US Army AAF WW2 8TH AIR FORCE PILOT YELLOW GROUP QAC A-4 CHEST PARACHUTE PACK

The 8th Air Force was the most potent arm of American air power during WW2, tasked with the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. Flying B-17 and B-24 heavy bombers with P-51 Mustang fighter escorts, the “Mighty Eighth” swept the vaunted Luftwaffe from the skies in epic air battles over Occupied Europe. By the end of 1944, the 8th Air Force was using 4 different Quick Attachable Chest (QAC) parachute harnesses and at least 5 types of chest packs. A mistake in pairing a harness with the proper pack could prove fatal, necessitating the use of two color coded groups (red and yellow) for sure identification of matching components at a glance. These QAC chest packs in either “red group” or “yellow group” were worn by 8th Air Force pilots and air crews on their perilous missions to knock out German industry. This US Army AAF WW2 8TH AIR FORCE PILOT “YELLOW GROUP” QAC A-4 CHEST PARACHUTE PACK is in very good condition, MISSING THE CANOPY, having been filled with bubble wrap for display, and with the “male” portion of the right “lift-the-dot” of the middle front flap having not been pushed all the way through the “female” portion, rendering it difficult to manipulate and thus non-functional, some fraying under the “female” portion of the left “lift-the-dot” of that middle front flap, also rendering it difficult to manipulate and thus non-functional, some scattered small surface tears around the back. Some scattered patina to the metal hardware throughout. And with some scattered fading, dark soiling, and age wear evident (ALL pictured). Otherwise, the pack is in fine shape, with no other damage to the tough khaki/OD canvas construction. Most interestingly, it boasts the scarce rigger added (thus making it a 2nd pattern) yellow painted 5 1/2″ x 1 1/2″ strip of canvas sewn to the middle front flap, carries the nomenclature, “TYPE A-4 PARACHUTE”, and its maker, the famous IRVING AIR CHUTE CO. “, stamped at bottom, and is dated “AUG 9 1944 at top. The pack sports the classic large metal “D” ring pull at the right front, features all of the original bungee cords and metal hardware throughout, and bears fully intact thick khaki/OD canvas web carry handles at the sides and top. It retains the original inspection/packing booklet inside the pocket at back, with a late 1944 entries for Mitchel Field in New York, and is a fine example of a very rare, original. US Army AAF WW2 8TH AIR FORCE PILOT “YELLOW GROUP” QAC A-4 CHEST PARACHUTE PACK. The item “US Army AAF WW2 8TH AIR FORCE PILOT YELLOW GROUP QAC A-4 CHEST PARACHUTE PACK” is in sale since Friday, July 31, 2020. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Militaria\WW II (1939-45)\Original Period Items\United States\Field Gear, Equipment”. The seller is “abramsantiques” and is located in Claremont, California. This item can be shipped worldwide.