LAE, NEW GUINEA. 1944-06-02. JAPANESE RESPIRATORY EQUIPMENT AT HEADQUARTERS NEW GUINEA FORCE ...

LAE, NEW GUINEA. 1944-06-02. JAPANESE RESPIRATORY EQUIPMENT AT HEADQUARTERS NEW GUINEA FORCE WHICH WAS CAPTURED IN MADANG DURING MAY 1944. THE SIZE OF THE EQUIPMENT CAN BE GAUGED FROM THE RULER IN THE FOREGROUND. THE LID (3), SLIDES INTO THE BACK OF THE PRESSURE METER (2), COVERING A TWO-WAY SWITCH ARRANGEMENT OPERATING THE AIR CHANNEL. ITEMS SHOWN ARE:- A HEAD MODEL SHOWING THE FACE PIECE FITTING LINE AND THE AIR LEADS FROM THE BASE (1); A BOX CONTAINING THE PRESSURE METER. IN THE BOTTOM TOWARDS THE RIGHT LIES THE PUMP MECHANISM AND DRUM (2); A SPARE SLIDING LID TO THE BACK OF THE BOX (POSITIONED UPSIDE DOWN) (3). A LITERAL TRANSLATION TO THE JAPANESE INSCRIPTION ON THE LID READS "TYPE 98, FORCE USE (IMPLYING USE BY A BRIGADE OF HIGHER FORMATION), GAS MASK INSPECTING INSTRUMENT NO.2"; A SPARE PUMP HANDLE, (FITS INTO THE RIGHT OF THE PRESSURE METER) (4).