Spring Military Aviation and Militaria Auction
Lot 69:
Description
This lot consists of three double-sided cloth survival maps, officially designated as AAF Cloth Charts, issued to United States Army Air Forces aircrews during World War II. These charts were produced on lightweight, durable, and water-resistant cloth, typically rayon or silk, designed for silent use and concealment in the event of a forced landing in enemy territory.The first chart is designated No. C-52 / C-53, covering Japan and the South China Seas. The top margin is marked NO. C-52 JAPAN AND SOUTH CHINA SEAS and AAF CLOTH CHART. The bottom margin is marked ARMY MAP SERVICE U.S. ARMY WASHINGTON D.C. and FEBRUARY 1945. This map includes the Japanese home islands of Hokkaido, Honshu, and Kyushu, along with the Kuril Islands, Sakhalin, Korea, and the South China Sea coastline. Technical features include compass roses, wind and current data tables, and height scales in meters.The second chart is No. 32 / No. 33 from the Asiatic Series, depicting French Indo-China. The top margin is marked AAF CLOTH MAP ASIATIC SERIES and the bottom right corner is marked NO. 32, FRENCH INDO CHINA (other side Chart No. 33). The geographic coverage includes modern-day Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and eastern Siam (Thailand). It features topographical information, city names, and regional boundaries.The third chart is NJ 54, Sendai, Japan, from the Eastern Asia Series at a 1:1,000,000 scale. The top margin is marked AAF CLOTH CHART, SENDAI, and EASTERN ASIA 1:1,000,000. Bottom markings indicate A.M.S. 5301 First Edition 1942, Second Edition 1943, and note that it was reproduced under the direction of the Commanding General, U.S. Army Air Forces for the Aeronautical Chart Service. This map provides detailed coverage of the Sendai region of Honshu, Japan, and includes color-coded altitude tints, legends for infrastructure, and a glossary of Japanese geographical terms.
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