A life vest was worn mainly by parachutists in case their aircraft crashed into the sea.
It was made of heavy rubberised canvas. Four straps were attached to the back, these passed over the shoulder and under the legs and were secured at the front at brass triangular hooks. To allow inflation, they were never put on very tight.
Pulling a lever on the right front opened the valve that inflated the belt from two pockets of compressed air. In case this failed a blowtube was placed at the left front and the wearer had to inflate the belt himself.
Wartime manufacturers: Auliffe, D.R.Co.
Wartime variations: The belts were either produced from green or khaki rubberised material.
Postwar modifications: No.