WWII 1943 Italy Mediterranean Theater U. S. Army Air Force Bomber Bailout Map

  
Shows Rome, Anzio beachhead, Gothic Line, etc. Please not that the bomber crew and aerial bomber plane photo see in the collage are historically sourced digital images of a WWII US bomber crew operating in Italy and a WWII Italian Theater bombing raid and are meant to show the artifact and its use during that time. This incredible original double sided WWII U. Army Air Force Bomber bailout survival map is dated September of 1943 and was used extensively during the Allied strategic bombing campaign in the Italian Theater. The Italian campaign of World War II, also called the Liberation of Italy, consisted of Allied and Axis operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to 1945. The Joint Allied Forces Headquarters (AFHQ) was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre and it planned and led the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, followed in September by the invasion of the Italian mainland and the campaign in Italy until the surrender of the German Armed Forces in Italy in May 1945. These cloth charts were worn as neck scarves or stuffed in the pant/jacket pockets by pilots, navigators, and bombardiers during WWII as part of their survival gear.

During WWII these silk and cloth type bailout maps were produced in varying quantities by the British and American forces on thin silk (waterproof) material. The idea was that if an Allied pilot's plane was shot down behind enemy lines they should have a map to help him find his way to safety if he escaped or evade capture. It is estimated that between September 1943 and April 1945, 60,000-70,000 Allied and 38,805-150,660 German soldiers died in Italy.

The number of Allied casualties was about 330,000 and the German figure (excluding those involved in the final surrender) was over 330,000. Fascist Italy, prior to its collapse, suffered about 200,000 casualties, mostly POWs taken in the invasion of Sicily, including more than 40,000 killed or missing. Over 150,000 Italian civilians died, as did 35,828 anti-fascist partisans and some 35,000 troops of the Italian Social Republic. On the Western Front of World War II, Italy was the most costly campaign in terms of casualties suffered by infantry forces of both sides, during bitter small-scale fighting around strongpoints at the Winter Line, the Anzio beachhead and the Gothic Line. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Militaria\WW II (1939-45)\Original Period Items\United States\Field Gear, Equipment".

The seller is "premierrelics" and is located in this country: US. This item can be shipped worldwide.

1. Theme: Militaria
2. Original/Reproduction: Original
3. Conflict: WW II (1939-45)