Vest, Life Preserver, Mae West, Cpt. Burton Andrus, Jr., 783rd BS, 465th BG, 15th Air Force, USAAF, MTO
Great genuine WWII USAAF Type B-3 Life Preserver -- the legendary 'Mae West' -- of the standard regulation type intended for Army Air Forces aircrews.
Very good overall condition; retains all straps, rubber hoses, and both emplacements for CO² cartridges; the snap hook is in working order.
The following inscription has been stenciled on the front: Capt. B.C. Andrus, Jr. O-24057.
Burton Curtis Andrus, Jr. was born on September 21, 1917 in Buffalo, New York. He was graduated from West Point in 1941 and was awarded his pilot's wings in March 1942. He went on to deploy to the MTO, serving as commanding officer of 783rd Bomb. Squadron, 465th Bomb. Group, 15th Air Force. A recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, he retired as a Colonel, and passed away on April 20, 2004.
http://465th.org/History/PDFs/783rd%20History.pdf
https://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient/recipient-34860/
https://fr.findagrave.com/memorial/19085962/burton-curtis-andrus
Illustration documents available in digital format only.
Product Details
Great genuine WWII USAAF Type B-3 Life Preserver -- the legendary 'Mae West' -- of the standard regulation type intended for Army Air Forces aircrews.
Very good overall condition; retains all straps, rubber hoses, and both emplacements for CO² cartridges; the snap hook is in working order.
The following inscription has been stenciled on the front: Capt. B.C. Andrus, Jr. O-24057.
Burton Curtis Andrus, Jr. was born on September 21, 1917 in Buffalo, New York. He was graduated from West Point in 1941 and was awarded his pilot's wings in March 1942. He went on to deploy to the MTO, serving as commanding officer of 783rd Bomb. Squadron, 465th Bomb. Group, 15th Air Force. A recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, he retired as a Colonel, and passed away on April 20, 2004.
http://465th.org/History/PDFs/783rd%20History.pdf
https://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient/recipient-34860/
https://fr.findagrave.com/memorial/19085962/burton-curtis-andrus
Illustration documents available in digital format only.
