Item: Original US World War II Type B-4 Life Preserver Vest ("Mae West") Manufacturer: The Seamless Rubber Company Date of Manufacture: September 11, 1943 Markings: Clear stencil markings including "VEST: LIFE-PRESERVER, TYPE B-4", specification numbers, and date. Handwritten tag notes "VRG-381".
Description: This is an authentic 1943 dated Type B-4 pneumatic life vest, iconic to US Army Air Forces flight crews and paratroopers during WWII. Manufactured by The Seamless Rubber Company under contract for the US Navy/Army (property marks visible). The vest retains its yellow rubberized fabric construction and canvas straps. Includes oral inflation tube assembly. A significant piece of survival gear from the European or Pacific Theaters.
Condition: Good battlefield-flown condition. The vest exhibits distinct signs of active wartime service, including surface soiling, stains, and general wear commensurate with age and use. The fabric is pliable but shows patina. Markings remain legible. Straps are present. Please review photos for specific details on wear and aging.
