly following an emergency landing at sea, the ration contained concentrated food supplies and special emergency tablets to help sustain personnel until rescue.

The rectangular metal tin has rounded corners and a brass-colored finish, with bold black lettering on the lid reading:

EMERGENCY FLYING RATION
Mk II

Below the title is the British military Broad Arrow property mark, followed by the RAF stores reference number 27P/7 and the instruction READ INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY. The reverse lists the intended contents as barley sugar, chewing gum, malted milk tablets, and energy tablets, together with patent and registered design numbers. It also carries instructions for opening the sealed container.

The tin retains an assortment of period provisions, including five elongated paper-wrapped packets, Pascall barley sugar, Beech-Nut peppermint-flavored chewing gum, and a yellow carton bearing instructions for the emergency energy tablets. The underside of the lid carries detailed instructions headed READ CAREFULLY, explaining food and water conservation, the controlled administration of energy tablets, and the treatment of potentially unsafe drinking water.

Condition is good overall, with expected age and storage wear. The metal surfaces exhibit scratches, tarnishing, finish wear, and scattered oxidation, with more pronounced discoloration and deterioration on portions of the reverse. The exterior markings and interior instructions remain clearly legible, while the reddish sealing material survives around the lid's perimeter. The food packaging shows considerable age toning, staining, and deterioration, particularly one central packet with a prominent dark stain. Several wrappers and portions of the transparent packaging have become brittle and should be handled carefully.

IMPORTANT: All surviving food and medicinal contents are strictly historical collectibles and are unsuitable for consumption or use.

Historical Context

During WWII, the Royal Air Force equipped its aircraft with emergency survival supplies intended to sustain crews following a forced landing or ditching at sea. These provisions were especially important for personnel operating over the English Channel, North Sea, and Atlantic, where damaged or disabled aircraft could leave survivors stranded in inflatable dinghies for extended periods.

The Emergency Flying Ration Mk II formed part of this wartime survival equipment. Its compact metal container protected a selection of concentrated foodstuffs that required no preparation or cooking. Barley sugar supplied a readily available source of carbohydrates, while malted milk tablets provided additional nourishment. Chewing gum could help relieve the discomfort of a dry mouth when drinking water was limited.

Water conservation was a central concern in RAF survival planning. The instructions inside the tin identify the intended Dinghy Ration as one food tin and four cans of water per man. Airmen were directed to preserve their drinking water until genuinely thirsty, use it sparingly, and measure portions with a graduated drinking cup. The instructions also warned against drinking seawater, which could worsen dehydration.

The same directions explain that water-purification tablets were included in the accompanying first-aid outfit for treating freshwater of uncertain safety. These tablets were intended for potentially contaminated freshwater sources and could not make seawater drinkable.

A particularly interesting component of the Mk II ration was its provision for special energy tablets. These were intended to help personnel endure extreme survival conditions by temporarily combating fatigue, drowsiness, and exhaustion. Their use was carefully controlled, with the instructions inside the lid directing that they be taken only on orders from the officer in command.

Additional directions printed on the energy-tablet carton explain when their administration should begin. Under particularly severe circumstances, or when the prospect of surviving for more than a few hours appeared poor, the tablets could be administered immediately. When conditions were more favorable and survival might extend over several days, their use was to be delayed until exhaustion began to develop. This approach reflected the need to preserve the aircrew's physical and mental reserves during prolonged emergencies.

The importance of such equipment increased as RAF operations expanded throughout the war. Bomber Command, Coastal Command, and Fighter Command personnel all faced the possibility of being forced down over water. The RAF consequently developed more comprehensive emergency arrangements, incorporating inflatable dinghies, signaling devices, first-aid supplies, drinking water, and concentrated rations.

Survival equipment was also incorporated into aircrew training. Crews were instructed in emergency evacuation procedures, the location of dinghy equipment aboard their aircraft, and the proper use of provisions after ditching. Such preparation complemented the work of the RAF Air/Sea Rescue Service, whose launches and aircraft sought to locate and recover personnel lost at sea.

The Emergency Flying Ration Mk II represents this practical aspect of British wartime aviation, when an airman's survival could depend on the provisions carried aboard his aircraft and his ability to conserve them while awaiting assistance.