Method of adapting the standard Mussette bag as a quick attachable container for the Emergency Sustenance Vest
Type C-1

Manufactures tags had some slight differances, sometimes the tags were rectangular, sometimes they were more square, about the only thing that remainded the same was the thread colors, and sometimes two different colors were used by the same manufacture. Tags are marked to variation of vests. Some contract numbers for 2nd variation vests were also used for 3rd variation vests. One known example is Sears Roebuck, Reliance MFG AC-6640 Wich was used on both 2nd variation & 3rd variation vests.

Early procurement C-1 Vest Note: This vest might be a manufactures variant and has very large printing for the knife, stone, spitt. and mirror on the left pocket instead of the usual right pocket! This may also have been purposely done for The Personel Equipment Officers.

Early procurement C-1 Vest Note: This vest looks to be a prototype or 1st variant vest. Note: No AAF winged star insignia is printed on the left brest, these were printed in black ink and were much smaller than the later colored insignia. The first colored insignia was printed on the 2nd variation vests.

Early procurement C-1 Vest With barely visable printed AAF winged star insignia on left brest. Made just before the 2nd variation addition of the regular pockets, and insect repellent pocket.

Early procurement C-1 Vest With No AAF winged star insignia on left brest. Believed to be a real early Breslee prototype, or 1st variant.This one has no tag, it was ink printed instead:

Early Prototype Vest Note: extra pockets on the front of the vest, not sure what these may of held, but a guess might be extra match cases. or even possibly tubes for halazone? Same AAF sergeant as in the previous picture.

Photo Courtesy Of Dustin Clingenpeel

AAF sergeant wearing Type C-1 Vest, Type B-8 back parachute & harness, and Type C-2 pneumatic life raft.

AAF crewman wearing Type C-1 Vest, under Type B-4 Mae West life vest, airman is also wearing Type A-11 flight helmet, w A-14 oxygen mask, and microphone, Type B-15 flight jacket, w type A-11 pants, A-6 flight boots, Type F-2 & F-3 electricaly heated gloves, parachute harness, probably red group, bailout oxygen bottle tube attached to mask. Late 1944 mid 1945

Early Procurement C-1 Vest:

Note: slant pocket vest, without mosquito repellent can, cooking utensil is shown in the bottom of the picutre. Also note: Early AAF Survival manual!

Photo courtesy of: Dustin Clingenpeel

MANUFACTURES: Contract Numbers:

AIRCRAFT APPLIANCE CO. AC-4198 AC5415 AC-6679

BRESLEE MFG. CO. 44-5039E 45-5411 AC-4221 AC-5413 AC-6639

CAPPEL-MacDONALD & CO. 45-038 AC-45-412 AC-4222 AC-5414

LITE MANUFACTURING CO. 45-2316 45-5128 45-5450

SEARS & ROEBUCK CO. & AC-5411

RELIANCE MFG. CO. AC-6640

W.L.M.CLARK INC. AC-6680

1st Air Force Private, wearing the C-1 Vest under the parachute harness and Mae West life preserver. Note the seat type parachute, with the life raft container below.

Photo courtesy of: Dustin Clingenpeel

C-1 VEST SHIPPING CONTAINER

Heavy craft box with taped ends measures 12"x14"x4 3/4". Contained partially completed vest with Aluminum First Aid Kit. Note C-1 Vest contract number stamped out and replaced with earlier contract vest!

Photos courtesy of: Scott Novzen

2nd variation C-1 Vest With large printed AAF winged star insignia on left brest. Made just before the 3rd variation with slant pockets, and addition of insect repellent pocket.