Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. Officially known as the United States Army Air Forces "Kit, Emergency Sustenance, Type E-17". Colloquially called a 'personal aid' kit this contained escape and evasion equipment/food in two separate waterproof ethyl cellulose plastic flasks designed to fit into a small olive drab canvas pouch separated by an Emergency Signaling Mirror/1 signal mirror (ESM/1). A list of the components and directions for use is printed on the side of each container. Contents were broadly packed in two categories - 'general' and 'medical'. This set came with an AAF Cloth Map of China at the bottom under the rations, which has likely been there since the war.
The general kit originally contained 3 x bars of chocolate; 2 x packets of bouillon powder; chewing gum; 10 x double edged razor blades; fishing hooks and line; leader; a small compass; sewing kit; hacksaw blade; condoms; sharpening stone and some matches in a cylindrical plastic case. While this kit appears to be mostly complete we have not opened it to do a full assessment, and there is some deterioration evident.
The medical kit contains sulfanguanidine; halazone water purification tablets; atabrine; salt tablets; benzedrine; sulfadiazine; adhesive compress; sulfanilamide; a tooth brush; adhesive tape; iodine; tweezers; ophthalmic ointment and eye ointment. The contents would appear to be complete (as far we can tell), but have definitely broken out of some of the containers. We have not done a full assessment to avoid further damage to the contents.
Both flasks have some wear, discoloration and distortion but remain in good overall condition. The condition of the canvas pouch is absolutely beautiful with no damage. This is the most complete example of this set we have offered.
The set came with an AAF Cloth Map of China stuffed at the bottom of the pouch, which is No. 34 of the set, Southeast China. It measures roughly 20 x 27” and appears to be dated March 1945. From the way the map looked inside the pouch, we are confident this map has been with the set since the war. A great untouched set.
A very nice complete USAAF survival item from WWII!
We Do Not Recommend Ingesting or Using Any Of The Products As They Are All Pre-1945 Manufacture.
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