Cloth packet for escape and evasion maps : Flying Officer N F Skinner, Royal Australian Air Force

Rubberised cotton pouch containing six textile escape and evasion maps as carried by aircrew over Europe and Africa. The waterproofed khaki pouch has been cut open and is wrapped around the maps. One side of the pouch is printed with a square in a black and yellow chequer pattern. Beneath it in black is, 'If this packet is found it must be handed in to the nearest Police Station at once.'.

Map pouch containing six textile escape and evasion maps associated with the service of Norman Frederick Skinner. Skinner was born at Narrabri, New South Wales on 4 February 1917. Before the war he managed his own dairy and served with the militia. He enlisted in the Second AIF on 4 November 1940. He served in the AIF with the service number NX2056 for five months before being discharged and later enlisting in the Royal Australian Air Force in June 1940 with the service number 402209. Skinner was an aircraftman class 2 on enlistment. He was promoted to leading aircraftman in July and to temporary sergeant in February 1941, when he qualified as an air gunner. He married Eileen Ann Bourne on 22 February 1941. Skinner embarked from Sydney on 8 April 1941, arriving in England in August. He served in the Middle East, attached briefly to in 458 Squadron RAF, then serving with 104 Squadron RAF, flying Wellington bombers, part of 238 Wing, 205 Group in North Africa in 1942, before returning to England. The pouch and set of maps would have been issued to Skinner during his time in England and Middle East. Skinner returned to Australia in 1943, where he spent the remainder of the war. Skinner received his commission in early 1945, which was terminated in October due to the end of the war.

• MI9 Escape & Evasion map J3 Northern Italy and Swiss frontier : Flying Officer N F Skinner, Royal Australian Air Force
• MI9 Escape & Evasion map K3 North Africa / H2 Spain : Flying Officer N F Skinner, Royal Australian Air Force
• MI9 Escape & Evasion map C / D France : Flying Officer N F Skinner, Royal Australian Air Force
• MI9 Escape & Evasion map K1 Cyrenaica / K2 North Africa : Flying Officer N F Skinner, Royal Australian Air Force
• MI9 Escape & Evasion map K1 Cyrenaica / K2 North Africa : Flying Officer N F Skinner, Royal Australian Air Force
• MI9 Escape & Evasion map J 4 Southern Italy and Sicily : Flying Officer N F Skinner, Royal Australian Air Force