| Accession Number | P02414.005 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white |
| Physical description | Black & white |
| Maker |
Cotton, Montague C C |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Agartala, India. 1942-12. Back view of J6639 Flying Officer Theos Llewellyn (Slim) Lewis, Royal ...
Description
Agartala, India. 1942-12. Back view of J6639 Flying Officer Theos Llewellyn (Slim) Lewis, Royal Canadian Air Force, a pilot with No. 17 Squadron, RAF, flying Hurricane 2C aircraft over Burma on ground attack operations, modelling the standard flying clothing and special harness developed by the commanding officer Squadron Leader M.C.C. Cotton, DFC, RAAF, to carry the various items that made up the pilots survival kit. This view shows the detail of the Kukri knife attached to the harness and positioned betwen the shoulder blades with the parachute fitted over the harness. The following items were carried in the harness: Under the right arm - spare socks; above right hip - field dressings; tied to right thigh attached to leather belt - Colt .45 automatic pistol and commando knife with additional .45 ammunition on the belt; under left arm - water purifying kit; tied to left thigh - survival rations and medical kit in a tin sealed with solder. Flight Lieutenant Lewis was later killed in a flying accident in England on 1945-06-26. (Donor M.C.C. Cotton)(Original held in the AWM Archive Store)