Pneumatic Life Vest / Mae West, USAAF Type B-4 / AN6519-1

The B-4 life preserver or Mae West as they are commonly known as were originally issued to the Airforce. For the Normandy drop the C-47’s carrying the paratroopers had to cross the English Channel to get to the drop zones, so it was decided that all paratroopers should be issued with Mae West’s for the jump.